The Climate Group has selected the Columbia Climate School as its university partner for this year’s Climate Week NYC. Running Sept. 20-26, Climate Week NYC convenes key climate leaders to accelerate climate action and discuss ambitious commitments ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, or COP26, later this fall in Glasgow.
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Electric vehicles are attracting unprecedented attention at the federal level, with proposals for major infusions of funds to build charging stations and promote sales. Transportation emissions are nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, so all plans to meet more ambitious climate goals call for rapid electrification. Many automakers have pledged to increase the share of their production by going all battery or fuel cell electric within a decade, but few of the new models meet current buyer preference for larger vehicles with increased utility. Ford’s introduction of the F-150 Lightning, a battery electric version of the best selling truck in the U.S. for the last 44 years, and the E-Transit, a battery electric commercial vehicle, may signal a tipping point in building the future of zero emissions transportation.
The Center on Global Energy Policy brought together Jim Farley and Mary Nichols, two influential leaders from the regulatory policymaking and automotive sectors, to share their perspectives on how we can reduce emissions from transportation and respond with urgency to the climate crisis. The discussion highlighted the significant changes taking place in the industry’s plans and strategies to achieve carbon neutrality, the role of regulation, policy and investments in building demand for battery electric vehicles, and the importance of putting people first in this transition by focusing on equity, access and workforce development.
Moderator:
- Jason Bordoff, Co-Founding Dean, Columbia Climate School; Founding Director, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA
Speakers:
- Jim Farley, Chief Executive Officer, Ford Motor Company
- Mary Nichols, Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA; Former Chairwoman, California Air Resources Board
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