Solar panels against NYC skyline

The Energy Transition

Friday, May 10, 2019
8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

The third annual “Climate Science & Investment Conference” will examine two interrelated business trends that are of interest to the investment community, and the relationship to climate change. How will the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy impact the power sector’s generation of electricity? How will the transition from the internal combustion engine to electric vehicles affect the transportation sector? And, most importantly, will these two business transitions be large enough or rapid enough to change the trajectory of emissions to avoid the most dramatic impacts of climate change?

This conference — a joint effort by the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory — brings together climate scientists and business leaders to understand how new advances in climate science can inform investments in specific sectors of the global economy. The forum explores topics that address the value and opportunity of using a science-based approach to inform and guide business and investment decisions.

Participants will include leaders from the investment community, a range of business sectors, and academia.

This event is invitation only, and tickets are non-transferable. Space is limited to 100 participants. If you are interested in being added to the invitation list, please contact us.

Agenda

8:00–8:30 a.m.

Breakfast and Registration

   
8:30–8:40 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

 Andre Bertolotti

Andre Bertolotti
Global Head of Research and Data, Sustainable Investing 
BlackRock

 
8:40–8:50 a.m.

The 21st Century Energy Transition

 Bruce Usher

Bruce Usher
Elizabeth B. Strickler ’86 and Mark T. Gallogly ’86 Faculty Director
Co-director of The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise
Columbia Business School

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8:50–9:30 a.m.

Investments in the Renewable Energy Transition

 David Giordano

David Giordano
Managing Director, Renewable Power Group
BlackRock Alternative Investors

 

  Geoffrey Heal

Geoffrey Heal
Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise
Columbia Business School

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9:30–10:00 a.m.

The Role of Storage in the Energy Transition

 Alan West

Alan West
Samuel Ruben-Peter G. Viele Professor of Electrochemistry; Professor of Chemical Engineering and of Earth and Environmental Engineering; Chair of Chemical Engineering
Columbia University

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10:00–10:30 a.m.

Coffee Break

   
10:30–11:10 a.m.

The Transition to Electric Vehicles

Jiong Ma

Jiong Ma
Senior Partner
Braemar Energy Ventures
 

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R.A. Farrokhnia

R.A. Farrokhnia ’04
Executive Director, Dean's Office
Adjunct Associate Professor of Business, Economics
Columbia Business School

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11:10–11:40 a.m.

The Impact of China's Climate Policy on the Energy Transition

 David Sandalow

David Sandalow
Inaugural Fellow
Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs

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11:40 a.m.–12:10 p.m.

Possible Climate Change Futures: Warming, Impacts, and Uncertainties

 Kate Marvel

Kate Marvel
Associate Research Scientist
NASA GISS

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12:10–12:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks

 Peter deMenocal

Peter deMenocal
Thomas Alva Edison/Con Edison Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences;
Director, Center for Climate and Life
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory;
Dean of Science, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

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References and Links Provided by Speakers

Andre Bertolotti

Peter deMenocal

R.A. Farrokhnia ’04

Geoff Heal

Kate Marvel

David Sandalow

Bruce Usher

Alan West

Other References