<A cutting-edge vision/>

Conference

the_climate_change

The biggest environmental challenge we face as a planet

Framed in the initiative of United Nations “Momentum for Change”, and in line with the Paris Agreement, the International Conference on Climate Change Change the Change will convey a cutting-edge vision on the challenges of climate change facing the planet and will make known the initiatives and actions that are making a difference in our environment.

The conference will be held within the framework of the “Climate Change Week” with the aim of mobilizing citizens towards personal commitment to climate change, with the premise that every action, however small, counts.

topic_blocks

Topics

KEYNOTE SESSION
The Climate Challenge in the European Context and Spain´s Position.
Teresa Ribera
Ministry for Ecological Transition Government of Spain
Nicholas Stern
Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment London School of Economics
Ignacio S. Galán
President and CEO Iberdrola

Iñaki Arriola
Minister for Environment, Territorial Planning and Housing Basque Government
Planet Health: Science for action
The panel therefore wishes to address the scientific view of climate change. It seeks to pinpoint the challenges and where answers can be found as knowledge is driving the response to a global challenge that affects everyone living on Planet Earth.
Over the last 200 years, Humanity has left such a profound mark on the environment that the scientific community has defined a new geological era: the era of human impact on Earth or Anthropocene. Will the Anthropocene era be when we destroy the planet?

Indeed, the scientific community has raised the alarm about the climate situation, and conduct the necessary monitoring and studies to put forward policies to combat climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group under the aegis of the United Nations, brings together nearly 3,000 experts from around the world.It was created in 1988 to produce comprehensive assessments on the state of the socio-economic, technical and scientific knowledge of climate change, its causes, possible impacts and response strategies.

This group has already announced that it has it prepared a report to submit as a fundamental scientific contribution at the Climate Change Conference –COP24 to be held at Katowice (Poland) in December.The report recommends limiting global warming to 1.5 ºC instead of 2 ºC as “it would have clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems and could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society”.It also stressed that “we are already seeing the consequence of global warming of 1 ºC, with very extreme weather events, rising sea levels and shrinking Arctic sea ice, among other changes”.
Luis Balairón
Former Director of the Climate Change Analysis and Attribution Programme AEMET
Manola Brunet
Chair of the Commission for Climatology World Meteorological Organization
Alejandro Cearreta
PhD in Geology and Lecturer in Micropaleontology University of the Basque Country
José Manuel Moreno Rodríguez
Professor of Ecology University of Castilla-La Mancha

Mª José Sanz
Scientific Director Basque Center for Climate Change BC3
Regional and Urban Environment
This panel will showcase the experiences of the regions particularly committed to fighting climate change and how they are facing the main challenges in their territories.
Climate change is a threat that can only be overcome through cooperation. Regional, local and subnational governments worldwide are showing a level of conviction regarding climate change that often exceeds the very ambition of the national states. This was demonstrated at the Bonn Conference of the Parties (COP23) where the local and regional activities displayed a spectacular energy and drive.

The regions’ leadership is being reinforced by interregional cooperation in networks such as nrg4SD, Under2 Coalition, etc, where they share experiences. They are working collaboratively and striving to keep the global temperature under the 2 ºC established in the Paris Agreement
Susanne Buch
Co-President at ENCORE and Minister of Climate, Sustainability and Resources Central Denmark (Denmark)
Raffaele Cattaneo
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Lombardy (Italy)
Roseanna Cunningham
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Scottish Government (UK)
Marc Pons i Pons
Minister for Land, Energy and Mobility Balearic Islands (Spain)
Franz Untersteller
Minister for the Environment Climate Protection and Energy Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

José Ignacio Asensio
Councillor for the Environment and Hydraulic Works Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, Basque Country
Cities
This panel will be the showcase for experiences and measures that are already being adopted in the cities, climate action from the local level and the view of what should be the course and priorities of these actions.
The world population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 and 70% will be living in urban areas.Over half the world’s population currently lives in cities, compared to 3% in the 19th century.

Cities are increasingly larger and sprawling. There are 502 urban agglomerations with over a million inhabitants, 74 exceed 5 million, 29 are over 10 million, 12 surpass 20 million and there is already one with over 30 million inhabitants. Twenty cities are forecast to have over 15 million inhabitants, 4 of which will be in China, by 2030.

