Terry and a small tea of partners founded Openform after recognizing themselves as frustrated consumers. Hear them speak on how they got to where they are and where they are headed. Terry and a small tea of partners founded Openlane after recognizing themselves as frustrated consumers. Hear them speak on how they got to where they are and where they are headed. Terry and a small tea of partners founded Openlane after recognizing themselves as frustrated consumers. Hear them speak on how they got to where they are and where they are headed.
2022 was a meteoric year for environmental transparency and action. In the US, we witnessed a flurry of new policies and regulations, collaborative initiatives, summits and ambitious calls to action – which may leave businesses, financial institutions and local governments wondering how to make sense of it all. Looking ahead to 2024 – a pivotal year for the sustainability space – how will you build momentum toward a net-zero future while balancing new developments, such as SEC environmental disclosure, major United Nations summits on water security and biodiversity, evolving reporting standards and taxonomies– plus much more!
Join CDP at our flagship US Workshop to understand your role and your organization’s place in this fast-shifting world. In addition to hearing from a range of world-class experts representing various sectors, you'll network with peers in the sustainability space and deepen your understanding of how to transition to net-zero and account for nature. You'll leave with new knowledge of how disclosure and best practice action can catalyze your environmental journey.
The world is running out of time to address the climate crisis and halt irreversible nature loss. We hope you'll join us to accelerate net-zero together.
Representatives from Cities, States and Public Authorities should reach out to citiesna@cdp.net to learn more about Workshop discount codes.
Laurel Blatchford was appointed as Treasury’s Chief Implementation Officer for the Inflation Reduction Act in January 2023. In this newly created role, Laurel is leading a team focused on the implementation of Treasury’s provisions of the IRA across Treasury and the IRS.
Over the course of her 25-year career, Laurel has held senior leadership roles in the non-profit, government and philanthropic sectors. Most recently, as Managing Director and Senior Advisor at Blue Meridian Partners, she collaborated on US$100M of investments focused on economic mobility and advised Blue Meridian’s portfolio of grantees on their approach to policy as a tool for impact and influence. Prior to joining Blue Meridian in 2020, she was President of Enterprise Community Partners, one of the nation's largest affordable housing and community development intermediaries. During her six-year tenure at Enterprise, Laurel led a team of 250 staff working in 12 markets across the United States that built capacity on the ground, piloted new advisory solutions for local leaders, and connected partners to capital, including public sector grant funding as well as private capital.
Jeffrey D. Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he directed the Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development, academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican, and Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor at Sunway University. He has been Special Advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary General António Guterres. He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, where he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Sachs has received 42honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France, and the Order of the Cross from the President of Estonia. His most recent books are The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020) and Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022).
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was elected to serve as our city’s budget watchdog and chief accountability officer on November 2nd, 2021. Lander’s background in community organizing and urban planning informs his work to make government work better for all New Yorkers. First elected to the City Council in 2009, Lander co-founded the Council’s Progressive Caucus and has a strong track record of partnering with community advocates to win transformative change for a more just and equitable city.
Divya Mankikar is responsible for building the S&P Global Sustainable1 strategy for engaging with key market influencers, multi-laterals and standard-setters. She brings climate, sustainability, investment and policy expertise built over 15+ years in related roles.
Mankikar was CalPERS’ first Head of Sustainable Investment and Climate Strategy in the Office of the CEO and led the ESG Research & Integration team’s work on engagement, advocacy and integration across the US$467 billion fund. She is a co-founder and key architect of Climate Action 100+ - the US$65 trillion global investor network to engage companies on climate strategy. She was also a member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s climate-related market risk subcommittee. Prior to CalPERS, her experience focused on environmental data, renewable energy and nature-based climate solutions, including carbon offsets based in reforestation.
