Getting things done at Climate Week and the Global Clean Energy Action Forum

Blog Post CoolingIndustryPowerRoad Transportation
Published September 15, 2022
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Marc Climaco

Associate Director, Program Marketing & Communications

It’s time to transform ambitious climate commitments into durable change.

Over the last two years, governments, civil society, and the private sector have mobilized to drive solutions to the climate crisis, including a wave of new net-zero emission commitments. Now, it is time to transform ambitious climate commitments into durable change — and philanthropy has a key role to play in this effort.

That’s why ClimateWorks Foundation is proud to support Climate Week in New York and the Global Energy Clean Action Forum (GCEAF) in Pittsburgh. We will gather with governments, funders, businesses, civil society, and changemakers to roll up our sleeves and get to work — and we’d like you to join us!

Hosted by our partner, the Climate Group, Climate Week (Sept 19-25) brings together changemakers to shed insights on how we are “getting it done.” Meanwhile, the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh (Sept 22-23), a joint convening of the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial l (CEM13) and 7th Mission Innovation ministerial, brings together leaders from around the world to accelerate the clean energy economy.

Whether you’re joining us online via live stream and social media or in-person, here are some key events to keep in mind.


ClimateWorks at Climate Week

ClimateWorks at Climate Week

How to win in an age of extremes: Climate Group North America strategy consultation

Tuesday, September 20, 1:00 pm EDT – link to register & watch online

Post-Pandemic, we’ve swapped one age of extremes for another. With climate leadership ever more critical, how can we navigate myriad political and economic challenges to come out on top? To meet the moment, the Climate Group is refreshing its strategic approach to climate action in North America. This session convenes partner and funding organizations, including ClimateWorks’ Anthony Eggert.

Zero Emission Trucks in India – How Can We Capitalize on the Opportunity?

Tuesday, September 20, 2:30 pm EDT – link to register & watch online

In India, medium and heavy trucks comprise 2% of the vehicle population but contribute to over 30% of the overall road transport emissions. This disproportionate share of emissions drives the need for a transition to Zero Emission Trucks. We ask policymakers, automakers, civil society, and donors about how we can unlock this in India.

Break the ICE: the role global partnerships play in driving the zero-emission vehicle transition

Wednesday, September 21, 9:00 am EDT – link to register & watch online

Ambitious targets require innovative action. Partnerships between business and government can play a crucial role in driving the transition away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Join us to hear how our partners are driving the zero-emission vehicle transition together. Hosted by the Climate Group and moderated by Monica Araya, Drive Electric Campaign Steering Committee member and a Distinguished Fellow at ClimateWorks Foundation.


ClimateWorks at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum

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Green Public Procurement in Practice Today

Thursday, September 22, 1:45 to 2:45 pm EDT – more information here

Heavy industry, including steel and cement, is responsible for one-third of human-caused GHG emissions, and governments are the largest individual customers for these materials. Through the wide adoption of green public procurement (GPP) policies, they can help shape the clean material economy of tomorrow and achieve our net zero goals. This session convenes partner organizations and is moderated by ClimateWorks’ Scott Shell.

Investment and Finance for the Clean Energy Transition in Emerging and Developing Economies

Friday, September 23, 9 to 10 am EDT – more information here

While accounting for two-thirds of the global population, emerging and developing economies only represent one-fifth of total investment in clean energy. Accelerating clean energy investment in these regions is essential to keep net zero and sustainable development objectives in sight. This session is sponsored by ClimateWorks and features our very own Dan Plechaty.

Hotspots: India, Saudi Arabia & Finland on the Global Hydrogen Economy

Friday, September 23, 9 to 10 am EDT – more information here

Clean hydrogen is a game changer in the global energy industry by storing renewables, complementing electrification, addressing climate challenges, and having the potential to become a multi-trillion-dollar global market. India, Saudi Arabia, and Finland have all been identified as clean hydrogen hotspots due to their tremendous renewable energy capacities and technological know-how. Ministerial representatives of these three trailblazers will take the stage in this side event and explain the content and ambitions of their national hydrogen strategies.

Coalitions facilitating the technology pathways for net zero industries

Friday, September 23, 10:15 to 11:15 am EDT – more information here

The decarbonization of energy-intensive industrial sectors, including steel and cement, requires accelerated deployment of technologies that are not yet fully commercialized, like hydrogen and carbon capture. The goal of this session is to raise awareness of the readiness of various technologies in driving industrial decarbonization and deliver recommendations on how to align the supply and demand side for net zero technologies. Moderated by ClimateWorks’ Rebecca Dell, and featuring opening remarks from Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

From blindspot to hotspot: accelerating the transition to sustainable cooling for climate mitigation and adaptation

Friday, September 23, 11:30 am to 1:45 pm EDT – more information here

The latest IPCC reports are clear: climate change is already upon us, disrupting the lives of billions of people, including with prolonged extreme heat. This session will bring together government representatives, CEOs, and global experts to showcase best practices to date, including the ambitious efforts ongoing in India, and to raise the profile of sustainable cooling, at CEM and beyond, as a key piece of the puzzle in the energy transition and achievement of sustainable development. Featuring partner organizations of ClimateWorks’ Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC) and co-moderated by CCC Program Director Noah Horowitz.


Partners at Climate Week

India’s big idea: a roadmap for net zero

Tuesday, 9/20 at 8:30 am EDT – link to register & watch online

By 2030, India’s green economy could contribute more than $1 trillion dollars globally. By 2050, this could rise to $15 trillion dollars. We ask critical influencers from government, business and wider society to explore how we can unlock the opportunities presented by greater climate action in India. Hosted by the Climate Group.

