TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008

CORPORATE SYMPOSIUM

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Managing Climate Change: Business Risks and Rewards

Climate change has quickly moved up the agenda of American corporations. As public pressure has mounted in a momentous election year, political leaders have responded and companies are grappling with policy uncertainty. The debate on climate change – what it means and what course of action should be taken – has now shifted from the halls of environmental organizations to corporate board rooms. Companies are eager to find ways to mitigate the risks associated with climate change, undertake the right investment strategies, and capture resulting economic opportunities. By capitalizing on new global markets in energy development and sustainability, corporations can simultaneously improve their environmental impact and promote growth via emerging industries. Yet, corporations also face the challenge of the long-term nature of the investment and return on climate change initiatives, which are at odds with the quarterly demands of Wall Street. The challenge is even greater now, with the ongoing financial crisis likely to generate pressure to delay legislation. This half-day symposium will take a look at the topic of climate change, with particular attention to Midwest companies and industries. 

John Rowe, chairman and chief executive officer of Exelon Corporation, and Phil Sharp, president of Resources for the Future, will provide keynote addresses. Panel discussions, which will include representatives from McKinsey & Company, Baxter International, Deutsche Bank, Baker & McKenzie, Chicago Climate Exchange, Johnson Controls, and the Georgetown State-Federal Climate Resource Center, will:

• Discuss the economics of carbon limits by exploring mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions that will not stall economic growth;
• Provide a post-election objective analysis of the future of U.S. state and federal legislation;
• Describe how businesses can approach carbon limits not just as an added cost to their bottom line but as an opportunity to tap into new technologies and innovations, ultimately capturing new markets.

This conference is being presented in collaboration with The Climate Group and the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.

The Fairmont Chicago
200 North Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

SCHEDULE

7:30 a.m.       Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.       Opening Keynote: “Syncing Climate Change and Energy Policies: Managing Uncertainty, Taking Action” with Phil Sharp, president, Resources for the Future

8:50 a.m.       Panel I: “The Economics of Carbon Limits”

10:05 a.m.     Panel II: “The Future of U.S. Legislation: State and Federal Action on Climate Change”

11:05 a.m.     Panel III: “Moving Beyond Costs to Opportunities in a Carbon-Regulated Business Environment”

12:05 p.m.     Luncheon Keynote: “A Business Understanding of the Global Climate Change Challenge” with John Rowe, chairman and chief executive officer, Exelon Corporation

1:15 p.m.       Adjournment

View Full Agenda (PDF)

Member Rate*: $75
Nonmember Rate: $85

*Member Rate applies to members of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, The Climate Group, and the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest

Presenting Corporate Sponsors:

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