An event organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

To promote learning and knowledge sharing on cutting-edge climate change science and technology

2:00-2:05pm: Welcoming Remarks

Kaveh Zahedi, Climate Change Coordinator, UNEP (Chair)
Gemma Shepherd, Environmental Affairs Officer, UNEP: objectives and structure of the Symposium

2:05-3:00pm: Energy Technology Roadmaps: Charting a Course for a Low Carbon Future

Presenter: Thomas Kerr, Senior Energy Analyst, Office of Sustainable Policy and Technology International Energy Agency (IEA)

Respondent: Amal-Lee Amin, Climate Change Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank

Accelerated research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of low GHG technologies is essential if these are to be deployed quickly and on a scale that keeps the global temperature increase below an acceptable limit. Analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and others demonstrates that a full portfolio of low-GHG energy technologies is needed to ensure effective climate change mitigation. While some technologies are expanding rapidly, others require additional government and private sector attention to achieve their potential. To chart a course for rapid expansion of low-GHG technologies, the IEA is developing a series of technology roadmaps that include milestones and actions for specific technologies. This session will examine how these roadmaps can be used as a tool to engage developing countries as they develop and implement their own clean technology development strategies.

3:00-3:55pm: Carbon Benefits of Sustainable Land Management – science, technology and economics of modelling, measurement and monitoring

Presenter: Dr. David Skole, Professor of Global Change Science, Department of Forestry Michigan State University

Respondent: Dr. Reiner Wassman, Coordinator, Rice and Climate Change Consortium, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines

There is widespread agreement about the importance of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) as part of global mitigation actions, and of the additional benefits of incorporating conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) into such actions. There are additional potential opportunities for reducing emissions and increasing carbon sequestration through sustainable land management in agricultural areas. However, many technical issues remain to be resolved in quantifying carbon benefits associated with sustainable land management. This session will look at scientific advances in quantifying, measuring and monitoring carbon benefits and help demonstrate that landscape carbon monitoring is technically feasible and economically viable.