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Welcome and Opening Remarks
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William Michael Treanor, Dean of the Fordham Law School, gave the opening speech at the Energy and Climate Change Forum, which took place at the Fordham Law School in New York.
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Tracy Higgins & Martin Flaherty, Co-Directors, Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, Fordham Law School
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Ryan Burns, Editor, Fordham Environmental Law Review
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Christopher Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute and keynote speaker, cautioned that the world is “within 10 to 20 years of reaching a tipping point”, beyond which the dramatic effects of climate change will overwhelm the human capacity to adapt. Yet, he also spoke of his optimism that humanity would meet the climate change challenge with a timely and effective effort.
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Charles McNeill moderated and introduced the day’s first panel discussion entitled “Climate Change and Energy: Addressing the Challenges of Mitigation, Adaptation, Technology, and Financing – International
and National Perspectives”.
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The panel provided an overview of the United Nations response to climate change, and presented views from the US and EU, two of the major players in global energy markets.
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Juanita Castaño, Chief of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) New York Liaison Office, spoke on behalf of the United Nations on the topics of adaptation and mitigation.
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Kathleen Abdalla (left), Chief of the National Information, Monitoring and Outreach Branch, Division for Sustainable Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) noted that technology will play an essential role in the response to climate change.
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Robert L. Howse, Visiting Professor of Law, Fordham Law School, and Alene and Allan F. Smith Professor of Law, Michigan Law School, provided context on the US position on climate change.
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Karl Kellner, Advisor to the Director, Directorate General for Energy and Transport, European Commission, provided an overview of recent European Union climate change positions, policies, and actions.
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Question and Answer Session
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The panelists responded to diverse questions and thoughts from the audience.
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In the second panel, representatives from the private sector, government, and academia discussed the “Challenges
and Opportunities of Renewable Energy Sources”.
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The panel was moderated by Dale
Bryk, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Director, Environmental Law Clinic, Yale Law School.
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Nancy M. Bacon, Senior Vice President, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., introduced the different types, current availability, and pricing of photovoltaic panels.
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Erika Szyszczak, Jean Monnet Professor
of European Law ad personam, Professor of European Competition
and Labour Law, University of Leicester, and Director of
the Centre for European Law and Integration, offered commentary
and constructive criticism of the energy- and climate-related
actions and policies of the EU.
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Kit Kennedy, Special Deputy Attorney General
for Environmental Protection, New York State, presented economic
tools that have proven to increase the use of renewable energy.
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The third panel focused on “Energy
Efficiency” and the challenges governments and industries face in their efforts to improve current energy systems.
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The panel was moderated by Richard
Ottinger, Professor of Law & Dean Emeritus, Pace
University School of Law, who noted that most power plants
produce significant amounts of waste heat, which could
be harnessed and put to great use.
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Ashok Gupta, Air and Energy
Program Director, Natural Resources Defense Council, identified
possible energy efficiency solutions, and outlined some of
the major challenges in the provision of utilities services.
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M.K. Ramesh, Professor
of Law, National Law School of India University, highlighted
the challenges of meeting energy demands in the developing
world, as well as current conditions and unique opportunities
in India, which has made the response to climate change a
national priority.
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Rubén Kraiem, Corporate
Partner, Covington and Burling LLP, and Adjunct Professor
of Law, Fordham Law School, focused on the energy use, needs,
and efficiency challenges of Mexico.
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The closing remarks of the forum were delivered by Paolo
Galizzi, Visiting Professor of Law and Director, Sustainable Development Legal Initiative, Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, Fordham Law School.
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