USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson joined Novozymes CEO Ester Baiget at a U.S. National Pavilion, known as the U.S. Center, at a side-event on “Tech for Net-Zero,” during the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP26) on November 2 in Glasgow, Scotland. Baiget serves as USCIB Trustee and USCIB Sustainability Champion.
The event was co-organized by USCIB and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment, and Science Monica Medina joined Robinson to open the event. BCSE President Lisa Jacobson moderated a panel of private sector experts including Baiget, Patrick Flynn of Salesforce Amy Hadden of Schneider Electric, and Andrew Zoly of Planet Inc.
“We see COP26 as the opportunity to launch a new chapter in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, a transformative next step in the journey of international cooperation to global net zero,” said Robinson in his opening remarks. “American companies are committed to continuing to deploy innovation, investment and nature-based solutions towards a sustainable resilient recovery – and USCIB is leaning in on this, reflecting over twenty-five years of representing U.S. business in the UNFCCC.”
Medina opened her remarks with an emphasis on the role of the private sector. “Companies and investors and entrepreneurs around the world have a crucial role to play in bringing about the climate solutions that we need today and tomorrow,” said Medina. “It’s amazing that tech companies and the private sector are making such big commitments here in Glasgow. Technology and innovation are the way we elevate ambition, and that ambition is the thread that binds this conference together.
“Yes, we need solutions, and that’s where Novozymes comes in,” said Baiget. “At Novozymes, we use science to provide answers that respond to society’s most pressing needs. We bring, through nature and through a lot of science and technology, the alternatives and the solutions that lead to CO2 emissions reduction, lower waste, lower chemical use, lower energy intensity, and healthier products for our customers.”
The full video from the event is here: U.S. Center COP26 – Tech for Net-Zero – YouTube.
As another challenging United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76) got underway with a “hybrid” High-Level opening week, COVID-19 and challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, energy access, food security and lack of adequate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) loomed large. USCIB convened several events to highlight the essential role of business in inclusive multilateralism and, for the first time, USCIB Board Members and Trustees stepped into the spotlight and clearly state USCIB commitment from the top to deliver private sector expertise and innovation to international challenges.
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USCIB has led private sector participation at a series of recent events organized by the OECD’s Investment Committee. Kimberley Claman, director of international government affairs in Citi’s Washington office, was a lead speaker for the Business at OECD (BIAC) delegation in a condensed, virtual OECD annual International Investment Agreements Conference on March 29.

