Upcoming programmes

The Climate Urgency Summit in Washington DC, February 28 – March 3, 2010 will be the first major opportunity for activists, political leaders, business executives and scientists to come together in the aftermath of Copenhagen to take stock of what now needs to be done to deal with the escalating climate crisis. The Summit will set forth the latest findings from scientists, will present many of the solutions that can enable people and institutions everywhere to take climate leadership, and will profile the Brazilian Amazon, which has made the commitment to reduce deforestation by 80% by 2020, as well as other cities, states and regions taking climate leadership. The goal is to mobilize global action around a common sense of urgency and possibility.

Conference Themes

Beyond Copenhagen

How can we accelerate the timeline to reduce CO2 emissions from 2050 to 2020? What is the science that supports immediate action? Who will lead? How can we support sub national actors in cities, states and regions willing to take action?

Supporting the Amazon and Creating 80/20 Campaigns worldwide

How can the NGO and donor community come together to support the Amazon in accomplishing the 80/20 goal and do so in a way that is replicable and scalable worldwide? What other organizations, cities, states and regions are willing to make similar 80/20 commitments?

Taking Action

What are the best practices and innovative ideas, methodologies, and technologies, and social technologies that will enable people to take climate leadership? How can we develop an open source data base to allow people everywhere to access the technologies that will enable the 80/20 transitions? What are the most effective ways to link efforts, share information, and generate the political will to reach the 80/20 goal?

In addition, the Summit will include:

“Global Lobbying Day” so that we can put pressure on the United States Government and talk with Congressional representatives and government leaders about the imperative for decisive action in introducing and passing aggressive climate legislation.

Rapid Response Teams—Development of cross-disciplinary teams that can be deployed at the request of governments, corporations, non-profits to assist in the transition to sustainable policies and practices.

Positive Futures—The Forum will integrate an array of new media that is telling the story of a positive future. Recognizing the power of video and other forms of interactive media to transcend cultural and political barriers, we will be aggregating the best media that can support the global campaign. The Forum will also be integrating the best scenario work with the need to give people a sense of hope.

“Climate Carnival” with Brazilian and other musicians to celebrate Climate Leadership and the extraordinary work being done to create a carbon free future.

The Washington Summit will utilize innovation facilitation models, collaboration software, and new media technology to produce concrete action points that will guide our activities going forward.

For more details, click here to go to the State of the World Forum website.