Yves is a visionary strategy leader with extensive experience both domestically and abroad. As the Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at the New York Power Authority (NYPA), he plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's long-term strategic direction and positioning it to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving industry sustainably. He is a member of the Executive Management Committee of NYPA. NYPA is the largest state electric utility in the country, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,460 circuit miles of transmission lines. Power generation is at the heart of NYPA's mission and the core of our business. NYPA produces approximately 70% of New York State's renewable electricity and 25% of the state's total electricity. In 2022, 85% of NYPA's power generation came from clean, renewable hydropower. Mr. Noel's responsibilities at NYPA include strategy, planning, strategic consulting, sustainability and ESG reporting oversight.
Beth joined Aptar in April of 2013 to develop the company’s initial global sustainability strategy. From 2017 through 2019, her role expanded to include development of Aptar’s initial Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) strategy, management system and supporting programs.
An Environmental Engineer by degree, Beth began her career with Malcolm Pirnie (now Arcadis), a global environmental consulting firm, and then joined General Electric as a multi-site EHS Manager. She later transitioned to Ingersoll Rand Company to lead Lean/Six Sigma and EHS for more than 50 sales and service centers throughout North, Central and Latin America. While with Ingersoll Rand, she was among an elite cohort selected for a company-sponsored Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program with Indiana University and recognized with several President’s Awards for her leadership on various strategic initiatives, including an “Inspiring Progress within the Community” award for her personal efforts fundraising for the non-profit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2019, the National Association for Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S) Management honored Beth with a Leadership in Action Award.
Catherine is Co-founder of BlueVista Solutions, a consultancy that provides climate-focused policy and strategy services to public and private sector clients. She founded Carbon Accountable in 2020 to advance a California policy proposal for mandatory, full scope corporate emissions reporting that is currently being considered in the state legislature. She chairs the Stanford Law School CodeX Climate Data Policy Initiative and works internationally with the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University, a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of California Los Angeles.
Mike Nicholus is the Global Corporate Services & Sustainability Environment Director for Accenture. He is responsible for promoting programs to measure and manage Accenture’s environmental impact across all global operations. Collaborating with talented and passionate individuals around the world, he drives Accenture’s ISO 14001 program and broad strategies to decarbonize Accenture's 700,000+ employee footprint.
Mike graduated from the University of Illinois with a dual focus in Finance and Marketing and lives in Chicago. He’s served on the Corporate Advisory Boards for the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project Business Council. He is a semi-retired stand-up comedian.
Stephanie is the US Nature Lead and a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance Sustainability and ESG Services practice, advising global clients on navigating complex environmental issues. Throughout her career, she has developed strategies that assist clients to advance their nature-positive journey by measuring, reducing and disclosing impacts on forests-risk commodities, biodiversity, land use and food waste.
Prior to her role at Deloitte, Stephanie was the Global Manager in CDP’s Forests & Land team, helping decouple deforestation from corporate supply chains. She supported the TNFD Secretariat in sector guidance development for beta V.04, and advised clients on their nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities management. By encouraging disclosure with a global sustainability perspective, she seeks to address complex global issues such as biodiversity loss and the economic impact on nature. Stephanie holds an MS in Green Management, Energy, and CSR from Bocconi University.
Elizabeth Hammitt is the Director of Environmental Stewardship and Residential Energy Solutions at EPB where she develops and implements environmental stewardship initiatives, electric vehicle and community engagement programs, and residential energy products. Elizabeth graduated from Warren Wilson College where she worked in the Environmental Leadership Center.
Elizabeth holds a LEED AP with an O+M specialty and a WELL AP. She was selected for the Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership program at the T. H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University.
Hammitt has been recognized by the State of Tennessee through the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. She enjoys community service, and she has served as a director and trustee on numerous boards including the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, US Green Building Council’s Market Advisory Board – Tennessee (USGBC MLAB), and more.