Accountability in action: ensuring equity considerations are built into sustainability investments across America

Tuesday, 9/20 at 9:00 am EDT – link to register & watch online

Accelerating US climate action requires an all-of-society approach with momentum coming from everywhere including federal and state governments, as well as private and philanthropic sectors. Join us for a robust discussion with US leadership on how to further US climate reductions, increase community resilience, and center people in our climate transition. Accelerating US climate action requires an all-of-society approach with momentum coming from everywhere including federal and state governments, as well as private and philanthropic sectors. Join us for a robust discussion with US leadership on how to further US climate reductions, increase community resilience, and center people in our climate transition.

Accelerating corporate support for Advanced Clean Cars II Program

Tuesday, 9/20 at 12:00 pm EDT – link to register & watch online

Companies from across the nation are leading the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as they look to lower operating costs, reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices, and meet climate goals in accordance with investor and consumer expectations. California’s Advanced Clean Cars II program will help businesses access the EV models they need to meet their electrification goals by requiring an increasing number of EVs to be made available each year. Hosted by Ceres.

Are we there yet? Steering the global market towards EV100

Tuesday, 9/20 at 1:00 pm EDT – link to register & watch online

Climate Week NYC 2022 marks the fifth anniversary of Climate Group’s global electric transport initiative, EV100. For five years, members – which include some of the world’s largest businesses – have been leading the way in driving the electric vehicle transition globally. But change must happen faster. Can our success and progress so far steer global markets towards EV100? Hosted by the Climate Group.

Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance (SFBA) Members & Partners meeting

Wednesday, 9/21 at 10:00 am EDT – link to register

Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance (SFBA) is uniting corporate freight buyers and freight decarbonization initiatives to shift towards zero-emission freight across all modes of transport globally. Led by Smart Freight Centre (SFC) and co-founded with BSR and the World Economic Forum (WEF), to bring about systems change in the freight and logistics sector,. SFBA is a valuable platform that enables concrete action by catalyzing collaboration, accommodating tools and solutions, and tracking and demonstrating progress.

Unlocking Collaboration across the Americas

Wednesday, 9/21 at 1:00 pm EDT – link to register & watch online

States, regions, and businesses across the Americas face common challenges when addressing and implementing climate policy. Shared borders, geography, and trade agreements mean that successful climate policies are dependent on collaboration. This session aims to address these common challenges and highlight potential shared solutions by breaking down silos between government, business, and other key stakeholders. In this way we can enable meaningful collaboration and identify key target areas for long-lasting and sustainable public-private partnerships. Hosted by the Climate Group and sponsored by PwC.


Partners at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum

Zero-emission truck global expo

Thursday to Friday, September 22 to 23 – more information here

The Zero-Emission Truck (ZET) Global Expo is part of the Global Clean Energy Action Forum. The annual event brings together the world’s largest and leading countries, companies and international experts with the goal of accelerating clean energy transitions and addressing the climate crisis. The CALSTART Zero-Emission Truck Global Expo showcase will be on display outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Fort Duquesne Blvd in Pittsburgh. More than a dozen zero-emission trucks are scheduled to be on display.

Zero-emission heavy-duty transportation: multiple events by CALSTART

Thursday to Friday, September 22 to 23 – more information here

Drive to Zero and CALSTART will jointly host a panel discussion on zero-emission “fleets of the future” as well as a side event workshop on heavy-duty charging infrastructure. Participating organizations include the Smart Freight Centre, Chargepoint, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and others. Register for free for the Global Clean Energy Action Forum/Clean Energy Ministerial to learn more and find details.

Electric vehicles, batteries and charging infrastructure business forum

Thursday, September 22 at 1:15 pm EDT – more information here

The Electrification Coalition will be leading the Electric Vehicles, Batteries and Charging Infrastructure Business Forum Room on Thursday, September 22 from 1:15 to 4:15 pm ET, as part of the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, September 21–23. Registration is free online. We hope to see you there!

How to accelerate the transition to ZEVs?

Scheduling TBD – more information here

The transition to ZEV is happening. Great progress around the world on targets, policies and markets. With joint efforts, governments and industry can push it even faster. This opening event will be a ‘call to action’ to tackle remaining challenges, namely charging infrastructure roll-out, management of grid integration, global supply chains and a special focus on deployments in segments such as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This high-level event is hosted by Drive to Zero and CALSTART, with participation from the ZEV Transition Council and others.

How collaboration can speed up freight decarbonization

Organized by: Smart Freight Centre – more information here

SFC brings together multi-nationals, forwarders & carriers, NGOs, and governments in our collaborative initiatives, trainings and programs. Together, we help solve the business challenges behind reducing freight emissions and impact the industry standards. Our goal is to guide the industry to track and reduce its GHG emissions by 1 billion tons by 2030 and reach zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. This is the one event to bring together the global community of shippers on decarbonization at scale. We need to accelerate the transition by de-risking finance towards an unprecedented change from fossil fuels to zero-emission technology via electrification of road freight and green vessel technology. This meeting will showcase the action taken and commitment from multinationals to achieve the 1.5-degree scenario by leading the way. We would like to organize this event in collaboration with global partners, aiming to present to the logistics community, including the logistics supply providers, their carriers and the world’s largest multinationals the blueprints to decarbonize logistics.

Building Leadership and Accelerating Action on Steel Decarbonization in Asia: Experiences of India and the Republic of Korea

Friday, September 23 at 10:15 am EDT – more information here

Today’s global clean energy moment is a pivotal turning point to transform our ambitious energy commitments into action while we ensure security of supply. Our goal with this meeting is to create a renewed focus on tangible, near-term progress in decarbonizing our energy systems while creating millions of good-paying jobs and ensuring energy security. As a result, we have a simple but essential theme: Rapid Innovation and Deployment. Co-sponsored by our partners The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Solutions for our Climate (SFOC).