Image credit: Dave Chan

2030 in Focus: Getting the Next Decade Right on Net-Zero

The Net-Zero Advisory Body and the Canadian Climate Institute hosted “2030 in Focus: Getting the Next Decade Right on Net-Zero” on October 18. Discussions focused on the progress toward net zero, from a national and an international perspective.

The conference occured, in person, at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre and was also broadcasted live. It featured keynote speakers, moderated panels, and fireside conversations with national and international climate change policy experts, as well as political, business, and Indigenous leaders. A networking reception followed for those who wanted to connect with their climate policy colleagues.

Watch the sessions

The Net-Zero Pathway Over the Next Decade

with Dan Wicklum, Co-Chair, NZAB and Rick Smith, President, Canadian Climate Institute.

Governance and Accountability

Moderator: Catherine Abreu, Member, Net-Zero Advisory Body
Panelists: Carole Saab, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Tonio Sadik, Senior Director, Environment, Lands & Water Branch, Assembly of First Nations
Scott Skinner, Clean Foundation
Jerry DeMarco, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

The Opportunities of Electrification: Perspectives from Québec

With France Lampron, Director, Energy and Mobility Solutions, Hydro Québec and Sidney Ribaux, Director of Ecological Transition and Resilience, City of Montréal.

The scientific case for courage

Presented by Simon Donner, Professor, UBC and Member, NZAB.

U.S. Emissions Reductions Progress

Andrew Light, Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs, US DOE in conversation with
Shawn McCarthy, Energy & Climate Change Writer.

Affordability Through Climate Action

Moderator:Marco Oved, Climate Reporter, Toronto Star
Panelists: Leah Stokes, Associate Professor, University of California Santa Barbara
Merran Smith, Chief Innovation Officer, Clean Energy Canada
Phil MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer, Ember

Making Climate Progress in a Volatile World

Introduction from a Canadian perspective:
Mark Jaccard, Member, BC Climate Solutions Council and Professor, Simon Fraser University

Moderator: Fatima Syed, The Narwhal
Panelists: Chris Stark, Chief Executive, UK Committee on Climate Change
Sara Moarif, Head of Environment and Climate Change, IEA
Preety Bhandari, Senior Advisor, World Resources Institute

Capital markets in the Net Zero Transition

Moderator: Jane Ambachtsheer, Global Head of Sustainability, BNP Paribas
Panelists: Anna Murray, Global Head of ESG, SLC Management
Lindsay Patrick, Head, Strategic Initiatives and ESG, RBC Capital Markets
Joy Williams, Executive Director, Financial Institution Net-zero Transition Plans, GFANZ

Remarks from Susannah Goshko, U.K. High Commissioner to Canada

The Net-Zero Economy

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, in conversation with Akshat Rathi, Senior Climate Reporter, Bloomberg News.

Net-Zero Progress Report

Moderator: Marie-Pierre Ippersiel, Co-chair, NZAB
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change