Global Roundtable on Climate Change

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The Global Roundtable on Climate Change[1], convened by the Earth Institute [2] at Columbia University, brings together high-level, critical stakeholders from all sectors and all regions of the world - including senior executives from the private sector, leading scientists, and officials from international governmental and non-governmental organizations - to discuss and explore areas of potential consensus regarding core scientific, technological, and economic issues critical to shaping sound public policies on climate change.

The Roundtable has five over-arching objectives:

1) To explore the potential for developing an improved global consensus on core scientific, technological, economic and policy issues related to climate change—one that simultaneously considers the need to mitigate the very significant risks posed by anthropogenic climate change and the need for economic growth and human development around the world;

2) To explore technological and policy options for mitigating climate change while meeting global energy needs;

3) To champion demonstration projects that test and scale sustainable energy technologies and other activities and policies that address climate change;

4) To provide a unique forum for discussion, analysis and exchange of ideas among businesses from all economic sectors and all parts of the world, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, and leading academic experts; and

5) To help catalyze new initiatives and interactions among Roundtable participants that address climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Participants in the Roundtable include officials from a diverse array of corporations, research institutions, and government organizations, including: ABB, Air France, Alcan, Alcoa, Allianz, American Electric Power, BASF, Bayer, China Renewable Energy Industry Association, Citigroup, Columbia University, Deutsche Telekom, DuPont, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Endesa, Environmental Defense, Eskom, Eni, FPL Group, General Electric, Iberdrola, ING Group, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, International Gas Union, Munich Re, National Grid, Rainforest Alliance, Republic of Iceland, Ricoh, Suntech Power, Swiss Re, Vattenfall, Volvo, World Council on Churches, World Petroleum Council, and many others. The Roundtable is made possible by a generous grant from the Lenfest Foundation. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute serves as Chair of the Roundtable. David L. Downie serves as Director.

On February 20, 2007, the Roundtable launched "The Path to Climate Sustainability: A Joint Statement by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change". The Joint Statement outlines a bold post-Kyoto framework and has been endorsed by over 100 of the Roundtable participating corporations and organizations. The Statement outlines ways to affect change at the levels of policy and industry, particularly in regards to creating sustainable energy systems necessary for achieving economic growth. The Statement provided the basis for an online petition for all to sign at Next Generation Earth [3].