Addressing the Climate & Energy Challenge
The climate and energy challenge is inherently global as individual nations cannot control the global thermostat in isolation and must collaborate to curb the consequences of climate change. Join the University of Chicago and Peking University for a joint forum convening academics, policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss how the US and China – the two largest carbon producers – and the world are addressing the climate and energy challenge. The panel discussions will elaborate on the impact climate change is having on civilization and how innovative technology, arts and the humanities, public policy, and industry are working to address this challenge. The forum will highlight the conflicting goals of confronting climate change and how decisions made today will impact all of humanity for years to come.
Videos
Oct 12 - Is There a Path Forward on Climate Diplomacy?
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Climate diplomacy between the United States and China has been a bright spot in international efforts to confront climate change and in the broader relationship between the two countries. As the largest greenhouse gas emitters, the pairing of China and the United States largely made the 2015 Paris Agreement possible and more recently paved the way for an agreement in Glasgow, Scotland. But as China and the US attempt to work through a range of other challenging issues, there are questions whether cooperation will continue on the climate front. Will China and the United States put aside their differences and continue to work together to lead the world in climate diplomacy? What role could a new clean energy arms race play in impeding or inciting climate progress internationally?
Join the Fireside Chat on the opening date of the joint forum, the former deputy director general of China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation and current President of the Energy Foundation in China, and Jonathan Pershing, the former US Deputy Climate Envoy and current program director of environment at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The event will be moderated by Lisa Friedman, climate policy reporter for The New York Times.
Oct 18 - A Humanistic Approach to Climate Change
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Scholars in the humanities and social sciences are working to uncover the root causes of climate change, which require a deep understanding of the human connection to the environment. In this panel discussion, academics will explore how the rise of a consumerist culture impacts society and led to climate change, highlighting its inequitable impact on different communities. Addressing this climate injustice requires a realignment of societal priorities, exploring what it means to live a good life.
Oct 20 - Turning Down the Temperature: How the Finance Industry is Impacting Corporate Climate Action
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As climate concerns accelerate and trillions of dollars are managed with a climate-related lens, corporations face increasing pressure from investors, asset managers, and banks regarding their carbon footprints, climate strategies, and environmental disclosures. Investors clamor for accurate and standardized corporate reporting to help inform their investment decisions. Is it investor overreach or not bold enough? Hear from corporate, financial, and reporting experts as they discuss the implications and impact of this current market dynamic.
Oct 25 - The Impact of Climate Change on Human Health
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In an increasingly more volatile and connected world, development can no longer be measured by economic growth alone and must consider the human impact on the planet’s environment and its feedbacks on society. For the first time, the United Nations' Human Development report has shown a decline in the global Human Development Index -- in part caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but also due to climate change. Hear from the report’s Director, Pedro Conceição, and from academics in China and the US using new methods to measure the local impacts of rising temperatures and creating big data to track air pollution as they discuss how to reduce the impact of climate change on human health.
Oct 27 - The Transformative Potential of Clean Energy Technology
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With the US and China slated to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and 2060 respectively, energy conversion and storage must be made more efficient and robust in order to meet the needs of the average American or Chinese citizen. This panel will explore how technological advances in green hydrogen and the vehicle-to-grid system for electric vehicles can help achieve this goal. Each speaker will showcase how transformative technologies can help meet the energy needs of both individuals and the private sector while reducing both countries' reliance on fossil fuels.
Nov 5 - Climate-Resistant Ecosystems as a Solution to Climate Change
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Current emission trends and the earth’s rising temperatures have a significant impact on climate ecosystems. In addition to natural means such as carbon sinks, scientists are leveraging fundamental science and computational tools to predict responses and engineer climate-resistant ecosystems using novel materials, sensing devices, and biochemical strategies. This discussion will focus on how scientific advances and an interdisciplinary approach are needed to mitigate the impact of climate change.
About the Forum
The University of Chicago and Peking University have a longstanding partnership further strengthened by the recent establishment of Peking University’s Center in Chicago. The 2022 Joint Forum on Addressing the Climate and Energy Challenge marks another milestone in a growing collaboration and will highlight institutional strengths in addressing the global climate and energy challenge. Building upon the signature forums of each university, this hybrid event will foster dialogue among academics, policy makers, regulators, and leaders in industry from both nations.
The University of Chicago has partnered with the China-United States Exchange Foundation to produce the annual US-China Forum since 2015. Each year, the Forum brings together renowned experts from the University of Chicago and China for high-level engagement focused on issues of importance to both countries and, by extension, the world. Peking University’s annual Beijing Forum has brought together renowned scholars, influential policy makers, and thought leaders from more than 70 countries and regions around the world to address the theme of “The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All,” since its inception in 2004. This year’s Joint Forum with the University of Chicago marks the inauguration of the Beijing Forum Global, a sister forum to the Beijing Forum developed in partnership with PKU’s valued academic partners.
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