Climate change has emerged as the defining issue of the twenty-first century, a root cause of social and economic upheavals that will affect multiple generations. In order to meet the 1.5°C (2.7°F) global warming target set by the Paris Agreement and minimize the impacts of climate change, carbon dioxide emissions have to reach net-zero by 2050 and total greenhouse gas emissions must reach net-zero in the 2060s. Transitioning to a carbon-neutral society in less than three decades means transformational changes in technology, behavior, and markets. Massive levels of investment and new financial instruments are required to deploy renewable energy at scale and develop new technologies for energy efficiency, carbon capture, and carbon storage. Smart policies and economic incentives are needed to shift consumer behavior and accelerate the switch away from fossil fuels.

What will it take for us to stabilize and reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere? How can we navigate this transition in a just manner that addresses the needs of workers in carbon-intensive sectors and the most vulnerable communities? This conference will bring together leading climate scientists, economists, and financial industry experts to explore the science behind the net-zero goals, optimal pathways to achieving the targets, the political and behavioral constraints, and the role of markets.

Full schedule and speaker details can be found at the conference website.

Co-sponsored by the Center for Policy Research on Energy and Environment(link is external), the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment,(link is external) and the High Meadows Environmental Institute(link is external).