Ahead of the 2019 climate summit in New York in September 2019 FEPS together with its partners presented the outcome and guiding proposals of the steering committee on this topic.

The climate emergency is becoming clearer than ever yet environmental injustice stems from social and economic injustices within our societies. Based on defending social rights, fighting inequalities, caring for our common environment and well-being, progressive values can help provide the answers to this challenge.

Therefore in light of the extraordinary Climate Summit the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and its partners have put together a high-level group of experts under the chairing of the Spanish Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera. Ahead of the summit we will be releasing bold guiding proposals as a result of our work and organising a side three days event in New York from 19th to 21st September.

This will be the second side event of FEPS in the framework of the UN General Assembly. It has become an annual initative under the support of UN Secretary General A. Guterres.

Program

Thursday, September 19

18:30-21:00 Pre-Conference Reception
Welcome by Luise Rurup, Director, FES New York Office; and László Andor, Secretary General, FEPS

Photo Exhibition
Ashley Cooper, Award Winning Photographer, Global Warming Images

Friday, September 20

09:00-09:15 Welcome Coffee & Registration

09:15-09:25 Inauguration of the Conference
Maria João Rodrigues, President, FEPS

09:30-09:50 KEYNOTE SPEECH
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation, Chair of the Elders

09:50-10:10 Scene Setters: Reconnecting, Respecting and Protecting Nature and Its Ecosystems
Edel Moraes, National Council of Indigenous Populations, Brazil; and 
Maria Damanaki, Global Managing Director, Oceans, The Nature Conservancy

10:10-11:45 Time to Take Our Responsibilities and Go Forward: Talking about effective and sustainable change in climate action
Moderated by Dr. Ania Skrzypek, Director for Research and Training, FEPS
Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate Foundation;
Rick Smith, Executive Director, Broadbent Institute;
Michael Williams, Interim co-Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance
Benedicta Lasi, Vice President, IUSY; and 
Javi López, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group, Spain

11:45-12:45 Guardians of the Future: Call for Global Progressive Climate Action!
Maj Jensen, Secretary General, Young European Socialists, Denmark; and
László Andor, Secretary General, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, Hungary

12:45 Light lunch will be served

Walk the Talk: NYC Climate Strike! with Greta Thunberg. Let’s take our discussions out there and get into the action. Participants and speakers are invited to join the New York City Climate Strike March with Greta Thunberg.

Saturday, September 21

08:30-09:00 Coffee & Registration
Welcoming Remarks
László Andor, Secretary General, FEPS

09:05-09:20 Presentation and Insights from the United for Climate Justice Initiative
Teresa Ribera, Minister for the Ecological Transition, Spain; Chair of the Climate Justice Steering Committee

09:20-09:40 Special Address
Luis Alfonso de Alba, Special UN Envoy for the 2019 Climate Summit

09:40-12:30 Keynote Speeches followed by Discussion
Introductory note by Stephen Minas, Assistant Professor, Peking University’s School of Transnational Law, Member of the United for Climate Justice Steering Committee
Moderated by Céline Charvériat, Executive Director, Institute for European Environmental Policy
Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, ITUC;
Miriam Dalli, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group, Malta;
Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director, International Trade Center
Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition, Canada;
Keriako Tobiko, Minister for Environment and Forestry, Kenya;
Alvaro Elizalde, President, Chilean Socialist Party (TBC); and 
Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark (TBC)

12:30 Closing Followed by Lunch