UNU is delighted to be supporting the Climate Summit 2014 hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 23 September in New York. UNU will be hosting a thematic session on “The Economic Case for Climate Action” with global leaders and world renowned experts from China, India, Mexico, and the United States.
UNU’s session will take place 17:15 – 18:30 (EDT) on 23 September
and can be followed on livestream via: http://webtv.un.org/
Extreme weather events and rising sea levels will increasingly make clear the costly impact of climate change. The unsustainable use of resources, coupled with a growing world population and rapidly rising demand for energy, pose daunting challenges for keeping global warming within internationally agreed limits.
Several major recent reports and analyses contend that the benefits of moving toward more sustainable, low-carbon growth far outweigh the risks of inaction, which include extensive loss of life, livelihoods, and infrastructure, as well as increased food insecurity and water scarcity. According to these studies, a low-carbon, climate resilient economy is not only necessary, but possible.
The session will discuss transformation pathways needed in the production of food and energy, transportation systems, as well as the planning and building of cities to ensure a healthy planet while fostering strong, climate resilient economies. They will also explore underlying policies that should be pursued to incentivize investments into these transformations.
Through its extensive global research UNU analyses the multifaceted impact of climate change on health, human security, and economic development and explores policies to strengthen the resilience of countries, societies, and economies against various challenges posed by climate change. By hosting the expert panel UNU hopes to mobilize resources and political will for ambitious climate action.
To find out more about UNU’s thematic session, please follow UNU on Twitter (@UNUEHS / @UNUniversity) and on Facebook. To learn more about UNU’s climate research or to arrange for an interview with a climate expert, please contact:
Janine Kandel, UNU Media Officer
kandel@vie.unu.edu
+1 917 294 6251