This conference, in the lead-up to the 22nd COP the following week, will provide a multi-stakeholder forum to unpack the implications of climate change action for sustainable and responsible investment in and governance of natural resources. The conference aims to translate the consensus on the urgency and on the challenges of reconciling climate action with investment in natural resources, particularly in low-income countries, into policy-oriented action, and to lay the foundation for further productive dialogue and action at COP22.

The conference’s sessions will address issues including:

– the role of hydrocarbons in energy systems, including how to plan for, implement and manage the reserves that will need to be “stranded,” and how to manage potential impacts on global financial markets.

– how, and to what extent low-carbon strategies can and should be adapted to accommodate the needs of low income countries to find ways to industrialize their economies in a world that is becoming more conscious of its environmental footprint.

– how the impacts of land use shifts resulting from investment in natural resources can be managed in order to mitigate negative climate impacts or maximize positive climate impacts, and how to ensure that investments in climate finance or renewable energy projects benefit local communities

– the opportunities and imperatives for international legal frameworks to support national-level actions, and how global governance rules can be harnessed to drive and harmonize the implementation of commitments to combat climate change