Climate Innovation Programme

2012 marked a turning point for climate change. Extreme weather events in the US, such as the devastating Hurricane Sandy and the extended droughts in the midwest as well as the shocking pictures of an ice-free Arctic have caused widespread alarm. Reports such as the World Bank’s Turn down the heat: Why a 4°C warmer world must be avoided and others warned about devastating not-so-distant impacts and some studies projected that a 2°C rise threshold may have already been crossed. The Stockholm Environment Institute’s analysis suggests that other key planetary boundaries have been breached as well. The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment report is eagerly anticipated in 2013.

At the same time, the flurry of innovative responses from governments and businesses continued, though crucially, not at an international agreement level that would help unlock the necessary capital. Australia, South Korea and California all launched carbon tax or trading schemes. Many cities, including and beyond the C40 Cities group, accelerated actions to tackle emissions, improve productivity and increase their resilience. And leading companies are aligning R&D budgets to the low carbon economy, teaming up with new partners to solve collectively problems and climate-proof their value chains and campaigning for stronger climate policy.

The Climate Innovation Programme is designed to help business professionals, financiers, city planners and policymakers understand the new strategic imperatives created by climate change and will review the latest thinking and tools that are shaping innovative practice. The programme will feature the latest scientific discoveries and key research from the University of Cambridge and will explore these key priorities:

• Emerging climate change risks and opportunities - including the nexus of water, energy and food on the one hand, and adaptation and security on the other;
  
  
• Ways to build climate resilience - that is, cities, supply chains and business models for a warming and resource-constrained world;
  
  
• Insight into the best available solutions - including tried and tested technologies and financing instruments, and the next generation of public policy, cross-sector partnerships, products and services that are emerging in response to climate change.

The programme will host an annual seminar for up to 30 participants and will be supported by a climate innovation network, information sharing and related events.

Application and Fees

Read details about application and fees and further information for delegates.

The programme will host an annual seminar in Cambridge for up to 30 participants. Participants will spend 3 days with leading scientists and thinkers and work with peers from some of the world’s most influential organisations to:

• Experiment with new frameworks and tools on systems thinking, integrated planning and business model innovation;
  
  
• Examine different approaches to green growth and identify how businesses and cities are building resilience in key areas such as food, energy and water;
  
  
• Review how leading organisations are adjusting existing business processes for a low-carbon economy by aligning R&D strategies, valuing climate change in the accounts and engaging with staff and customers for low-carbon outcomes; and
  
  
• Reflect, exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and brainstorm solutions.
  
  

Ultimately, participants will leave the seminar with a portfolio of solutions, a strategic approach for climate and a meaningful network focused on action. The seminar will be highly interactive and will challenge participants to think creatively about risks and opportunities and help others explore their own thinking.

Participants also benefit from:

• A visit to the British Antarctic Survey that includes a guided tour of the ice cores and discussion with the science team
  
  
• A briefing dossier with details of the most significant recent literature and key data in advance of the event 
  
  
• A certificate of completion
  
  
• Access to all the presentations, research and other materials used in the programme
  
  
• Exclusive membership of the programme’s network that will include regular updates on research from contributors, and an annual climate innovation networking event
  
  
• Membership of the Cambridge Sustainability Network, CPSL’s 5,000+ alumni network

Programme Areas

The seminar will host presentations, research and discussions on key areas of interest, supported by climate data, applied frameworks and tools and case studies from the most innovative practice.

Scientific focus

• Global and regional climate data feeding into the 5th IPCC report (including temperature, ice sheet cover, sea level rise, rain patterns, extreme weather events), drivers and impacts
  
  
• Forecasts and projections on key indicators, including ‘planetary boundaries’

Frameworks

• Nexus and systems thinking
  
  
• Sustainable business model framework
  
  
• Resilience framework and planning
  
  
• Sustainable innovation and design
  
  

Core subjects

• Green growth and the green economy
  
  
• Water and energy management
  
  
• Resilient cities and infrastructure, smart transport and energy systems
  
  
• Resource security, land use and climate-smart agriculture
  
  
• Energy policy and energy mix
  
  
• Adoption of new technologies, including new unconventional technologies
  
  
• Emissions trading schemes options and market incentives for carbon reduction
  
  
• Resource and carbon accounting
  
  
• Climate finance and low carbon financing instruments
  
  
• Low-carbon culture and lifestyles

Case studies

• Developing a green-product portfolio
  
  
• Building a climate-proofing strategy
  
  
• Decarbonising the value chain
  
  
• Engagement and partnership models for low carbon solutions
  
  
• Supporting climate-compatible development
  
  
• Integrated planning for systemic and climate risks

The programme is designed to enable key decision-makers and their teams to think creatively about climate change in their strategies, communications, and operational plans. The programme will bring together leaders from different sectors and geographies to maximise peer-learning and facilitate innovative thinking and impact.

Discounts are available for group delegations.

Bursary funding may be available for city officials in the developing world.

The programme Faculty consists of experienced practitioners and facilitators with strong subject-matter expertise and experience in the interface of climate change and science, policy, finance and business practice.

The 2013 Faculty includes:

Paul Crewe, Head of Engineering, Sustainability Energy & Environment, J Sainsbury’s

Dr Stephen Peake, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Technology, Open University

Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Head of Open Oceans, British Antarctic Survey

James Stacey, Partner, Earth Capital Partners

CPSL is partnering with key Cambridge institutions and other leading networks and organisations to ensure the curriculum is based on the latest thinking, data and frameworks.

Current confirmed associates include:

• IfM Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge
  
• Judge Business School
  
• British Antarctic Survey
  
• The Environment Agency
  
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
  
• Arup

For the last five years, CPSL has run the Climate Leadership Programme to provide much needed clarity on the science and the economics of climate change and to inspire the business community and other decision-makers to take action. The programme enrolled approximately 250 participants from leading businesses and influential international agencies, public sector and civil society organisations and served as a catalyst for learning and best practice.

During these last the last few years we have observed the following trends:

• The scale, size and urgency of climate change are better understood. New scientific data has become available to confirm that we are on a critical point on our 2°C path, and that urgent action is needed; more people, in more parts of the world have been impacted by severe natural disasters.
  
  
• The economic case for climate action is clear. Across business sectors, the threats and opportunities are becoming apparent and many organisations have developed carbon and climate change strategies and have invested in their internal capacity to manage climate risk.
  
  
• Governments, civil society and businesses are scrambling to innovate. Already there is a flurry of innovative responses ranging from new tax schemes and smarter transport systems to climate smart agriculture and financing instruments.

The Climate Innovation Programme will build on the success of the Climate Leadership Programme and focus on climate action.