CGI Annual Meeting

Posted by Brad Johnson Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 GMT

At the center of CGI is our Annual Meeting, held in New York each September coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly. This is a working session designed to provide insights into global problems for the purpose of enabling productive action in CGI’s four areas of focus: education, energy and climate change, global health and poverty alleviation.

Energy and Climate Chair
  • David Sandalow, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution
Advisory Board
  • Francis Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Carol Browner, Principal, The Albright Group, LLC
  • Eileen Claussen, President, Pew Center on Global Climate Change
  • Debbie Dingell, Trustee, The General Motors Foundation (John Dingell’s wife)
  • Dr. Mohamed El-Ashry, Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation
  • Yoriko Kawaguchi, Member of the House of Councillors, Japan
  • Vinod Khosla, Partner, Khosla Ventures
  • Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense
  • Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General, World Conservation Union
  • Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chief Executive, The Energy and Resources Institute
  • William Reilly, Founding Partner, Aqua International Partners
  • Jim Rogers, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Duke Energy Corporation

WORKING SESSION 1: Redefining Business As Usual Wednesday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

“Redefining Business As Usual” will address how climate change is causing companies large and small to rethink not only their interactions with employees, customers and the public—but increasingly their very business models. This panel will explore some of the most innovative and profitable strategies being adopted by leading businesses and their potential for widespread adoption.

Panelists:
  • Daniel Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University
  • Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
  • Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
  • Jim Rogers, Chairman, President, & CEO, Duke Energy Corporation
  • Ted Turner, Chairman, Turner Enterprises, Inc.

WORKING SESSION 2: Protecting Tropical Forests Wednesday, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

“Protecting Tropical Forests” will explore the crucial role tropical forests play in stabilizing the climate and how best to protect them. More than 20% of carbon dioxide emissions are caused by deforestation and land use change. This panel will discuss creative programs to protect tropical forests for the benefit of the global climate, biodiversity and local livelihoods.

Panelists:
  • Rosina Bierbaum, Dean and Professor, University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment
  • Stuart E. Eizenstat, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
  • Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute
  • Franz Tattenbach, Executive Director, FUNDECOR

WORKING SESSION 3: Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success Thursday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

“Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success” will discuss the bold action needed to avert catastrophic climate change. The race to stabilize the climate will require a significant shift in how the world generates and consumes energy. This panel will explore critical levers and decision points that could determine success in meeting these ambitious goals.

Panelists:
  • John P. Holdren, Director, Woods Hole Research Center; Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy, Harvard University
  • Ogunlade R. Davidson, Professor, University of Sierra Leone
  • David Hawkins, Director, Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Anne Lauvergeon, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO, AREVA
  • J. Craig Venter, Chairman & President, J. Craig Venter Institute

WORKING SESSION 4: Expanding Clean Energy Around the World Thursday, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

“Expanding Clean Energy Around the World” will focus on options for dramatically increasing access to clean energy around the world. The panel will discuss practical models for accelerating progress and delivering more win-win results, with special attention to the needs of the 2 billion people who currently lack access to modern energy services.

Panelists:
  • Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Correspondent, The Economist
  • Lorraine Bolsinger, Vice President, Ecomagination, General Electric Company
  • Ólafur Regnar Grimsson, President, The Republic of Iceland
  • H, Harish Hande, Managing Director, SELCO Solar Light (P) Ltd.
  • Christine Loh, OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Exchange Limited

WORKING SESSION 5: Accelerating Green Building Friday, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

“Accelerating Green Building” will explore opportunities for fighting climate change through buildings, which are responsible for more heat-trapping gases than vehicles. This session will demonstrate how investments in energy-saving and other climate-friendly building technologies can save money and contribute to solving the climate challenge.

Panelists:
  • William McDonough, Principal, William McDonough & Partners
  • Maria Atkinson, Global Head of Sustainability, Lend Lease
  • Carlton Brown, Principal & Chief Operating Officer, Full Spectrum of NY, LLC
  • Karan Grover, Founder, Karan Grover & Associates
  • Stephen Lane, Global Director, Capital Projects, Citi Realty Services, Citi