That growth raises challenges for the quality of life and environmental sustainability and also pushes natural resources to their limits.
Joan Clos
Former Executive Director UN HABITAT
Juan Espadas Cejas
Mayor of Seville and Chair Spanish Network of Cities for Climate
Mohammed Ridouani
Mayor Leuven
Paz Valiente
General Coordinator for Environment, Sustainability and Mobility City of Madrid

Ernesto Gasco
Deputy Mayor City of San Sebastián
Sustainability
During this panel, we will learn about international progress in sustainability policies, the application of the 2030 Agenda, their involvement with climate change and the future challenges facing us. This is all from the Basque Country´s commitment to sustainable development and the aforementioned agenda.
On 25 September 2015, nearly two hundred world leaders adopted a set of global goals to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for everyone as part of a new sustainable development agenda.They are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, a universal call to adopt measures to put an end to poverty, protect the planet and guarantee that everyone enjoys peace and prosperity.

The priorities of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals include themes such as climate change, economic equality, innovation, sustainable consumption and peace & justice. The Goals are interrelated which means that the key to success of one will involve issues more frequently linked to another.

The SDGs entail a spirit of collaboration and pragmatism to choose the best options in order to improve life, in a sustainable manner, for future generations.They provide clear guidelines and targets for the SDGs to be adopted by all countries in accordance with their own priorities and the environmental challenges of the world in general.
Cristina Gallach
High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda Government of Spain
Rebeca Grynspan
Secretary General at the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and Chair of the Board of Trustees International Institute for Environment and Development
Daniel Innerarity
Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance GLOBERNANCE
Natalia Vera
General Secretary Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD)

Marian Elorza
General Secretary for External Affairs Basque Government
Energy Transition
This panel will considered the different aspects involved in achieving a fair energy transition.
The major point of discussion is currently the transition of the current energy model based on fossil fuels towards a sustainable economy based on renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable development, and how to do so and at what rate.

Actions such as driving renewables, the scrapping of the “sun tax”, the Climate Change Act and the role of coal-fired power stations have marked the start of a new cycle in Spain to strive to comply with the Paris Agreement.

Far-reaching aspects, such as reforming the electricity system, environmental taxation and clean transport, are also being called on to contribute to combat and mitigate climate change.

In order for that transition to take place, it has to be a fair one that addresses the problems of the territories involved in the changes and above all does not affect the most underprivileged.

A new energy model has to be developed in accordance with the needs of the citizens, of companies and the environment. And this all must take place with maximum integration in the European market.
Carmen Becerril
Vice Chairwoman OMIE
Miguel Duvison
General Director for Operations SEN (Spanish Electric Network)
Fernando Ferrando
President Renovables Foundation
Mikel González-Eguino
Researcher and Coordinator of the Low Carbon Group BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change
Josu Imaz
Chief Officer for Business Development CAF
Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera
Director of Climate Change Iberdrola

Antxon Olabe
Advisor on Climate Change and Energy Transition of the Ministry for Ecological Transition Government of Spain
Economy
Facing this global economic challenge from financial and banking system or from the insurance sector will be some of the topics discussed on this panel
This strategic approach combines climate change and the economy.Relevant entities’ experiences leading to a change of paradigm in the behaviour of companies and financial institutions will be considered.

Climate change has become the greatest threat to the world economy.The World Economic Forum’s “Global Risks Report” has highlightedfor the first time the lack of climate change mitigation and adaptation as the risk with the greatest potential impact.It was the first time that an environment risk headed the ranking of 29 global risks, meaning that it may cause greater damage than the weapons of mass destruction, water shortages, large-scale involuntary immigrations or a shock to energy prices.

According to the Stern report published back in 2006, an investment equivalent to 1% of global GDP to mitigate the effects of climate change is needed as otherwise the world market would suffer a recession that could reach 20% of GDP.

In addition, climate change is leading to new economic models.The environmental and social challenges faced by developed countries are leading to new models that are a shift from traditional ones.Movements such as the circular economy, the shared or collaborative economy, the economy for the Common Good and responsible finances seek to generate value beyond the economic and aimed at a more sustainable society.
Antoni Ballabriga
Global Head of Responsible Business BBVA
Isabel Fernández-Niemann
Head of Wholesale Banking ING
Juan Luis Pozo
Director of the Corporate Sustainability Division Global Omnium
Cristina Narbona
Economist and Former Minister of the Environment Government of Spain
Víctor Viñuales
Executive Director ECODES Foundation

Hugo Morán
Secretary of State for the Environment Government of Spain
Education, Culture and Society
Social transformations that have to occur as the result of climate change and how to address them, are the focal point of this panel.
Climate change is a cross-cutting challenge that impacts many different sectors leading to cultural and social changes.The effect of climate change on the agroforestry, fisheries and food sector, including on health, safety and transport,raises new challenges that have to be addressed from the perspective of housing and urban planning, culture, waste management or citizen awareness.
Francesca Friz-Prguda
Representative in Spain United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-UNHCR
Mar Gómez
PhD in Atmospheric Physics Eltiempo.es
Francisco Heras
Adaptation Strategies Divsion at Spanish Climate Change Office Government of Spain
Pedro Jauregui
Deputy Minister of Housing Basque Government
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal
Former Minister of Environment of Peru and Leader of the Climate and Energy Practice WWF International

