Building the Foundations of Africa’s Carbon Markets with Integrity
Sunday 3 December, 9:00
Global South Pavilion
Attendee: Pollination Executive Director Maggie Comstock
The Global Energy Transition: Leveraging New Technologies to Achieve SDG7, hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding
Monday 4 December, 10:15 – 11:45
Goals House
Considering the current circumstances facing the achievement of SDG 7, this event is designed to foster impactful dialogue around increasing the global use of the renewable energy mix and battery storage. This event will feature a keynote speech by David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy and CEO, AES. The keynote will be followed by a panel discussing the different technologies that will help further enable the energy transition, with an audience comprised of the private and public sector thought leaders.
Moderator: Pollination Managing Director & Head of Americas, John Morton
Other speakers:
- David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy and CEO, AES
Carbon Market Institute (CMI) panel event “Nature-based Solutions for Net Zero”
Monday 4 December, 15:00
Australia Pavilion, Blue Zone
Investors are keen to scale up investment in nature-based solutions, and there now exist real opportunities to reduce emissions and simultaneously engage in climate repair-focused carbon market activities that support environmental, social and economic co-benefits. Explore how new innovations in nature-based financing is creating opportunities for markets, communities and ecosystem services in Australia and internationally.
Speaker: Pollination Executive Director, Anna Hancock
Other panellists:
- Janet Hallows, CMI (Moderator)
- Rich Gilmore, CEO, Carbon Growth Partners
- Katharine Tapley, Head of Sustainable Finance, ANZ
- Elisa de Wit, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Activating and enabling soil as a strategic tool, hosted by Yara International
Tuesday 5 December, 09:30 – 10:30
Food Systems Pavilion, Blue Zone
This session will explore the trifecta of policy, finance, and data to enable soil as a strategic tool to deliver on the Paris Agreement:
- What agricultural policies and environmental regulations are needed to protect and regenerate soil and promote sustainable land use?
- What financial mechanisms incentivise farmers to prioritise soil health in the long term while increasing productivity and livelihoods from existing agricultural land?
- How can soil data be securely and efficiently shared to promote sustainable decision-making and practices by farmers, off-takers and policy-makers alike?
- How do we lock the potential of soil as a CCS mechanism?
Moderator: CO-CEO at Pollination Foundation, Jane Hutchinson
Panel:
- Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara International
- Berry Marttin, Member of the Managing Board, Rabobank
- Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Co-Lead, Coalition for Action for Soil Health
Informing Nature Positive Decision Making, hosted by S&P Global
Tuesday 5 December, 13:30 – 15:00
Markets are increasingly at risk from the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Businesses, banks and investment managers must now integrate their impacts and dependencies on nature into transition planning. How is this done, and what does a nature positive transition look like?
Speaker: Pollination Foundation Co-CEO, Jane Hutchinson
Remaking trade for a cleaner future, hosted by the Atlantic Council
Tuesday 5 December, 14:00 – 14:45
Energy Transportation Hub, Green Zone
As countries advance their technological solutions, in the wake of the Global Stocktake, which shows world falling far short of the emissions reductions required, the potential to restructure the World Trade Organization (WTO) and international trade system in a way that provides sharper incentives for sustainable production and consumption can redirect the global economy toward a more favorable trajectory to accelerate clean energy infrastructure development and deployment. Panelists will discuss the findings of the Villars Framework for a Sustainable Trade System, the culmination of a multi-stakeholder project to develop a comprehensive, people-centered, and climate-aligned trade reform agenda that aligns the trade reform agenda with national climate action, and reduces market barriers to trade in clean energy technology.
Speaker: Pollination Managing Director & Head of Americas John Morton
Panel:
- Dan Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University
- Jan Ives Remy, Director, Shridath Ramphal Center at the University of West Indies
- James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Group Holdings Limited
Australia as a renewable energy superpower, hosted by Austrade
Tuesday 5 December, 16:00 – 17:00
Australia Pavilion, Blue Zone
Australia is positioning to become a Renewable Energy Superpower, as the world transforms to achieve net zero.
This panel discussion and green economy prospectus launch will explore the global benefits from Australia’s ambition to become a Renewable Energy Superpower, projects and actions underway, and the trade and investment opportunities from the greatest global transformation of our time: achieving net zero and a green economy.
To cover:
- Australia’s opportunity and ambition to become a RE Superpower
- The global benefits from achieving this ambition.
- Actions and projects underway and needed to realise this ambition and the resulting opportunities for investors and exporters.
Speaker: Pollination Executive Director, Anna Hancock
A Nexus Approach to Finance, Biodiversity and Climate, hosted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
Wednesday 6 December, 09:00 – 10:00
Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, Blue Zone
The session will bring together high-level government officials and financial sector representatives to discuss the opportunities for synergy and potential conflicts arising from emerging financial instruments available to help mitigate climate change and preserve biodiversity.