Harry is responsible for all ICE maintained corporate level ESG data attributes and collection processes. He oversees data collection methodology, as well as alignment to regulation, industry frameworks and disclosure standards. He and his team continue to grow their database subject to market demand and data availability. Prior to joining ICE Harry worked at Sustainalytics (Morningstar) supporting asset owners and managers integrating ESG data into their investment processes. He has an MBA in Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investments from the Sustainability Management School in Switzerland. Additional bio (if needed): Before specializing in ESG and sustainable finance Harry received his undergraduate in Environmental Management with a minor in Economics. He also worked as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he focused on financial planning for individuals with heavy exposure to equity-based compensation.
Nidhi Krishen is the Deputy Director for Climate Solutions at the Office of Sustainability at the City of
Philadelphia. She is responsible for advancing Philadelphia’s equitable clean energy transition, focusing
primarily to develop and implement strategies and approaches to decarbonize the city’s buildings.
She is
currently leading the Office’s key strategic initiative to address energy use in the city’s residential
buildings, focusing primarily on alleviating energy burden and energy poverty for Philadelphia’s low and
middle-income households.
Victoria Cerullo is Acting Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. She began her career in the Bloomberg administration, first as a Director in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, Legislative Representative in the Office of City
Legislative Affairs, and Chief of Staff to the NYC Parks Commissioner. She was also part of a team assembled by Mayor Bloomberg to manage Superstorm Sandy recovery. Her roles in philanthropy and the private sector have spanned sustainability, news, financial products, and
operations. Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff for the Government Innovation program
at Bloomberg Philanthropies. Victoria received her MPA from Columbia University’s School of
International and Public Affairs.
Mathew Lee is a senior energy researcher who develops climate and energy related insights for MSCI’s Americas ESG and Thematic Research team. His previous publications focus on topics such as benchmarking industry emissions trends, identifying energy transition opportunities and analyzing company carbon targets. Prior to MSCI, Mathew was an environmental consultant on corporate sustainability and energy policy and has worked on environmental issues at CDP, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Mathew holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Tufts University in international affairs and environmental studies.
Jamie Statter is the Senior Advisor for Climate in the Office of Comptroller Brad Lander. In this capacity, Jamie drives the implementation of the New York City Retirement Systems (NYCERS), the Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS), and the Board of Education Retirement System’s (BERS) net zero by 2040 commitments through engagement with portfolio companies and asset managers. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s office, Jamie was Vice President of Strategic Relationships at the US Green Building Council, leading the organization’s work on clean energy, power systems, and sustainable land
development working with business and government leaders to assist their efforts to meet climate,
sustainability, and resiliency goals. Previously, Jamie was the Head of the Built Environment at the
Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). While serving in this role, she advised multinational corporations,
philanthropists, NGOs, global mayors, and organized labor to increase investments in green buildings, infrastructure, resiliency and cities. Jamie is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans and
completed her Masters of Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University.
Esther is Special Advisor for Policy at the Environmental Protection Agency. Prior she worked at the Environmental Defense Fund, where she led program strategy and
partnership development to integrate diverse communities into climate policy. Previously, Esther worked at the Mayor's Office of New York City, where she formed part of the inaugural team tasked with engaging underserved communities in city services. She recently completed a policy fellowship at the Aspen Institute Climate Technology & Policy Program and advises on NYC Offshore Wind Community Fund, designed to build an offshore wind industry that benefits historically underserved communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Economics from Bowdoin College and a Master's in Environmental Studies from Yale University, School of Environmental Studies. She is a fellow at the Clean Energy Leadership Institute.
RS members-only breakfast roundtable: What's next? Follow the corporate roadmap to environmental stewardship with CDP Reporter Services (Invite Only)
This roundtable will bring together CDP Reporter Services members across North America to highlight key trends drawn from public disclosures. CDP experts will discuss core categories needed to achieve ambitious climate action and participants will be able to hear from members in the room on the measures they are adopting and how they are using CDP data towards a corporate roadmap for environmental action.