Aitor Zulueta
Climate Change and Natural Heritage Director Basque Government
Impulse for the Leadership of Women
The effects of climate change are much greater in population sectors that directly rely on basic natural resources for their livelihoods and for those people who live in territories where there is a greater risk of natural disasters.
Therefore, women and children in rural areas are more vulnerable than the men themselves.According to studies by UN WOMEN,  girls and women are the last people to eat and be rescued, meaning that their safety and their health are at  great risk.However, some women regularly face this risk situation to safeguard their families and communities, but they are not present in the decision-making processes, which limits their involvement in the climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

This core situation of women can be found in a different form in developed societies.Their role in household consumption, in educating the children and in the day-to-day decisions at home makes them a key stakeholder in any cultural change required to face the challenges of the climate change.

Women and their leadership are impacting our society at an unstoppable rate by providing a different vision in many different spheres.A vision called on to transform society and to ensure that the role of women is considered to be essential in any climate change mitigation and adaptation action.
Paula Caballero
Managing Director for Climate and Water Rare
Isabel Elizalde
Minister for Land Development, Environment and Local Administration Government of Navarre
Cristina Monge Lasierra
Director of the Conversations Division at ECODES and Sociology Proffesor University of Zaragoza
Valvanera Ulargui
General Director of the Spanish Climate Change Office Government of Spain
Laura Zúñiga Cáceres
Activist for Human Rights, Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras COPINH

Elena Moreno
Deputy Minister for the Environment Basque Government
CLOSING SESSION
Lessons learned and next steps.
Sylvia Earle
Oceanographer of National Geographic and 2018 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord
Bunny McDiarmid
Executive Director Greenpeace International
an_advance_of_speakers

Speakers

Climate Change and Natural Heritage Director_Basque Government

“The first step that we must take is to strive to change ourselves as people”

Activist for Human Rights, Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras_COPINH

.

Executive Director_ECODES Foundation

“Economy and ecology have to be reconciled"

General Secretary_Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD)

"Local governments’ contribution to protect biodiversity is important"

General Coordinator for Environment, Sustainability and Mobility_City of Madrid

President of the Basque Government

Minister for the Environment Climate Protection and Energy_Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

“We can combat climate change effectively only if we act in concert”

General Director of the Spanish Climate Change Office_Government of Spain

"Greater visibility must be given to possible solutions to help raise awareness"

Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment_London School of Economics

"Fighting Fascism was the crisis of my father’s generation. Our fight is to combat climate change. It is much more difficult as we cannot see it (…)but the solution is in our hands"

Scientific Director_Basque Center for Climate Change BC3

"Nobody can be left out in the fight against climate change"

President of the Government of Spain

Director of Climate Change_Iberdrola

“Climate change communication and awareness-raising has to be positive"

Mayor_Leuven

.

Ministry for Ecological Transition_Government of Spain

“The time is now: we are facing a need for ecological transition in Spain”

Former Minister of Environment of Peru and Leader of the Climate and Energy Practice_WWF International

"Urgent measures need to be implemented for the rapid decarbonisation of the economy”

Director of the Corporate Sustainability Division_Global Omnium

“Climate change will continue to be a problem until we make the public aware of its real impact on essential public services”

Minister for Land, Energy and Mobility_Balearic Islands (Spain)

Global network of 1.000 women in STEMM against Climate Change_Homeward Bound

“If we are the problem, we are also the solution”

Advisor on Climate Change and Energy Transition of the Ministry for Ecological Transition_Government of Spain

Economist and Former Minister of the Environment_Government of Spain

"The GDP also has to be measured by its impact on health and the environment"

Professor of Ecology_University of Castilla-La Mancha

“How long do we have to stabilise this? The answer is, very little; there is no time”

Deputy Minister for the Environment_Basque Government

"There is a pressing need to change from the linear consumption and production model, the disposable model, to a circular model"

Secretary of State for the Environment_Government of Spain

"We are talking about guaranteeing a country’s development beyond the present; not jeopardizing the future of coming generations because we are abusing our privilege of going before"

Director of the Conversations Division at ECODES and Sociology Proffesor_University of Zaragoza

Executive Director_Greenpeace International

"People who join forces and work together, rise up together and make themselves heard are really powerful"

Global network of 1.000 women in STEMM against Climate Change_Homeward Bound

“We have to act integrally to combat climate change”

Director of the Weather Department of the TVE and President_Association for Meteorology Communicators (ACOMET)