Speaker: Pollination Foundation Co-CEO Jane Hutchinson
Unlocking Nature-based Solutions towards Nature Positive, hosted by Petronas
Wednesday 6 December, 11:45 – 12:30
Malaysia Pavilion, Blue Zone
Nature is experiencing dangerous deterioration with one million species threatened with extinction, drying up of water sources and soil infertility. In attempt to halt and reverse current loss of nature, the Global Goal for Nature was rolled out in 2022 alongside the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to guide global actions on nature and to achieve nature positive by 2030, measured against a baseline of 2020.
The nature-climate nexus is becoming apparent, as protecting and restoring nature is critical for mitigating climate change and achieving net-zero emissions globally. Malaysia, as the 17th most biodiverse country in the world, offers a carbon crediting potential of up to 40 million tons of CO2 annually through NBS projects, equivalent to 3 percent of the world’s NBS potential (McKinsey Analytics). Leveraging its extensive forest cover, the nation is poised to become an NBS powerhouse.
This session will discuss the role of NBS in achieving nature positive by 2030, the expected market trajectory, opportunities & challenges, as well as what are the policies/ framework that could streamline and fast-track the investment & deployment of NBS. Spotlight should also be given on megadiverse countries, including Malaysia, on how to unlock the NBS market in these regions.
Speaker: Pollination Managing Director Rick Saines
Attendees: Pollination Director Sara Oishi
Moderator: Katie Sullivan, Managing Director, IETA
Panel:
- Kristian Teleki, CEO, Fauna & Flora International
- Dr Grethel Aguilar, Acting Director General / Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, President, International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN)
- Rick Saines, Managing Director, Pollination
- Dato’ Indera Mohd Ridza bin Awang, Director-General of Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia
Financing Sustainable Infrastructure to Support Net Zero and Nature Positive Climate Impacts
Wednesday 6 December, 12:00 – 13:00
Canada Pavilion, Blue Zone
This event brings together the perspectives from nature conservationists and public and private climate financiers to highlight the opportunities for increased investment in biodiversity and climate-friendly infrastructure in emerging markets and developing economies. This includes a better understanding of the incentives and risks for both public and private investors as they relate to climate and biodiversity; a closer look at the financial tools needed to accelerate investment such as concessional finance and blended finance solutions; the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and rethinking partnerships to advance dual agendas of climate action and halting of biodiversity loss; and continued support for stronger enabling environments that can advance effective and complementary policy and regulatory frameworks.
Moderator: Pollination Foundation Co-CEO, Jane Hutchinson
Panellists:
- Lori Kerr, CEO, Findev Canada
- Christopher Marks, MD, MUFG
- Andrew Vasila, Senior Investment Analyst ESG & Global Fixed Income, Mackenzie Investments
- Richard Manley, CSO, CPPIB
Accelerating Private Capital into Nature-based Solutions: A multi-stakeholder collaboration approach
Wednesday 6th December, 12:15 – 13:15
5th Capacity Building Hub, Blue Zone
The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Financial Services Taskforce (FSTF) is working with the Mangrove Breakthrough (MB) initiative from the UN Climate Change High-level Champions to support the development of a set of guiding principles to facilitate private capital funds into NbS projects. The focus on the work is on coastal ecosystems as a well-known case study (yet still widely unfunded). The aim is to use these biomes as an example on actions that should be taken to support project developer in elevating their interventions to be investable and/or bankable.
The aim of this session is to showcase to a wider group the power of collaboration among private institutions, NGOs and civil society, in addressing biodiversity loss.
Moderator: Pollination Managing Director & Head of Americas, John Morton
The panel:
- Laura Barlow, Group Head of Sustainability, Barclays
- Jenny McInnes, Managining Director, Group Head of Sustainability Policy & Partnerships, HSBC
- Ignace Begiun, Ocean and Coastal Zones Lead and Acting Nature Head, Climate Champions Team
Coastal Nature-based Solutions
Wednesday 6 December, 14:30 – 16:30
BCG Pavilion, Green Zone
The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Financial Services Task Force, Barclays and HSBC are hosting the third and final Nature-based Solutions (NbS) discussion and networking reception of 2023 in partnership with BCG.
The event will celebrate the launch of both the Financial Services Task Force and Pollination Practitioners Guide and the Mangrove Breakthrough Finance Roadmap and discuss practical next steps to crowd in finance for nature. The combined aim of these two initiatives is to unlock public and private capital towards coastal nature based solutions
This closed-door event will include a panel with representatives from Pollination, Climate Champions Team, HSBC and Barclays, followed by a networking session to drive impactful discussion around 2024 workplan in response to these outputs.
