As the world grapples with the accelerating impacts of climate change, it's clear that technological innovation will be crucial to driving meaningful emissions reductions. But are we harnessing these new technologies in a responsible and sustainable way?

This panel discussion will explore both the promise and perils of using advanced technologies to combat the climate crisis. Our expert speakers will delve into various aspects of technological innovation and its impacts, including:

• The environmental costs and social impacts of mining rare earth minerals needed for renewable energy and other green tech
• Breakthroughs in renewable energy, carbon capture, and other climate solutions - and the potential tradeoffs or unintended consequence
• The role of AI in climate modeling, mitigation strategies, and decision-making - and the risks of bias and privacy concerns
• Biomimetism as a pathway to responsible technology use - learning from nature's efficient, sustainable systems to develop better solutions
• The human dimension: ensuring social sustainability alongside technological advancement
• Balancing rapid innovation with responsible implementation and equitable access

Drawing on diverse expert perspectives, this event will provide a critical examination of how we can maximize the benefits of emerging climate technologies while minimizing harm. We'll explore multiple approaches to responsible innovation, from biomimetic design to social impact assessment, ensuring that our technological solutions support both environmental and social sustainability.

The speakers will offer insights and strategies for steering a responsible path forward in the race to address the climate emergency, while ensuring that technological advancement serves the needs of both people and planet.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on creating a more sustainable future through responsible technological innovation.

Our speakers

• Hélène de Rengervé: Business & Human Rights Advocate - Forced Labour expert - EU policies & beyond

• Chipo Mbawu: Program Manager - SDGs for International Development (Human rights in global value chains & North-South cooperation)

• Dr Caroline Zaoui: Enabling the rise of Environmental FungiTech - Co-Founder at Novobiom | WomenTech EU award-winning 2023

• Dr Pendo Maro: CEO at Pendo srl | Environment, Climate Change Specialist and Policy Adviser