RMI at COP25

Perhaps the most important climate event of the year is the COP international climate conference, and of course RMI is out in force at COP25 this week in Madrid. RMI will be speaking at and/or sponsoring the following events:

December 10

A New Hope for America’s Climate Future

Presidential Candidate Mike Bloomberg, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and other officials will announce a new report by America’s Pledge that estimates the decarbonization potential of current US policies and accelerated measures at the state and local level compared with what could be accomplished with a combination of federal and local leadership on greenhouse gas reduction.

This will be followed by a panel discussion of the report’s findings, which will feature Carl Pope, former executive director of the Sierra Club and co-chair of America’s Pledge, RMI Principal Carla Frisch, Nate Hultman, director of the school of global sustainability at the University of Maryland, and others. RMI was a co-lead in writing the report Accelerating America’s Pledge, and coverage of the report and its underlying assumptions can be found in Energy Transition Magazine.

The event will be live-streamed here.

4:15 – 5:45 p.m. at the Climate Action Center, Hall 6, Blue Zone, IFEMA

December 11

Green Banks for Deeper Climate Action

At an event showcasing efforts to develop green banks to meet national climate goals, Angela Whitney, a manager from RMI’s Global Climate Finance Program will be giving an overview of the green bank design platform. Whitney will join speakers from Mongolia, Rwanda, New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain, who will discuss progress in and challenges to establishing green banks in their respective nations in “Country-Driven Climate Finance: Green Banks for Enhanced Ambition.”

10:30–11:00 a.m. at the Pavilion of the Americas, Blue Zone

Unlocking Climate Finance

While nations have pledged billions in climate finance, it doesn’t always reach the places where it is most needed. On Wednesday, RMI and partners will hold a panel on the Climate Finance Action Network, a new solution designed to put these funds within reach.

12:00–1:00 p.m. at the NDC Partnership Pavilion

Climate Alignment for Funders

How can financial institutions ensure their investments are consistent with the goals of the Paris Accord? Climate Policy Initiative and the UNEP Finance Initiative will join RMI for a discussion of this vital issue, which features a keynote by RMI Managing Director Paul Bodnar.

4:45–6:15 p.m. in Room 4, Main Side Event Area