On April 8, the Columbia Climate School and Columbia's M.S. in Sustainability Management program hosted the 11th Annual Climate Symposium. The virtual event, "Change The System, Change The Future: Building Prosperity For All In The Decade Of Climate Action," which was organized by the SUMASA Student Board, addressed how today’s sustainability leaders can break away from business-as-usual scenarios. The symposium presented thought-provoking keynotes, informative panels, and solutions-oriented conversations.
The event included six panels as well as an opening keynote from Senior Partner at McKinsey and Co. Dame Vivian Hunt, and a closing keynote from VP of Energy and Climate at XPRIZE, Dr. Marcius Extavour.
Dr. Steve Cohen, the director of the master's program, welcomed participants to the symposium with opening remarks on building prosperity for all in the decade of climate action.
The panels and discussions featured leading sustainability faculty and professionals and addressed a diverse array of urgent climate change concerns.
In "How do new ventures envision and shape a fair and sustainable world?", panelists included CEO and Co-founder at Kanin Energy Janice Tran; Founder and CFO at Impaakt Sylvain Massot; Partner at FJ Labs Arne Halleraker; and CEO and Co-Founder at Aero Engine Craft Private Limited and Ambassador at Solar Impulse Foundation Dr. Sarah Qureshi. The panel was moderated by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Management at Columbia Business School Joy Fairbanks, and covered the journey of entrepreneurs and those that support in their journey to drive environmental and social change.
After making net-zero commitments and under the sway of ESG pressures, investors and corporations are compelled to reduce their environmental and social impact. In "Rethinking finance for the climate and for all," Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the Research Program in Sustainability Management Satyajit Bose moderated a panel that included CEO of the Climate Investment Funds Mafalda Duarte; Sustainability Manager Private Assets at Lombard Odier Adriana Becerra-Cid; Communications Manager at Capitals Coalition David Thomas; and Sales Development Representative at Moody's ESG Solutions Alejandra Alonso.
In "Making zero waste a fair and sustainable reality," VP, Head of ESG at Bed, Bath & Beyond Danielle Azoulay moderated the panel with VP, Managing Director at Closed Loop Partners Danielle Joseph; Director of Circular Design at Eileen Fisher Carmen Gama; Strategic Design Manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Elodie Rousselot; and Former Head of Sustainability for Unilever North America Viviana Alvarez Sanchez. The retail leaders discussed different approaches and methodologies in which stakeholders across the value chain can collaborate in order to create circular systems.
Lamont Research Professor and Adjunct Scientist at NASA Marco Tedesco led "Applying advanced analytics to sustainable solutions," featuring Climate Scientist at NASA and Co-Director of the EJCJC Network at the Earth Institute Dr. Christian Braneon; Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona Beth Tellman; Managing Director of Emerging Technologies at Ernst & Young LLP Lior Keet; and Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group Mike Lyons.
In "Rethinking the sustainability of the clean energy transition," Senior Legal and Economics Researcher at CCSI Martin Dietrich Brauch led a panel that included Director of Climate, Environment & Conflict at the United States Institute of Peace Dr. Tegan Blaine; and Director at the Payne Institute and Professor of Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines Morgan Bazilian. The three discussed the differences between “renewable energy” and “sustainable energy."
Founder and Executive Director at WomenStrong International Susan Blaustein moderated a panel that included Associate Program Officer of Nathan Cummings Foundation Valerie Boucard; Executive Director of UPROSE Elizabeth Yeampierre; Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Kizzy Charles-Guzman; and Climate Justice Campaign Director, NDN Collective, Jade Begay. In "Climate justice solutions to create a prosperous and just transition," they discussed the intersection of the environmental crisis and equity struggles happening at a local and regional level.
Learn more about Columbia SUMASA and find out about upcoming events.