Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac outline two distinct futures for 2050: one if we fail to meet Paris Agreement climate targets, and another if we achieve a carbon-neutral, regenerative world. They emphasize that immediate action is crucial to address our climate emergency, presenting this as our final, defining choice.

Figueres, a Costa Rican diplomat with 35 years of experience, served as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change from July 2010. Her extensive background highlights the urgency of this pivotal moment.

Source: The RSA, March 4, 2020.

Join us for an online talk with acclaimed environmental journalist Eugene Linden, author of nine non-fiction books. He will discuss his new book, *Fire and Flood*, which examines how business interests have historically obscured scientific warnings and hindered climate action. Linden, whose *Winds of Change* won the Grantham Prize, previously covered environmental issues for *Time*.

In *Fire and Flood*, Linden reveals how big money prioritizes short-term profits over long-term threats. He details the insurance industry's dramatic shift, now retreating from high-risk regions like Florida and California due to unmanageable fire and flood risks. This signals a broader business awakening to the urgent need for rapid climate action as long-term consequences become immediate.

Boudreaux, President & CEO, discusses Oberon Fuels' mission to decarbonize the fuel and energy sectors. The company aims to slash the environmental impact of fuels, particularly in hard-to-abate areas like heavy-duty transportation and agriculture.

Oberon achieves this through renewable dimethyl ether (rDME). Their low or carbon-negative rDME fuel can reduce LPG's carbon intensity by up to 60% when blended, potentially cutting global CO2 by 750 million metric tons annually. rDME also offers a compelling approach for transporting hydrogen for its fast-growing applications.

Independent analyses by NASA and NOAA confirm that Earth's global surface temperatures in 2019 ranked as the second-warmest since 1880. Temperatures were 2°F (1.1°C) warmer than the late 19th century, second only to 2016.

This data continues the planet's long-term warming trend, with the five warmest years on instrumental record all occurring in the last five years. More information is available at NASA's press release.

Carbon pricing is rapidly advancing worldwide, with significant developments like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and new initiatives in Canada and Mexico. CCL Policy Fellow Dr. Danny Richter will provide a global overview, highlighting how America’s trading partners are using carbon pricing to cut pollution, level the playing field, and drive clean innovation.

Understanding these international trends is crucial for U.S. policy, especially as border adjustments and carbon efficiency become central. This session equips policy advocates with the global context and talking points needed to champion smart, fair carbon policy at home.

Esteemed futurist Michael Barnard will outline long-term decarbonization scenarios for the global economy. His projections cover key areas like buildings, distributed energy, concrete, steel, renewables, vehicle-to-grid technologies, and hydrogen, all grounded in physics, economics, and human nature.

Barnard spends his time projecting 40-80 years into the future, assisting executives, Boards, and investors in making informed decisions today. His global perspective is informed by extensive experience and regular publications on innovation, business, and technology.

For more information, visit our website: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com

NASA reported that Earth's average surface temperature in 2022 tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest on record, continuing the planet's long-term warming trend.

Global temperatures were 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.89 degrees Celsius) above the 1951-1980 baseline average, according to scientists from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS).

Professor Stefan Rahmstorf recently delivered a compelling lecture titled "Why the Ocean is Important to Everyone."

His presentation underscored the critical role marine ecosystems play in influencing global climate, weather patterns, and biodiversity. Rahmstorf highlighted the ocean's vital importance for sustaining both human well-being and the planet's overall health, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation.