Program
GF23 takes place Sept. 19-21 in New York City. Each day will include presentations and forums that grow knowledge and engage participants in lively discussions on ‘must-have’ outcomes and ‘must-do’ actions for thriving global futures.
Each day’s programming will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude no later than 5:30 p.m. with the exception of Tuesday’s evening reception. All sessions will take place in the main plenary hall (working sessions will move to breakout rooms adjacent to the main hall) in the Nest Climate Campus on the 4th floor of the North Javits Center (445 11th Avenue).
The sequence of this schedule is subject to change.
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Land Blessing
- Tecumseh Ceaser
Indigenous Artist, Matinecock Turkey clan
Accelerating Transformations for a Just, Sustainable Future: 10 ‘Must Haves’ Initiative
What are the ten transformational changes necessary to reach the unprecedented speed and scale requisite to keep earth’s system in a safe operating zone?
- Peter Schlosser
GF23 Conference Co-Chair
Vice President and Vice Provost of Global Futures, Arizona State University - Johan Rockström
GF23 Conference Co-Chair
Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
9:15 a.m.
Setting the Stage
Exploring the role of global activism for change in mobilizing youth as changemakers.
- Sir David Attenborough (via video presentation)
- Xiye Bastida
Co-founder, Re-Earth Initiative - Sylvia Earle
President and Chairman, Mission Blue/The Sylvia Earle Alliance - [moderator] John Vermilye
Co-founder, Gallifrey Foundation
9:45 a.m.
Indigenous Knowledges (Panel)
Discussing the intersections of knowledge systems to enhance our ways of knowing in protecting the future of people and the planet.
- Faumuina Felolini Maria Tafuna’i
Managing Director, Flying Geese Pro - Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichka
Territory Coordinator, Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance - Atossa Soltani
Director of Global Strategy, Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance - [Moderator] Melissa Nelson
Professor, Arizona State University
10:15 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Youth Perspectives (Panel)
Understanding the unique perspectives & actions of our younger generations.
- Rigoberto Amaya
Global Ambassador, Blue Planet Alliance - Marlén Garcia
Executive Director, Earth Uprising International - Kneyone Murray
Global Ambassador, Blue Planet Alliance - [Moderator] Chido Mpemba
Envoy for Youth, African Union Commission
10:50 a.m.
Catalyzing Change: Value Systems (Panel)
Advancing transformational change will take more than regulations and harm reduction, but will necessitate alignment of individual and collective values to catalyze change.
- The Hon. Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Former President, The Republic of Mauritius - Jojo Mehta
Co-Founder, Stop Ecocide International - [Moderator] Maya Soetoro
Co-Founder, Institute for Climate and Peace
11:20 a.m.
Spotlight: Mobilizing Climate Action – The Power of Shared Values
A session on the meaningful alignment of values for accelerated action.
- Katharine Hayhoe
Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, and Horn Distinguished Professor, Endowed Professor of Public Policy and Public Law, Dept. of Political Science at Texas Tech University
11:30 a.m.
Spotlight: International Systems for a Better Future
Exploring how global governance through multilateral institutions represents both promise and challenges for the greatest challenges facing local and global communities.
- Her Excellency María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés
President of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (2018-2019) - Martin Chungong
Secretary General, Inter-Parliamentary Union - Stephen Twigg
Secretary-General, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
11:55 a.m.
Lunch
12:55 p.m.
Spotlight: Energy Solutions
A conversation about the future of energy with a Hawaiian perspective.
- Henk Rogers
Founder, Blue Planet Alliance - Amanda Ellis
Senior Director of Global Partnerships and Networks, Arizona State University
1:10 p.m.
Must Do panel discussion
A limit of global warming as close to 1.5°C as possible by 2050 [A session]- The Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo
Africa Director & Special Advisor, UN High-Level Climate Champions Team - Lisa J. Graumlich
President, American Geophysical Union and Dean Emeritus, College of the Environment, University of Washington - Carmen Vicelich
Founder, Generate Zero - [Moderator] Nigel Topping
UN High-Level Climate Champions Team
1:55 p.m.
Must Do panel discussion
An Immediate Halt and Reversal of the Loss of Nature’s Functions and Diversity [B session]- Lucas Joppa
Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Managing Director, Haveli Investments - Rodrigo Medellín
Senior Professor, Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) - Patricia Wright
Distinguished Service Professor and Herrnstein Professor of Conservation Biology, Stony Brook University - [Moderator] Alex Dehgan
CEO and Co-Founder, Conservation X Labs
2:40 p.m.
Working Sessions: Must Dos A and B (Breakout rooms)
3:55 p.m.
Break
4:10 p.m.
Spotlight: Restoring Nature
Protecting and restoring nature is a fundamental necessity for humans to thrive on a healthy planet. These sessions will focus on how we can, and must, understand and safeguard biodiversity and our natural ecosystems.
- Cristián Samper
Managing Director and Leader for Nature Solutions, Bezos Earth Fund - Carlos Nobre
Climate Scientist, Institute for Advanced Studies at University of Sao Paulo - Kate Logan
Head of Business Development in Hawaiʻi, Terraformation - Lilian Pintea
Vice President, Conservation Science, Jane Goodall Institute - Dame Jane Goodall DBE (via video presentation)
Founder, Jane Goodall Institute - [lead] Alex Dehgan
CEO and Co-Founder, Conservation X Labs
4:50 p.m.
Report Out
5:30 p.m.
GF23 Conference Reception
A sunset cruise along the Hudson River, aboard the Hornblower Atlantica.
Board at Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 – 111C 11th Ave.
8 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
Spotlight: Earth4All
Welcome to Day 2 featuring a spotlight session on the intersection of economics, climate, and policy in identifying holisitc solutions to our most complex global issues.
- Sandrine Dixson-Declève
Co-President, The Club of Rome
8:40 a.m.
Catalyzing Change: Innovation
From nature-based solutions to engineered inventions, innovation remains at the core of all transformational, global change. This session will explore the ingredients and environmental test beds that accelerate the research and development of novel interventions that change the world for good.
- Leah Lizarondo
Founder, Food Rescue Hero - Gavin McCormick
Co-Founder, Climate TRACE coalition and Executive Director, WattTime - Robbie Schingler
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Planet Labs PBC - [Co-lead] Alex Dehgan
CEO and Co-Founder, Conservation X Labs - [Co-lead] Andrew Zolli
Chief Impact Officer, Planet
9:25 a.m.
Spotlight: Governing Our Planetary Emergency – Insights from the Climate Governance Commission
This spotlight session on the role and responsibility of leaders in governing the battle for global climate justice features a conversation with the 7th president of Ireland and the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.- The Right Honorable Mary Robinson
Chair, The Elders - Maja Groff
Convenor, Climate Governance Commission
9:40 a.m.
Must Do panel discussion
Governance Transformations to Stay Within Planetary Boundaries [C session]- Adriana Erthal Abdenur
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Plataforma CIPÓ - Arunabha Ghosh
CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water - Her Excellency Keisha A. McGuire
President and CEO, Present and Future Institute - Sharan Burrow
Former General Secretary at International Trade Union Confederation (2010-2022) - [Moderator] Maja Groff
Convenor, Climate Governance Commission
10:15 a.m.
Must Do panel discussion
Equitable Access to Resources Needed For Human Well-Being [D session]- Gautam Narasimhan
Global Lead for Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment, UNICEF - Cassie Roach
Vice President, Global Market Development and Sustainability, Cisco Systems, Inc. - Tea Trumbic
Manager, Women, Business and the Law, Global Indicators Group, Development Economics, The World Bank - [Moderator] Danielle J. Harris
Managing Director of Engagement and Innovation, Elemental Excelerator
10:50 a.m.
Break
11 a.m.
Working Sessions: Must Dos C and D (Breakout rooms)
12:15 p.m.
Lunch Spotlight: Global Governance Innovation
Global governance and multi-lateral institutions are notoriously slow-moving and struggle to evolve with the pace of novel and dynamic global challenges. Join this lunch spotlight session on the role of innovation in governance and how our largest institutions may transform to become nimble and adaptive agents of change.
A Second Charter: Imagining a Renewed United Nations- Augusto López-Claros
Chair, Global Governance Forum
- Richard Ponzio
Director of the Global Governance, Justice and Security Program, Senior Fellow, Stimson Center - Nudhara Yusuf
Executive Coordinator, Global Governance Innovation Network (GGIN), Research Assistant, Global Governance, Justice & Security Program, Stimson Center
1:15 p.m.
Catalyzing Change: Incentives
Discussing the role of incentives in effectively mobilizing governments, societies, and individuals to enact meaningful environmental and social change.
- Daniel Esty
Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law & Policy, Yale School of the Environment & Yale Law School - Nicole Rycroft
Founder and Executive Director, Canopy - Antoinette Vermilye
co-founder Gallifrey Foundation and She Changes Climate - Mahmoud Mohieldin
UN High-Level Climate Champion Team, UNFCCC - [Lead] Amanda Ellis
Senior Director of Global Partnerships and Networks, Arizona State University
2 p.m.
Must Do panel discussion
Just Economies That Operate Within Planetary Boundaries [E session]- Susan Reichle
President and CEO, International Youth Foundation - Rob Schuwerk
Executive Director of North America, Carbon Tracker - [Moderator] Ketan Patel
Chairman and Advisory Council Chair, Force For Good
2:35 p.m.
Must Do panel discussion
An Ethical Digital World Providing For Human Security, Equity and Education [F session]- Márcia Balisciano
Head of Corporate Responsibility, RELX - Meagan Fallone
Entrepreneur in Residence, Executive Adviser on Climate Justice, CARE USA - Juan M. Lavista Ferres
Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab, Microsoft - Gabriela Ramos
Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO - [Moderator] Andrew Zolli
Chief Impact Officer, Planet
3:10 p.m.
