This opening session of the Earth Convention series from 5×15 and Rathbones explores the impact of the global pandemic on climate change.
About this Event
2020 is the most critical year in the world’s response to climate change and the environment. The realities can no longer be ignored – from the Arctic to Australia, and our own changing weather patterns. If we are to tackle the issue every sector of society will have to play its part: energy, food, fashion, transport, finance. Why is it so hard for people to take steps towards solutions? Where does responsibility lie – with us, businesses or governments? What are the most effective things that we can do? And can we turn the pandemic into a defining moment in the fight against climate change? 2020 has been a year of crisis – but it could also be a year of opportunity.
To explore the issues 5×15 and Rathbones have teamed up to launch the Earth Convention – a series of online events bringing together world experts for online conversations this Autumn. We will be focusing on both the problems as well as the opportunities and the actions that we can all take.
This opening session of the Earth Convention series explores the impact of the global pandemic on climate change and the environment and asks – is now the time for a reset? How has lockdown changed how we view the environment? Can we take the opportunity to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change? How can we reach for a healthier, more sustainable and greener way forward and what practical steps can we all take to create the future we want to see?
Speakers:
Christiana Figueres was the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) 2010-2016 and the public face of the most pivotal climate agreement in history, the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015.
Tom Rivett-Carnac was Christiana’s political strategist at the UN. Together, they are the co-founders of Global Optimism, an organisation focused on bringing about environmental and social change and co-authors of The Future We Choose – the book about climate crisis we need right now: timely and vitally optimistic, it is a passionate and accessible manifesto.
James Thornton is the founding CEO of ClientEarth. Using corporate law to address the climate crisis, ClientEarth has developed a truly global reach, working with investors to move markets toward renewable energy, stop coal fired power plants, and using the courts to force governments to clean up the air.
Juliet Davenport is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Good Energy – a renewable energy company with a mission to power a greener, cleaner future together with its customers. Juliet has been an innovator for over 20 years, working on ideas to fight climate change and transform the energy sector for the better.
Chaired by Rosie Boycott – cross bench peer, food campaigner and co-founder 5×15.
