CGI Annual Meeting
At the center of CGI is our Annual Meeting, held in New York each September coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly. This is a working session designed to provide insights into global problems for the purpose of enabling productive action in CGI’s four areas of focus: education, energy and climate change, global health and poverty alleviation.
- David Sandalow, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution
- Francis Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Carol Browner, Principal, The Albright Group, LLC
- Eileen Claussen, President, Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- Debbie Dingell, Trustee, The General Motors Foundation (John Dingell’s wife)
- Dr. Mohamed El-Ashry, Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation
- Yoriko Kawaguchi, Member of the House of Councillors, Japan
- Vinod Khosla, Partner, Khosla Ventures
- Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense
- Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General, World Conservation Union
- Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chief Executive, The Energy and Resources Institute
- William Reilly, Founding Partner, Aqua International Partners
- Jim Rogers, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Duke Energy Corporation
WORKING SESSION 1: Redefining Business As Usual Wednesday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
“Redefining Business As Usual” will address how climate change is causing companies large and small to rethink not only their interactions with employees, customers and the public—but increasingly their very business models. This panel will explore some of the most innovative and profitable strategies being adopted by leading businesses and their potential for widespread adoption.
Panelists:- Daniel Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University
- Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
- Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
- Jim Rogers, Chairman, President, & CEO, Duke Energy Corporation
- Ted Turner, Chairman, Turner Enterprises, Inc.
WORKING SESSION 2: Protecting Tropical Forests Wednesday, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
“Protecting Tropical Forests” will explore the crucial role tropical forests play in stabilizing the climate and how best to protect them. More than 20% of carbon dioxide emissions are caused by deforestation and land use change. This panel will discuss creative programs to protect tropical forests for the benefit of the global climate, biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Panelists:- Rosina Bierbaum, Dean and Professor, University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment
- Stuart E. Eizenstat, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
- Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute
- Franz Tattenbach, Executive Director, FUNDECOR
WORKING SESSION 3: Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success Thursday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
“Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success” will discuss the bold action needed to avert catastrophic climate change. The race to stabilize the climate will require a significant shift in how the world generates and consumes energy. This panel will explore critical levers and decision points that could determine success in meeting these ambitious goals.
Panelists:- John P. Holdren, Director, Woods Hole Research Center; Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy, Harvard University
- Ogunlade R. Davidson, Professor, University of Sierra Leone
- David Hawkins, Director, Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Anne Lauvergeon, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO, AREVA
- J. Craig Venter, Chairman & President, J. Craig Venter Institute
WORKING SESSION 4: Expanding Clean Energy Around the World Thursday, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
“Expanding Clean Energy Around the World” will focus on options for dramatically increasing access to clean energy around the world. The panel will discuss practical models for accelerating progress and delivering more win-win results, with special attention to the needs of the 2 billion people who currently lack access to modern energy services.
Panelists:- Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Correspondent, The Economist
- Lorraine Bolsinger, Vice President, Ecomagination, General Electric Company
- Ólafur Regnar Grimsson, President, The Republic of Iceland
- H, Harish Hande, Managing Director, SELCO Solar Light (P) Ltd.
- Christine Loh, OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Exchange Limited
WORKING SESSION 5: Accelerating Green Building Friday, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
“Accelerating Green Building” will explore opportunities for fighting climate change through buildings, which are responsible for more heat-trapping gases than vehicles. This session will demonstrate how investments in energy-saving and other climate-friendly building technologies can save money and contribute to solving the climate challenge.
Panelists:- William McDonough, Principal, William McDonough & Partners
- Maria Atkinson, Global Head of Sustainability, Lend Lease
- Carlton Brown, Principal & Chief Operating Officer, Full Spectrum of NY, LLC
- Karan Grover, Founder, Karan Grover & Associates
- Stephen Lane, Global Director, Capital Projects, Citi Realty Services, Citi
Climate Week: Climate Change Takes Center Stage
During the last week of September, three high-profile global meetings will address the challenge of climate change. On Monday, September 24, the United Nations will convene a unique High-Level Session of the General Assembly, at which dozens of heads of states will address this topic. Starting Wednesday, September 26, the Clinton Global Initiative will bring governments, business, NGOs and media together to catalyze concrete action to address climate change. Starting Thursday, September 27, the Bush administration will host representatives of leaders from 15 major economies for an unprecedented meeting on this topic.
To preview these events and assess their significance, Brookings will host a forum on Friday September 21. After the program, panelists will take audience questions.
Introduction:- Strobe Talbott, President, The Brookings Institution
- Carlos Pascual, Vice President and Director, Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution
- Yvo de Boer, Executive Director, United Nations, Framework Convention on Climate Change
- David B. Sandalow, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, chair of the Energy & Climate Working Group at the Clinton Global Initiative
Ambassador Room Hilton Embassy Row 2015 Massachusetts Ave, NW