Break
3:25 p.m.
Working Sessions: Must Dos E and F (Breakout rooms)
4:40 p.m.
Break
4:55 p.m.
Report Out
8 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast
8:45 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
8:50 a.m.
Must Do Panel Discussion
Reconnection of Human Well-Being to Planetary Health [G session]- Lisa Hensley
Research Lead – Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit, USDA/ARS - Jemilah Mahmood
Professor and Executive Director, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health - [Moderator] Helga Flores Trejo
Vice President, Head International and Multilateral Affairs, Bayer AG
9:25 a.m.
Must Do Panel Discussion
Stability and Security in a Global Society [H session]- Pedro Conceição
Director of the Human Development Report Office, United Nations Development Program - Ron Dembo
Founder and CEO, Riskthinking.AI - Hardin Lang
Vice President for Programs and Policy, Refugees International - [Moderator] Christina Lamb OBE
Chief Foreign Correspondent, The Sunday Times
10 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m.
Spotlight
This session focuses on the roles of economic development, education, health, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in safeguarding our future with the person who served as the 7th Executive Director of UNICEF and 13th Administrator of USAID.
- The Hon. Henrietta Fore
Chairman and CEO, Holsman International
10:25 a.m.
Must Do panel discussion
Healthy, Safe and Secure Food for the Global Population [I session]- Saharah Moon Chapotin
Executive Director, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research - Wallace Shuaihua Cheng
Head, Impact, Innovation and Development Unit, Globethics - Lona Stoll
Independent Consultant - [Moderator] Anneliese (Lisa) Palmer
Research Professor of Science Communication, George Washington University
11 a.m.
Spotlight: Human Security 4 All
Join this spotlight session on the role of global security in stable and prosperous global futures.
- Chantal Line Carpentier
Chief, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development New York Office - Garry Jacobs
President, World Academy of Art & Science - Walt Stinson
Director, Human Security for All
11:15 a.m.
Must Do panel discussion
A Resilient Global Society Ready to Respond to Planetary Crises [J session]- Marie-Claire Graf
Co-Founder, Youth Negotiators Academy - Aarathi Krishnan
Senior Advisor for Strategic Foresight, UNDP - Derek Walker
Commissioner, Office of Future Generations Commissioner for Wales - [Moderator] Saber Chowdhury
Member for Dhaka-9, Bangladesh Parliament
11:50 a.m.
Catalyzing Change: Communication for Action
Discussing the critical role of storytelling and dialogues that create both impact and the meaningful change necessary for both individual and community transformation.
- Colin Butfield
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Studio Silverback - Anthony Leiserowitz
Founder and Director, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication - Brian MacCraith
Senior Advisor and Professor of Practice, Arizona State University - Frank Niepold
Senior Climate Education Coordinator, NOAA Climate Program Office - [Lead] Justin Worland
Senior Correspondent, TIME
12:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:20 p.m.
Working Sessions: Must Dos G, H, I and J (Breakout rooms)
2:35 p.m.
Break
2:50 p.m.
Report Out
3 p.m.
Spotlight: BMO and WE Empower – Driving real progress towards sustainable economies
The WE Empower UN SDG challenge is a first-of-its-kind global competition for women social entrepreneurs who are advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Meet the five 2023 awardees and learn about their businesses that are both for profit and for good followed by a panel discussion on the necessity of investing in sustainable business.
Pitches by the WE Empower 2023 Awardees:- Diana Mbogo
Founder and Managing Director, Millennium Engineers (Tanzania) - Susan Blanchet
CEO and Founder, Origen Air (Canada) - Andrea ‘Andy’ Blair
Co-Founder and Director, Business and Innovation, Upflow (New Zealand) - Karin Sempf
CEO and Founder, Innova Nation (Panama) - Menna Farouk
Co-Founder, Dosy (Egypt) - [lead] Amanda Ellis
Senior Director of Global Partnerships for Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
- Amanda Ellis
- Melissa Fifield
Head, BMO Climate Institute - Diana Mbogo
- Susan Blanchet
- [moderator] Moriah Linton
Director, BMO for Women
4 p.m.
Integration Session: Must-do Actions for a Just, Sustainable Future for All
Defining the necessary transformative levers of change so life can thrive on a healthy planet.
- Peter Schlosser
- Johan Rockström
4:40 p.m.
Next Steps
Establishing the series of forthcoming milestones and next steps based on the 10 Must Haves and Must Dos integration from the Global Futures Conference.
5 p.m.
Conference adjournment
Review speakers and program from GF22.
GF23 is convened by
Co-convened by
GF23 Sponsors:
GF23 Partners
The Global Futures Conference is proud to be a part of