Chef of the Sea_Aponiente Restaurant, Cadiz

Deputy Minister of Housing_Basque Government

Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance_GLOBERNANCE

“The issue of climate change has become a major political and ethical controversy”

Founder of Oihulari Klown and Emakunde's Equality Award 2017

Chief Officer for Business Development_CAF

Dynamic and experienced executive, he has held different positions in multinational companies, such as organization director, sales director, industrial director, business development director, managing director, chief officer, board member and board president. He has always played a key role in international markets and enjoys that environment. Diversity makes richness is his skill. His performance is strongly focused on combining both commitment with customer’s expectations and own compa

Adaptation Strategies Divsion at Spanish Climate Change Office_Government of Spain

“The networks that connect social organisations, educational institutions, public administrations and companies need to be strengthened”

Secretary General at the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and Chair of the Board of Trustees_International Institute for Environment and Development

“A commitment to openness, multilateralism, the global. No Latin American country has pulled out of the climate change agreement”

Researcher and Coordinator of the Low Carbon Group_BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change

“We are still in time to position ourselves to lead an energy transition that can have a very positive impact on job creation”

PhD in Atmospheric Physics_Eltiempo.es

"Evidence shows climate change to be a fact and we have experienced the warmest decades in recent years"

Deputy Mayor_City of San Sebastián

“Cities can fight against climate change”

High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda_Government of Spain

“We are the last generation that can curb the disaster”

President and CEO_Iberdrola

Representative in Spain_United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-UNHCR

President_Renovables Foundation

Head of Wholesale Banking_ING

“Sustainability is a strategic priority: we must steer our customers towards more sustainable and greener financing options”

CEO_ArtINGENIUM

Mayor of Seville and Chair_Spanish Network of Cities for Climate

“The municipalities are the most useful instrument to combat climate change”

General Secretary for External Affairs_Basque Government

"There is a political will to work on sustainable development"

Minister for Land Development, Environment and Local Administration_Government of Navarre

Oceanographer of National Geographic and 2018 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord

.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform_Scottish Government (UK)

Since 2009, Roseanna has been a Minister in the Scottish Government, covering four varied and interesting portfolios. In 2009 she was appointed Minister for the Environment. In 2010, Climate Change was added to her portfolio. As Minister, Roseanna led the Crofting Bill and the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill through Parliament. In 2011, Roseanna took on a new role in the Scottish Government as Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs. This is a role which she equally enjoyed, given

General Director for Operations_SEN (Spanish Electric Network)

Former Executive Director_UN HABITAT

"Sustainable urbanization can really help to prevent climate change”

PhD in Geology and Lecturer in Micropaleontology_University of the Basque Country

"The footprint we are leaving could last for millions of years"

Minister for the Environment and Climate Change_Lombardy (Italy)

“Our approach must not be to make life impossible for the citizens, we must fight pollution, not mobility”

Managing Director for Climate and Water_Rare

"We are running out of time if we want to curb the trends that are undermining our natural systems and human societies"

Co-President at ENCORE and Minister of Climate, Sustainability and Resources_Central Denmark (Denmark)

“Climate adaptation is crucial, we must now adapt to new climate conditions”

Chair of the Commission for Climatology_World Meteorological Organization

"The data confirm climate change. We are probably in the warmest time since 8,000 years ago"

Vice Chairwoman_OMIE

Global Head of Responsible Business_BBVA

“Climate change cannot just be seen from the risk perspective. But also as opportunities”

Former Director of the Climate Change Analysis and Attribution Programme_AEMET

“Combating climate change requires radical lifestyle changes"

Councillor for the Environment and Hydraulic Works_Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, Basque Country

"It does not make sense to continue burying valuable resources in landfill for an environmental mortgage to be the legacy for our children"

Minister for Environment, Territorial Planning and Housing_Basque Government

“Plastic pollution is one of the most impact impacts we are facing”

Chef_Mugaritz Restaurant, Gipuzkoa

United Nations Champion of the Earth & Sustainability provocateur

heroes_heroines

Inspiring actions

HEROES AND HEROINES OF THE PLANET
On each day of the Change the Change Conference, the thematic panels will be complemented with a "Heroes and heroines of the planet" special session. These people are running innovative initiatives and projects for climate change action and awareness in different fields and at different points around the world. The aim is to shift the theoretical climate change debate to real projects that are proving to be successful.
Andoni Aduriz
Chef Mugaritz Restaurant, Gipuzkoa
Ángel León
Chef of the Sea Aponiente Restaurant, Cadiz
Leyla Acaroglu
United Nations Champion of the Earth & Sustainability provocateur
Uxua López Flamarique
Global network of 1.000 women in STEMM against Climate Change Homeward Bound
Ana Payo
Global network of 1.000 women in STEMM against Climate Change Homeward Bound