China U.S. Climate Conference

Abstract: 8:30 AM Opening Session: The University, Scientific Research, and Climate Change
Running Time: 1 hour, 22 minutes
This panel will highlight the mutual vulnerability of China and the U.S. to climate change, and the indispensable role of scientific research in understanding the problem and developing solutions.

9:45 AM What's at Risk? Climate Model Predictions and Physical and Biological Impacts
Running Time: 1 hour, 17 minutes
This panel of climate scientists will describe the state of scientific knowledge regarding changes in the global climate system, the role of humans in causing these changes, and the likely impacts on earth's ecosystems.


11:15 AM What's at Risk? Economic, Social and Political Impacts and Adaptation Costs
Running Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes
This panel of ecologists, economists, and insurers will examine the economic and social risks of climate change, the vast differences in the vulnerability of different nations and social groups to those risks, and the scale of investment needed to adapt to climate change as its impacts increase.

1:45 PM Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy Use
Running Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
This panel will discuss the pivotal role of energy use as a source of greenhouse gases, and what strategies will be required if the U.S. and China are to greatly reduce emissions, especially from coal-fired power plants, while maintaining strong economies.

3:15 PM What Must Be Done? Emission Limits, Ethics, and the Right to Development
Running Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes
This panel will address the strategic and ethical issues that underlie the international climate policy debate, and the implications of prioritizing the right of poor countries to economic development.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
8:30 AM Policies, Measures, and Strategies
Running Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
This panel of economists and policy experts will address the policy options available for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon taxes, emissions trading, R&D investment, and technology transfer, and the political challenges of domestic implementation of international agreements.

10:30 AM Innovation: Promising Technologies
Running Time: 1 hour, 13 minutes
This panel will argue the merits of a wide range of emerging technologies for reducing CO2 emissions from energy use, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and nuclear power, and their prospects in China and the U.S.

11:45 AM Business Perspectives on Climate Change
Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes
Speakers from oil, high-technology, and venture capital firms will discuss the ways in which businesses perceive and respond to the climate challenge, and how government policy and market signals must interact to provide the enormous investment in clean energy required in the decades ahead, especially in developing countries such as China.

2:00 PM Sustainable Cities and States: Action at the Sub-National Level
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
This panel of state officials, scholars, and NGO representatives will look at the example of states and municipalities that have made bold moves to promote sustainable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even when their national governments have been reluctant to do so.

3:45 PM The Media, Public Information, and Climate Change
Running Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes
This panel will discuss the challenges facing scientists, politicians and the media in communicating to the public the complex facts about the climate crisis, and facilitating a national discussion about the problem and its solutions.

5:00 PM Closing Session
Running Time: 9 minutes
This final session will highlight some key messages from the conference and the prospects for continuing collaboration on climate change research between U.C. Berkeley and other stakeholders in China and the U.S.

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