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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Eye Opening

Recommendation

Following the December 2015 United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP21), momentum for curbing climate change is at an all-time high. This World Economic Forum panel of experts discusses what the forthcoming departure from fossil fuels will entail and examines how this transition can be sustainable. Though the conversation meanders, the panel touches on several critical points. getAbstract recommends this report to economists, environmentalists, policy makers and anyone concerned with the broader ramifications of a shift to green energy.

Summary

The United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP21) of December 2015 was an “unambiguous success” in the sense that participants reached a unanimous consensus. But the real challenge is yet to come. Nations must pursue “long-term transformation that is urgent.” Global emissions need to peak by 2025 before descending to a more sustainable level by 2050. Societies must tackle this challenge immediately yet not abruptly and without jeopardizing the global economy. COP21 set more ambitious targets for advanced nations than for developing countries to ensure that the agreement doesn’...

About the Speakers

Steve Sedgwick is an anchor on CNBC. Stuart T. Gulliver is group chief executive at HSBC. Feike Sijbesma is CEO of Royal DSM, a multinational health and nutrition firm. Christiana Figueres is the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Doug McMillon is president and CEO of Walmart.