As leaders in education, research, and knowledge creation, universities are in a unique position to leverage their expertise and make significant advancements in the fight against the climate crisis. The event will discuss the critical role of universities in addressing the climate crisis from both the faculty and student perspective. What are universities currently doing well and what more can they do to prepare the next generation of climate leaders and deliver evidence- based climate solutions? This event brings together students and faculty from Columbia University, Yale University and Tsinghua University to discuss this important question and implications for the future.

Hosted by Columbia University, Yale University, and Tsinghua University on behalf of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC). The mission of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) is to advance climate change solutions through research, education, and public outreach, and to partner with industry, non-profit and government organizations to promote rapid implementation from local to global scales.

Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 13:00 – 14:30pm UTC

·KEYNOTES

    Dr. Alex Halliday, Founding Dean, Columbia Climate School; Director, The Earth Institute at Columbia University

    Dr. Daniel Esty, Director, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy; Hillhouse Professor at Yale University

    Dr. LI Zheng, Secretary General, Global Alliance of Universities on Climate; Executive Vice President, Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University

·PANEL 1 – “Climate Action in Universities” 

     Moderator – Daniel Zarrilli, Special Advisor, Climate & Sustainability, Columbia

     Panelists

         Dr. Lisa Dale, Lecturer in Discipline, Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development, Columbia University

         Casey Pickett, Director, Yale Carbon Charge, Yale University 

         Dr. Binbin Wang, Executive Secretary-General of Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, Tsinghua University 

     Discussion + Q&A

·PANEL 2 – “Student Perspective on University Climate Action”

    Moderator – Jessica Prata, Assistant Vice President, Office of Environmental Stewardship, Columbia University

    Panelists

         Aarti Arora, MA Climate and Society, Columbia Climate School

         Alisa White, Law Student, Yale Law School 

        Shangchen Zhang, Global Environment Program, Tsinghua University

    Discussion + Q&A

The Climate Group has selected the Columbia Climate School as its university partner for this year’s Climate Week NYC. Running Sept. 20-26, Climate Week NYC convenes key climate leaders to accelerate climate action and discuss ambitious commitments ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, or COP26, later this fall in Glasgow.

Event Contact Information:

Climate School Events 

climateschool@columbia.edu

More info: 

Climate Week NYC: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/ 

* Virtual event via Zoom, be sure to register with your Zoom associated email.