8th International & Environmental Congress

The 8th International and Environmental Congress will be held one month before the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France. This affords a singular opportunity to bring together business and policy leaders, civil society and people from the academy in the region, to prepare, educate, and energize them for the coming COP. At the conclusion of COP20 in Perú, Lima the Parties to the UNFCCC agreed to come to COP21 with a shared determination by all to deliver significant national contributions to build a low carbon resilient future, initial capitalization of the Green Climate Fund, and the mobilization of a broad coalition of actors turning potential into reality on the ground without delay. Many experts agree that we need a deep transformation to zero-carbon and low-carbon economies through carbon pricing, to reflect the social cost of carbon; improved technologies through research, development and demonstration projects; and clear national pathways giving regulatory and policy guidance to private investors. The Congress will be focused on the main topics of the universal agreement to be signed in Paris, with special emphasis in aspects of interest for Colombia and the Latin American Region, such as public policies, economic instruments, private sector initiatives, business opportunities and the role of the academy. Main Themes:

• Deep decarbonization of the economy
• Financing climate change actions
• Role of carbon markets to face climate change
• Risks faced by companies as a result of climate change
• Strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change
• Pre-2020 action

Specific presentations on relevant topics for the decarbonization of the economy will take place during the Congress and will bring together practitioners and experts:

• Low-carbon transport
• Sustainable cities
• Energy efficiency
• Low-carbon agriculture & food security
• Short-lived climate pollutants
• Low- and no-carbon energy in a changing climate