As leaders and delegates from nearly 200 countries descend on Paris for the pivotal COP21 climate conference, USCIB and the International Chamber of Commerce are planning an array of timely and informative business-themed events. USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson led an American business delegation along with Norine Kennedy, vice president for strategic international engagement, energy and environment, to the UN climate change conference.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will be convening and participating in a series of events to make the case for a robust global agreement that works with business to meet the climate challenge. The private sector has been vocal in calling for bold action in the run up to the historic climate negotiations in Paris.

If you’re headed to Paris for COP21 here are a number of key dates for your calendar:

Official Business and Industry Day

As the business focal point to the UN climate talks, ICC will be hosting a range of briefings and events for the private sector, including the official COP21 Business Day on December 4. The event, known in UN circles as BINGO day, will demonstrate the private sector’s commitment to an ambitious agreement and will explore how business is already taking action for a low-carbon, resilient economy. Key speakers include:

• John Danilovich, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce
• Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France and President-Designate of COP 21 and CMP 11

Click here to learn more about this event.

USCIB-American Chamber of Commerce, Executive Briefing and High Level Roundtable Meeting for US Business”

One of the fundamental challenges facing governments at COP21 is how to animate the private sector’s innovation and investment and channel that to address climate change and adapt to its impacts. If the Paris outcomes don’t work with and for business, they will not deliver their full potential. Clearly, governments will need a fully engaged business community across all sectors to turn the Paris outcomes into action in the near and long terms.

On Saturday December 5, USCIB and AmCham in France will convene a high level business meeting at the halfway point of COP21 to:

• Overview on the latest developments in the political process relevant to U.S. business engagement
• Review U.S. business issues and achievements in support of COP21
• Look ahead to U.S. business priorities and initiatives in the implementation and further elaboration of the Paris outcomes.

A draft agenda can be viewed here.

ICC Conference on Climate Change Related Disputes

A unique event looking at the role of alternative dispute resolution – including arbitration – in resolving climate change related disputes. The event will look at the possible “enforcement gap” under a COP21 deal and the potential role of arbitration in building confidence in a new global climate architecture.

This groundbreaking event is jointly organized by the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the International Bar Association, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to learn more about this event.

#OurClimate Photographic Award – Winners Announcement

Over 600 professional and amateur photographers from more than 60 countries have submitted entries to the ICC Photographic Award 2015, an official COP21 event. The award is a celebration of artistic skill and outstanding photography which aims to draw attention to and stimulate dialogue around the global challenge of climate change.

The three award winners will be announced during a high-level ICC COP21 Gala Reception.

Be the first to know the winners! Follow this event on Twitter via @iccwbo and #OurClimate .

Energy for Tomorrow Conference

Climate change is transforming supply chains, operations and markets, creating new challenges and significant growth opportunities for forward-thinking business leaders and investors.

Hosted and moderated by New York Times journalists, the Energy for Tomorrow conference brings together powerful CEOs, influential policymakers, energy entrepreneurs and leading academics to uncover the technologies, strategies and investments that will drive success in the new low-carbon economy.

ICC Secretary General John Danilovich will be delivering his vision for climate policy beyond COP21 on the second day of this event on December 9.

Click here to learn more about this event.

BizMEF side-event on INDC’s

On December 10, the Major Economies Business Forum on Energy Security and Climate Change will host an official UNFCCC side-event on intended nationally-determined contributions (INDC’s)

Click here to learn more about USCIB’s COP21 events event.

Sustainable Innovation Forum

The Sustainable Innovation Forum will convene cross-sector participants from business, government, finance, UN, non-governmental organizations and civil society to create an unparalleled opportunity to bolster business innovation and bring scale to the emerging green economy.

Cherie Nursalim, vice chairman of Giti Group and ICC Executive Board Member, will be a speaker at the keynote plenary session “Sustainable supply chain innovation and the circular economy” on December 8.

Click here to register for this event.