Speaker: Pollination Managing Director & Head of Americas John Morton
Attendees: Pollination Foundation Co-CEO Ariadne Gorring and Pollination Director Sara Oishi
Climate Leadership Summit – Global Stocktake: Energy Security, Net Zero and Sustainability
Wednesday 6 December, 16:00 – 21:00
Burj Daman
A high level discussion on the challenges of energy security, net zero and sustainability.
Speaker: Pollination Executive Director Anna Hancock
Other panellists:
- Munir Hassan, Partner, CMS (Chair)
- Annika Ramsköld, Vice President and Head of the COP28 Delegation, Vattenfall
- Angela Churie Kallhauge, Executive Vice President and Head of the COP28 Delegation, Environmental Defence Fund
- Jan Spin, President of Americas, Blue Green Water Technologies
- Leon Kamhi, Executive Director, Head of Responsibility, Federated Hermes Limited
The State of Play in the Carbon Removals Market
Wednesday 6 December, 17:00 – 19:30
Herriot Watt Dubai Campus
Both nature-based carbon removals and engineered carbon removals (CDRs) will have a growing role to play in the transition to net zero. This event is a stocktake for these two critical but relatively early stage but fast evolving sectors.
Speaker: Pollination Managing Director, Rick Saines
Financing the clean energy transition
Friday 8 December, 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Australia Pavilion, Blue Zone
Vast amounts of capital will be required to triple the installed capacity of renewables by 2030 across the world. For Australia, which has aspirations not just to largely decarbonise its electricity system by 2030, but to become a renewable energy superpower, estimates of the required capital to reach its potential range between AUD $6-9 trillion (US $4-6 billion).
This session will explore the challenges and drivers in attracting debt and equity, the evolving business models and project financing structures that accelerate investment. It will also explore latest finance innovations and how these are responding to key policy drivers and overcome the challenges for clean energy projects in Australia.
Speaker: Pollination Managing Director & Head of Americas John Morton
Other panellists:
- Mr Kane Thornton, CEO, Clean Energy Council (Australia)
- Mr Kobad Bhavnagri, Global Head of Strategy, Bloomberg NEF
- Ms Monique Miller, Chief Investment Officer, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
National Strategies to International Carbon Markets
Saturday 9 December, 11:00 – 12:30
ADB Pavilion
International carbon markets are an integral element of the climate policy architecture that can help countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively, achieve climate targets articulated under their nationally determined contributions, and raise ambition over time. The landscape of the international carbon market is evolving and expected to be quite diverse as carbon credits can be used for compliance as well as voluntary purposes within or beyond national jurisdictions. It is particularly encouraging to see the growing momentum for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement as well as the Voluntary Carbon Markets.
While these carbon markets bring opportunities, they also bring challenges due to their close linkages such as the impact of domestic markets on supply-demand dynamics in international carbon markets, which calls for strategic thinking in devising national strategies.
In this event, ADB will convene international experts and policymakers for an insightful conversation on how to view carbon market opportunities holistically and systematically devise national strategies to participate in and take advantage of international carbon markets.
Speaker: Pollination Executive Director, Maggie Comstock
Other speakers:
- Bruno Carrasco, Director General and concurrently Chief Compliance Officer, Asian Development Bank
- Syeda Hadika Jamshaid, Carbon Market and NDCs Advisor, Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan
- Thanh Cong Nguyen, Assistant Director, Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam
- Sandra Lindström, Head of International Climate Cooperation, Swedish Energy Agency
- VK Duggal, Principal Climate Change Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Innovative Finance Approaches for Nature-based Solutions
Saturday 9 December, 11:00 – 12:30
ADB Pavilion
The event aims to brainstorm with the identified knowledge and technical partners on innovative finance approaches to efficiently implement nature positive solutions. Inputs and suggestions from the roundtable will help provide strategic directions for the development of implementation approaches and guidelines for the Nature Solutions Finance Hub.
Speaker: Pollination Foundation Co-CEO, Ariadne Gorring
Other speakers:
- Simon Zadek, CEO, Nature Finance
- Sean Kidney, CEO, CBI
Banking on Nature-based Solutions: Sharing experience of current opportunities and barriers to scaling NbS through private investment.
Saturday 9 December, 15:30 – 16:30
Panda Pavilion, Blue Zone, COP28
NbS can help tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, while supporting human wellbeing and a just transition. Increasing private finance flows to NbS is essential to reach full potential. Accelerators and funds exist, but it can be hard to see how they relate and what they have learned. This session shares the latest insights from range of speakers.
Speaker: Pollination Managing Director & Head of Investments Diana Callebaut
Other panellists:
- Will Baldwin-Cantello, Director NbS, WWF-UK
- Craig Hanson, Managing Director and Executive Vice President for Programs at World Resources Institute – representing NbS Accelerator’s Policy Accelerator
- Gautier Queru, Managing Director Nature Capital Mirova – representing Nature+ Accelerator
- Lucia Rodriguez, Birdlife – representing Forest Accelerator
