BCSE at COP21 Newsletter

Ministers Work to Conclude a Paris Agreement
BCSE in Paris - Largest Delegation Ever!
Promoting Clean Energy Solutions at "La Galerie" Trade Show
Building the Global Clean Energy Economy at US Center
Delegates & Business Leaders Gather for Annual COP Dinner

Ministers Work to Conclude a Paris Agreement

Mood is Optimistic for Positive Outcome

Midway through the second week, countries are working at the Ministerial level to find consensus around a draft text for a Paris agreement. Key issues that are the focus of high-level discussions include transparency around reporting of mitigation actions, differentiation between developed and developing countries in certain aspects of the agreement, and long-term climate finance after 2020. The hope is that COP 21 will produce a clear and concise political agreement in support of climate action, with wide country participation. An amazing outcome already achieved at Paris is the submission of over 185 national country plans for climate action – providing a roadmap that includes mitigation and adaptation goals for over 90% of the world’s emissions.

BCSE in Paris - Largest BCSE Delegation Ever!

This year BCSE brought a delegation of companies and associations that made up the largest gathering of business leaders in the Council’s over 20-year history of COP engagement.

Alliance to Save Energy, American Gas Association, Bloom Energy, Calpine, Corn Refiners Association, Demand Response & Smart Grid Coalition, First Environment, Global Policy Associates, Ingersoll Rand, Johnson Controls, Jupiter Oxygen Corporation, Kingspan Insulated Panels - North America, MEG LLC, PG&E Corporation, Philips Lighting, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Qualcomm, Resource Mobilization Advisors, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Solar Energy Industries Association, and the U.S. Green Building Council. See a detailed list of the full BCSE delegation.

Promoting Clean Energy Solutions at "La Galerie" Trade Show

BCSE’s exhibit booth in the USA Pavilion at La Galerie of Low Carbon Solutions, a business and industry tradeshow at COP21, served as a central spot to learn about clean energy solutions at COP21. Council members greeted participants and also received visits from the US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and US Mayors Mayor Jeri Muoio (West Palm Beach, Florida) and Mayor Frank Cownie (Des Moines, Iowa) & Councilman Philips, from King County, WA.

Building the Global Clean Energy Economy at US Center

BCSE was pleased to host a number of side events to share clean energy market trends and policy best practices during COP21.

Working with the US Center (@US_Center), BCSE hosted a program focused on pathways to increased investment and deployment in energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy worldwide.

Panelists included: Melissa Lavinson, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Federal Affairs and Policy, PG&E Corporation; Thomas Weber, President, Jupiter Oxygen Corporation; Nanette Lockwood, Director, Climate Policy, Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability, Ingersoll Rand; Thad Miller, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Calpine Corporation; and John Smirnow, Secretary General, Global Solar Council, representing Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Delegates & Business Leaders Gather for Annual COP Dinner

Lead Negotiator Dan Reifsnyder Predicts COP21 to be "Historic"

The Council hosted an annual dinner to bring together top negotiators, clean energy business leaders and international partners at the mid-way point of the negotiations. Highlights included remarks by the US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Dan Reifsnyder, who had just completed the drafting of the ADP text on schedule, and inspired all attendees with a hopeful perspective on a Paris outcome; and remarks by senior negotiators from India, Ireland and New Zealand on the key business issues of technology and markets. To embellish the mood of the evening, the dinner venue was a symbol of US-France cooperation, as the Cercle Union Interalliée was gifted to the use of American and Allied airmen during the first World War.

BCSE In Action