Boulder is hosting a unique global discussion about the role of the economy in both climate change and ultimately climate stabilization.
Drawing on leaders in fields central to solving both the climate crisis and a series of interrelated crises—energy systems, material economy/consumption, ecosystems and biodiversity—the webinars will underscore the focus on the role of the economy in driving these crises as well as its potential role in their solutions.
The role of fossil fuel energy systems in driving climate change is now well understood. Far less considered, however are the ways public policy enables economic conditions that perpetuate a dependency on fossil energy sources. This session will profile the perspectives of speakers Lolita Jackson and Robert Hockett.
Jackson left a prosperous career on Wall Street to become the lead climate strategist for Mayor de Blasio in New York City. In this position, she was a key figure in helping to develop and implement New York City’s energy transition strategy. Jackson will share the stage with Robert Hockett, Cornell University professor of law. Hockett has been advising Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Green New Deal since 2019, and he literally wrote the book on Green New Deal economics, "Financing the Green New Deal."
Following the panel, we will be joined by Colorado State Senator Steve Fenberg for a locally focused Q&A session. Representing the 18th district of Colorado, Fenberg has served as Senate Majority Leader since 2019 and has been a champion of several pieces of key climate-focused legislation.
Kate Raworth is an economist at Oxford University and the author of “Donut Economics: Seven Ways to Think like a 21st-Century Economist.” Kate’s work with cities around the world in the development of equitable and redistributive economies has mainstreamed new standards for how economies should support human well-being. Dr. Raworth will describe the key challenges we face in the structure of our current economy and opportunities for creating economies that can both stabilize climate and dramatically improve the well-being of millions of people worldwide.
Documentary filmmaker, social venture entrepreneur, and ecosystems ambassador for the Common Land Foundation Based in Amsterdam, John Liu has a global perspective on both the state of the world’s ecosystems and some of the most exciting efforts to restore and regenerate them. Mr Liu will describe a number of landscape scale regeneration projects that demonstrate what is possible when the economy is put in the service of recovering and regenerating land and their associated systems.
Congressman Joe Neguse who represents Colorado’s second congressional district is a rising star in the Democratic Party. He has distinguished himself as a leader across a range of issues including as co-chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Congressman Neguse will discuss ways federal policy can be used to guide and focus the power of the economy on stabilizing climate and addressing a range of other pressing challenges.
Kim Stanley Robinson is an award-winning science fiction writer whose novels frequently explore the ways human beings can respond to unique challenges. His most recent book, ”Ministry for the Future,” is an epic exploration of potential future human responses to climate change. One of the major themes explored in this fascinating work is how the economy might be redirected to enable a successful de-escalation of climate change. Mr. Robinson will bookend the Economy and Climate Forum by encouraging us to consider our options for the future and how we might find our path to creatively and equitably solve this existential crisis.