Room: The Innovation Space
Companies will need to navigate significant expectations around disclosure and environmental management, including the SEC’s proposed climate rule and historic agreements between countries committing to preserve biodiversity. In this session, CDP will offer insight on how this is shaping disclosure in 2023 with the inclusion of plastics and biodiversity and delve into how the organization will continue to support companies to meet changing global regulations toward a net-zero world.
Presented by Nicolette Bartlett, Chief Impact Officer, CDP
Room: The Forum
Climate-related disclosure regulations will take effect this year in various jurisdictions, meaning companies have an ever increasingly complex regulatory space to navigate, where, put simply, climate risk is material risk. This “What you need to know” session will explore and answer what disclosure means for US corporations regarding domestic and international operations. An expert panel, including regulatory, corporate and financial institution perspectives will delve into the various facets associated with disclosure, and CDP experts will share CDP’s role in shaping the latest legislation and guidance for financial institutions, policymakers, cities, states, regions and public authorities.
Featuring:
• Elizabeth Small, Head of Policy & General Counsel, CDP North America
• Catherine Atkin, Founder, Carbon Accountable, Founder, Blue Vista Solutions
• Mike Nicholus, Global Corporate Services & Sustainability Environment Director, Accenture
Room: The Forum
For data applications to be meaningful and impactful, the quality and alignment of data with various stakeholders’ needs are important. CDP data plays a crucial role in the capital markets – showing that disclosure can not only help with regulatory risk management but also business-as-usual operations that bring economic value. In this plenary session, we will look at what disclosure data means in the capital markets as corporations navigate the complexity of disclosure regulations. Speakers will include experts from financial institutions delivering insights on how environmental data is being used in all aspects, ranging from engagement, stewardship and proxy voting to other sustainable finance opportunities.
Featuring:
• Mathew Lee, Senior Associate, ESG Research, MSCI Inc.
• Harry Forman, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Lead ESG Reference Data Specialist, ICE
• Jamie Statter, Senior Advisor, Climate, Bureau of Asset Management, Office of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander
Room: The Forum
Disclosure trends and requirements: Practical reporting guidance for CDP’s evolving climate, forests, and water security questionnaires
From historic international agreements committing to preserve biodiversity to the SEC finalizing their proposed climate rule, there are significant changes on the horizon for companies as they navigate stakeholder expectations around disclosure and environmental management – nature is at the forefront of conversations on corporate action. In this session, CDP will share insight into how this has shaped disclosure in 2023 with the inclusion of plastics and biodiversity. We will also share details on our transformation, as we expand across aspects of nature, support companies to meet changing global regulations and facilitate the transition to a net-zero, water-secure and deforestation-free world.
Panelists will discuss how their entities are advancing actions and policy that bolster climate resiliency and ensure natural resource protection in the State and City of New York, while concurrently advancing economic development, inclusion and equity. The discussion will also highlight the role of climate-related disclosure from state, city and public authorities.
Featuring:
• Brad Lander, Comptroller, City of New York
• Yves Noel, Chief Strategy Officer, New York Power Authority
• Esther Sosa, Special Advisor for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Implementation, Environmental Protection Agency
• Victoria Cerullo, Acting Director, New York City Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
• Katie Walsh, Head of Cities, States and Public Authorities, CDP North America
Closed door session for financial institutions: Developing credible transition plans to meet net-zero commitments (Invite Only)
In this panel discussion, capital markets stakeholders will share details of their net-zero commitments and transition plans, highlighting current challenges and knowledge sharing on best practices to develop credible transition plans. Under Chatham House rules, stakeholders will discuss their net-zero targets, current gaps and progress on transition plans and how each institution is expecting to proceed despite long-term challenges.
Irreversible nature loss is already posing significant risks to businesses. Forests are an effective entry point to address nature-related risks and harness nature-positive opportunities, while simultaneously mitigating climate change. This session will include representatives from the private sector and civil society sharing how their organizations are tackling the climate and nature crises by using data to address deforestation. Leading civil society experts will discuss nature as the key to reaching net-zero and strategies, such as place-based multi-stakeholder action, being deployed to transition corporate supply chains and financial institutions toward eliminating deforestation and other nature loss.
Featuring:
• Stephanie Cardenas, US Nature Lead, Senior Manager ESG & Sustainability, Deloitte
• Divya Mankikar, Global Head of Market Engagement, S&P Global Sustainable1
• Marielle Canter Weikel, Senior Director, Corporate Climate Solutions, Conservation International
• Adam Kanzer, Head of Stewardship, Americas, BNP Paribas Asset Management
At least one-third of the emissions reductions required to limit global warming to 1.5°C are linked to forestation and the water cycle. Cutting GHG emissions is pivotal in the fight against climate change. But we cannot solve the climate crisis without addressing feedback loops in our ecosystem and working in tandem to protect nature; this includes forests, water and biodiversity, which are all vital for our survival. This session will explore how companies engage with their supply chains to bring them along on their sustainability journey to better navigate climate, water and forests-related impacts, opportunities and risks.
Featuring
• AB Turner - Supply Chain Procurement Emissions Program Manager, Dell Technologies
• Nikolas Rose - Global Procurement Sustainability Manager, Xylem
• Michel Santos, Senior Director for Global Sustainability, Bunge
Setting a science-based target is a critical milestone in a corporate decarbonization journey. While science-based targets help catalyze the organization-wide action needed to achieve them, they cannot be achieved without aligning all aspects of a company’s strategy around this goal. It’s critical for companies to develop credible transition plans to clearly communicate their longer-term decarbonization strategy with stakeholders. This session will share key findings from CDP data about how companies are reducing emissions today and the importance of transparently disclosing plans to transition to a net-zero future.
Featuring:
• Beth Holland, Vice President, Global Sustainability, AptarGroup
• Arnaud Brohe, Director, Agendi
In 2022, 136 North American local governments disclosed through CDP-ICLEI Track and are working towards a science-based target (SBT), and the first municipally owned utility in North America validated a science-based emission reduction target through SBTi. On the journey to net- zero by 2050, local governments and public authorities must take high-impact actions to meet their ambitious mid-term targets by 2030. This session will feature representatives from city governments and public authorities sharing best practices and insights on high-impact actions they are taking to meet their mid-term targets on the journey to net-zero. This session will also provide attendees with a broader understanding of SBTs and the technical guidance and the support CDP provides public sector disclosers as they work to raise climate ambition.
Featuring:
• Elizabeth Hammitt, Director, Residential Energy and Environmental Solutions, EPB (Formerly Electric Power Board of Chattanooga)
• Nidhi Krishen, Deputy Director for Climate Solutions, City of Philadelphia
• Alexandra Hill, Senior Technical Analyst, CDP North America
Valuing water: Best practices for investors and corporates to integrate water data into decision making (In person only)
Since the UN Water Conference in March, water-related issues are increasingly prominent on the agenda of investors and companies. Building on this momentum and CDP’s latest global water report, this session will offer a deep dive into the world of internal water pricing. CDP experts will present an overview of voluntary corporate internal water pricing based on 2022 CDP disclosure data. Panelists from the corporate and financial sectors will discuss their perspectives on voluntary water pricing, how disclosure is used to drive financial decision-making as well as successes and challenges.
Featuring:
• Alexis Huseby, VP, Sustainable Investment & ESG, Lazard Asset Management
• Dennis Neveling, Managing Director, Lazard Asset Management
• Richard Freund, Associate Director, CDP North America
CDP also works closely with a broad range of accredited solutions providers globally who can help you take action beyond disclosure – by verifying your emissions, advising on procurement of renewable energy, putting in place a sustainability strategy and ambitious environmental targets, streamlining collection of data via environmental software and much more.
CDP ran a series of 30-minute bitesize webinars with our gold accredited solutions providers on a range of sustainability topics, the recordings of which are here.