Michael R. Bloomberg to speak at first Bermuda Climate Risk Forum
Hamilton, Bermuda (October 17, 2019)—Three-term New York City mayor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and global leader on climate change Michael R. Bloomberg will be the keynote guest at a half-day, thought-leadership forum presented by the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) later this month in association with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) and the inaugural Bermuda Championship, an official PGA TOUR event.
The Bermuda Climate Risk Forum, slated for Wednesday, October 30 at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, will launch with a conversation between Bloomberg and Bermuda Premier David Burt on the topic of climate risk. Their kickoff session will be followed by two discussion panels focused on the challenges of climate change and sea-level rise facing islands, and the science and business of risk and resilience. The event brings together local and overseas thought leaders from science, industry and government to examine the significant challenges, impacts and innovations around climate risk.
“We’re honoured to welcome Mr. Bloomberg to Bermuda and to present this future-focused event aimed at raising Bermuda’s global profile around the world,” said BTA CEO Kevin Dallas. “We hope the Forum provides a platform for stimulating community discussion on this critical issue, showcasing our corporate, science and government stakeholders—and also providing another great reason to bring clients, brokers, board directors and other guests to the island for our Bermuda-fall PGA TOUR event.”
Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg LP, launched his information technology start-up in 1981 and built it into a global organisation that employs nearly 20,000 people in 120 countries. In 2001, he was elected 108th mayor of New York City and served for three terms to 2013 before returning to lead his company.
Bloomberg has been strongly committed to philanthropy throughout his career, giving away more than $8 billion, and has made combatting climate change a top priority of his foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies. He serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action charged with galvanising the efforts of local and regional governments, businesses, and communities. He also leads a number of coalitions taking urgent climate action, including the Global Covenant of Mayors and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
Bloomberg Philanthropies worked with the Sierra Club to launch the Beyond Coal campaign, which has retired more than half of all US coal plants since its inception. Following the announcement of the planned US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, Bloomberg joined with California Governor Jerry Brown to launch America’s Pledge, a coalition of more than 3,000 local leaders committed to meeting the goals the US set under the Agreement. He recently launched Beyond Carbon, the largest-ever coordinated campaign to fight the climate crisis in the US, which works to accelerate the retirement of coal plants and stop the construction of gas plants. The investment brings his total investment in the global fight against climate change to $1 billion.
He is also co-author, with Carl Pope, of the New York Times bestseller Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet.
Following Bloomberg’s opening discussion, the Forum will feature two expert panels. The first, titled “Climate Risk & Small Islands,” examines how the scientific community and governmental agencies are working together to protect small islands from the impact of severe storms. The session looks at how islands not only are at the forefront of potentially devastating impacts, but also provide global lessons in resilience.
The morning’s second panel, “The Science & Business of Risk & Resilience,” explores the nexus of corporate and scientific spheres as a catalyst for some of the most innovative tools and financial instruments available for building resilience against climate change and natural catastrophe risk. In particular, it highlights the insurance sector’s efforts to reduce disaster risk and enhance climate resilience in surprising ways.
“The Bermuda Championship is pleased to add the Climate Risk Forum to our schedule of events,” said Tournament Director Sean Sovacool. “We support the efforts of our sponsors and our friends at BIOS as they continue their research in pursuit of solutions to mitigate climate change issues throughout the world. We also very much look forward to welcoming Forum attendees to our Pro-Am event that day.”
The event will include networking breaks, as well as a special lunchtime presentation about the BIOS Ocean Academy at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.
“We’re very pleased to be a part of this important conversation about climate risk, along with industry and public-sector stakeholders,” said BIOS President and CEO, Dr. Bill Curry. “We have a long history of studying the climate from an ocean perspective and conducting research into risk with our partners in the insurance industry through our Risk Prediction Initiative. This Forum gives us an opportunity to explore the intersection of climate science and an increased understanding of risk from multiple perspectives.”
Registration for the Bermuda Climate Risk Forum is $175 per person and includes attendance at the morning event, followed by lunch and ferry transport to and from the invitation-only Pro-Am of the PGA TOUR: Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton. That afternoon, SkyBox hospitality will be provided to Forum guests overlooking the course’s panoramic 18th hole.
To secure online registration for the Bermuda Climate Risk Forum, click here.
For more information on the Forum please visit the website, or you may contact the organisers at: hello@whitfield.bm or 292-6386.