High Level Parliamentary Seminar
Climate Change
2 October 2008
OECD Headquarters, Paris
Programme
|
9.30 – 10.00 |
Introduction – Anthony Gooch, Director, Public Affairs and Communication Directorate, OECD |
|
10.00 – 11.15 |
Overview on the Economics of Climate Change Mitigation – Helen Mountford, Head, Climate Change, Natural Resources and Environmental Outlooks Division, Environment Directorate, OECD; Romain Duval, Senior Economist, Structural Policy Analysis Division 1, Economics Department, OECD - |
|
11.15 – 12.30 |
Adaptation to Climate Change – Shardul Agrawala, Principal Administrator, Climate Change – Adaptation, Climate Change, Natural Resources and Environmental Outlooks Division, Environment Directorate, OECD - |
|
12.30 – 14.00 |
Lunch |
|
14.00 – 15.15 |
Climate Change Mitigation Technologies: Policy Drivers and Technology Transfer – Nick Johnstone, Principal Administator, Empirical Analysis, National Policies Division, Environment Directorate, OECD - Presentation; Ron Steenblik, Senior Trade Policy Analyst, Trade & Agriculture Directorate, OECD - |
|
15.15 – 16.30 |
Climate Change and Nuclear Energy - Stan Gordelier, Head, Nuclear Development Division, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency - |
|
16.30 – 17.00 |
Conclusions |
Background
Climate change is confronting us with the fierce urgency of “now”. It concerns the environment as well as the global economy. Global temperatures will continue to rise unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced significantly. Impacts will include more intense heat waves, droughts, storms and floods, which in turn will cause damage to key infrastructure and crops, and increase risks to human health and life. As our recent OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030 illustrates, the policies needed to address climate change are available and achievable and, when compared to the cost of inaction, and taking into account expected global economic growth, they are economically rational.
With over 20 years experience analysing climate change from an economic perspective, the OECD is uniquely placed to help countries define strategies to produce results at lowest cost. The OECD can facilitate discussions and build a common understanding on issues such as cost sharing, carbon leakage, financial management of catastrophic risk and the potential impacts of climate policies on sectoral competitiveness. We can help countries design and implement national policies to stimulate innovation and diffusion of clean technologies. Finally, we can help identify policies that can mobilise support for developing country responses. These issues were discussed at recent OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and OECD Forum, as well as at OECD meeting of environment ministers in April 2008, and at the high-meeting of the OECD Development Assistance Committee in May 2008.
This seminar was an opportunity for parliamentarians and legislators to exchange views with their colleagues and OECD experts on the economics of climate change, adaptation to climate change, innovation, technology and climate change, and energy and climate change.
References
1. OECD Policy Briefs on climate change issues:
2. OECD Observer magazine articles on climate change
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