I will be representing WSP USA at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26), convening from Oct. 31-Nov. 12 in Glasgow, Scotland from within the “Blue Zone” at the center of the activity and negotiations that will be occurring. COP26 is a highly anticipated event, seen by many as our last best chance to develop specific, government-mandated plans that will limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
With our planet currently on pace to warm by 2.7 degrees by the end of the century in a best-case scenario, I believe the following five areas are critical COP26 outcomes for our collective success:
- Financing for Sustainable Development: A resilient and sustainable future requires funding and financing expertise to make sound strategy decisions to enable the successful execution of projects.
I will be facilitating a conversation entitled “The Resilient Future We Want” on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. (all times Glasgow time) to share – and gain – perspective.
- Engineered Resilience: As a founding organizer of the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), WSP recognizes recognizes the urgent need for tangible engineering solutions that prioritize building resilience and climate adaptation into every project.
On Wednesday, Nov. 3, I will be part of an ICSI-led panel on “Bridging the Gaps on Climate.”
- Race to Resilience: While the Race to Zero is critical and an older sibling under the leadership of the High Level Climate COP Champions, equally important is the Race to Resilience, which aims to catalyze action by non-state actors that builds greater physical and organizational resilience to climate risks by 2030.
The conversation I am joining as a panelist on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m., “From policy to practice: Promoting a Resilient, Net Zero Future,” will provide insights.
- Biodiversity: As a key participant in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, WSP believes nature-based solutions are critical to promoting resilience and biodiversity. An increased emphasis on ecosystem restoration can deliver co-benefits for human health, equity and climate change.
My WSP USA colleague, Jennifer Brunton, practice lead for ecosystem restoration, is on a panel on Tuesday, Nov. 9, to dig into what’s required and why it’s so critical. The session she will be joining is titled, “Nature-Based Solutions to Reckon with the Past, Promote a Resilient, Equitable Future.”
- Operationalize and Accelerate: As Greta Thunberg so eloquently points out in her recent video, we need to get past the “blah, blah, blah” of talk and move into action. The ambitious goals set by leaders across sectors demonstrate recognition of the climate crisis, and they need to be swiftly and aggressively activated.
Throughout COP26 I will be participating in several additional events and conversations. Please look for me in the social media live stream and through my postings during COP26 to give real time information about the event.
Click here to read “Inside the Blue Zone, Part Two”, where I review key takeaways and insights around each of these five topics, and my perspectives from participating in this historic event.
Tom Lewis is the Climate, Resilience & Sustainability Executive Lead at WSP USA.
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