The Boulder Forum on Economy, Climate and Community

Fossil fuel finance: The economic drivers perpetuating carbon-based energy systems

June 18 | 12 PM MDT

The role of fossil fuel energy systems in driving climate change is now well understood. Far less considered, however are the ways public policy enables economic conditions that perpetuate a dependency on fossil energy sources. This session will profile the perspectives of speakers Lolita Jackson and Robert Hockett.

Jackson left a prosperous career on Wall Street to become the lead climate strategist for Mayor de Blasio in New York City. In this position, she was a key figure in helping to develop and implement New York City’s energy transition strategy. Jackson will share the stage with Robert Hockett, Cornell University professor of law. Hockett has been advising Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Green New Deal since 2019, and he literally wrote the book on Green New Deal economics, “Financing the Green New Deal.”

Following the panel, we will be joined by Colorado State Senator Steve Fenberg for a locally focused Q&A session. Representing the 18th district of Colorado, Fenberg has served as Senate Majority Leader since 2019 and has been a champion of several pieces of key climate-focused legislation.

Towards a Regenerative & Distributive Economy

Kate Raworth is an economist at Oxford University and the author of “Donut Economics: Seven Ways to Think like a 21st-Century Economist.” Kate’s work with cities around the world in the development of equitable and redistributive economies has mainstreamed new standards for how economies should support human well-being. Dr. Raworth will describe the key challenges we face in the structure of our current economy and opportunities for creating economies that can both stabilize climate and dramatically improve the well-being of millions of people worldwide.

Redirecting the Economy to Regenerate the Living World

Documentary filmmaker, social venture entrepreneur, and ecosystems ambassador for the Common Land Foundation Based in Amsterdam, John Liu has a global perspective on both the state of the world’s ecosystems and some of the most exciting efforts to restore and regenerate them. Mr Liu will describe a number of landscape scale regeneration projects that demonstrate what is possible when the economy is put in the service of recovering and regenerating land and their associated systems.

Building new economic policy that regenerates communities and the environment

Congressman Joe Neguse who represents Colorado’s second congressional district is a rising star in the Democratic Party. He has distinguished himself as a leader across a range of issues including as co-chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Congressman Neguse will discuss ways federal policy can be used to guide and focus the power of the economy on stabilizing climate and addressing a range of other pressing challenges.

Imagining the path forward: Finding a hopeful story for an ominous future

Kim Stanley Robinson is an award-winning science fiction writer whose novels frequently explore the ways human beings can respond to unique challenges. His most recent book, ”Ministry for the Future,” is an epic exploration of potential future human responses to climate change. One of the major themes explored in this fascinating work is how the economy might be redirected to enable a successful de-escalation of climate change. Mr. Robinson will bookend the Economy and Climate Forum by encouraging us to consider our options for the future and how we might find our path to creatively and equitably solve this existential crisis.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• Indicator: Percentage of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• Indicator: Number of countries with integrated climate change measures in national policies, strategies, and planning
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
• Indicator: Number of people with improved awareness on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavor to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation
• Indicator: Material footprint per capita

Analysis

The article discusses various events related to the economy and climate change. Based on the content, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The article highlights the role of fossil fuel energy systems in driving climate change. This connects to SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

The article emphasizes the need to transition from fossil energy sources to renewable energy sources to address climate change. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is:

• Indicator: Percentage of renewable energy in the global energy mix

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the ways public policy enables economic conditions that perpetuate a dependency on fossil energy sources, contributing to climate change. This aligns with SDG 13, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The targets under this SDG that can be identified are:

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning

The article emphasizes the importance of integrating climate change measures into national policies and improving education and awareness on climate change. The indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets are:

• Indicator: Number of countries with integrated climate change measures in national policies, strategies, and planning
• Indicator: Number of people with improved awareness on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The article mentions events related to the economy and economic policies. This relates to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:

• Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavor to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation

The article highlights the need to improve resource efficiency and decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is:

• Indicator: Material footprint per capita

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bouldercolorado.gov