About the event

The climate crisis is arguably one of the most critical problems faced by humanity. However, global emission reductions to date have been insufficient and far too slow. Unless ambition to address the climate crisis is substantially increased, the world is heading toward a global heating of over 3℃ above historical average, which could result in catastrophic impacts. 

In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s special report made it clear that emission reductions alone will not be sufficient to keep global temperature rise to below 1.5℃, and that the world would need to deploy large-scale carbon dioxide removal at an unprecedented scale and speed. Some scientists have suggested that additional measures may also be needed to cool the planet, such as solar radiation modification. The scientific, engineering and governance challenges posed by these measures, and in particular by stratospheric aerosol injection are formidable.

Standing at a critical point after the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit in September and before the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Santiago in December, and before the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity that will be hosted by China in Kunming in 2020, Janos Pasztor will share his insights on why it is important to talk about the governance of these emerging climate altering technologies; why now; and what the challenges and opportunities are for the world and for China.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A discussion with the audience.

Janos Pasztor (a Hungarian and a Swiss citizen) is Executive Director of the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G).

He has over 40 years of work experience in the areas of energy, environment, climate change, and sustainable development. Before taking up his current assignment he worked for the UN on Climate Change in New York.

Earlier, he was acting Executive Director for Conservation (2014) and Policy and Science Director (2012-2014) at WWF International. He directed the UNSG’s Climate Change Support Team (2008-2010) and later was Executive Secretary of the UNSG’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (2010-2012). In 2007 he directed the UN Environment Management Group (EMG). During 1993-2006 he worked, and over time held many responsibilities at the Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC).

His other assignments included: in the Secretariat of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit ’92); Stockholm Environment Institute; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Secretariat of the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission); the Beijer Institute; and the World Council of Churches.

He has BSc and MSc degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Guests from both Tsinghua and other universities as well as professionals from relevant industries may register for this event by scanning the QR code. Attendees must show their confirmed reservation to access this event. Attendees admitted to Schwarzman College must adhere to all building and event policies. This event is not open to members of the media and will be held off the record. No attributions or descriptions of this event may be published or shared online without the written consent from both Tsinghua University and Schwarzman College. This lecture will be given in English.