The International Energy Agency (IEA) argues that the international community must limit the average global temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsius to avoid potentially catastrophic climate change. But the world is far away from reaching this target and some say there are worrying signs that this issue has slipped down the policy agenda.
Carnegie’s Energy and Climate Program hosted the Washington, DC, launch of the IEA’s World Energy Outlook special report Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map, which seeks to bring climate change back into the spotlight. The report outlines four specific measures for the energy sector that can be quickly and effectively implemented, at no net economic cost.
Fatih Birol
Fatih Birol is chief economist of the IEA and is responsible for the IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook publication. Birol has been named by Forbes among the most powerful people in terms of influence on the world’s energy scene, and he is also the chairman of the World Economic Forum’s (Davos) Energy Advisory Board.
Daniel B. Poneman
Daniel B. Poneman was nominated by President Obama to be deputy secretary of energy on April 20, 2009 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 18, 2009. Under the leadership of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Poneman also serves as chief operating officer of the Department of Energy.
Andrew Steer
Andrew Steer is the president and CEO of the World Resources Institute. He has three decades of experience working on international development on the front lines in Asia and Africa, and at a senior level in international policy roles.
Polly Trottenberg
Polly Trottenberg was nominated by President Obama to serve as the under secretary of Transportation for policy in June 2012, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January 2013. In this role, she serves as the principal adviser to the secretary while providing leadership in the development of policies for the department, generating proposals and advice regarding legislative and regulatory initiatives across all modes of transportation.
David Burwell
David Burwell is director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His work at Carnegie focuses on the intersection between energy, transportation and climate issues, and policies and practice reforms to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels.