International Speaker Series
Videos from our online events featuring experts and climate action leaders from around the world.
About this webinar series
Climate change is a global challenge. In our International Speaker Series webinars, we invite experts and leaders from around the world to share their insights, their perspectives, and how these could help to inform climate action in Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can watch recordings of previous webinars below or on our YouTube channel. Looking for something else? Explore our other videos, or learn more about our upcoming events.
Patricia Mallam: Climate action in the Pacific Islands
August 2022
The greatest threat to the way of life in the Pacific is the climate crisis. In this webinar, we headed virtually to Fiji for a conversation with climate activist Patricia Mallam for a look at what the climate crisis means for the Pacific Islands, the imperative for climate action from a Pacific perspective, and how Aotearoa can work together with its Pacific neighbours on climate change.
Prof. Frank Jotzo: Integrating emissions pricing with other climate policies
June 2022
Guest speaker Frank Jotzo (Professor at the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, and Director of the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy) joined us in a session facilitated by Commissioners Catherine Leining and Andy Reisinger to discuss why emissions trading schemes alone won’t get us to net zero emissions – and why emissions pricing need to be integrated with a portfolio of other climate policies to address climate change.
Prof. Sam Fankhauser: Adaptation and resilience to climate change
April 2022
In this session we were joined by Sam Fankhauser (Professor of Climate Economics and Policy at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford) for a conversation exploring climate adaptation and resilience, the link between climate adaptation and mitigation, and the importance of planning now for adaptation. Sam shares insights on how the UK has approached adaptation to date, and what’s important for us here in Aotearoa as we focus on adaptation in the coming years.
Monica Araya: The shift towards emissions-free transportation
October 2021
In this session we welcomed Monica Araya – electrification advocate and member of the UN Climate Champions’ team – to speak with us about the future of mobility and the role of transport in the global transition to low emissions.
Michael Liebreich: Clean energy in the transition to net zero
October 2021
In this session we were joined by internationally renowned energy economist Michael Liebreich to explore the past, present and future of the global transition to clean energy.
Download the slides for this presentation (PDF - 3.2 MB)
Gonzalo Muñoz: Race to Zero: UN climate champions
September 2021
In this session we were joined by UN Climate Champion Gonzalo Muñoz to hear about the Race to Zero campaign and what he's hoping for from this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, COP26.
Prof Tatiana Filatova: Behaviour change in climate adaptation and mitigation
August 2021
In this session we were joined by Professor Tatiana Filatova in the Netherlands to look at the role of behaviour change in climate action, and what drives people’s decisions to mitigate or adapt to climate change.
Dr Hilda Heine, Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner: Understanding the climate crisis and action in the Pacific Islands
August 2021
In this session we are joined by Dr Hilda Heine & Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner. They share what the climate crisis means for the Pacific Islands and how Aotearoa can work together with its Pacific neighbours.
Suzi Kerr: An audience with environmental economist Suzi Kerr
August 2021
In this session environmental economist Suzi Kerr, Commission Chair Rod Carr and principal economist Chris Holland have a panel discussion on the intersection of climate action, climate change policy and economics.
Amal-Lee Amin, Sandra Guzmán, Natalie Unterstell: Exploring the role of international climate finance
July 2021
In this session we are joined by Amal-Lee Amin, Sandra Guzmán and Natalie Unterstell to examine the role of climate finance in an international context, what this means for reaching global targets, and how this translates domestically to financing climate action at home.
Prof. Jos Delbeke: EU strategy for net zero: emissions pricing and policies
July 2021
Professor Jos Delbeke shared his insights on the EU's targets and pathways to 2050, the future of the EU ETS, and what Aotearoa can learn from the experiences in Europe.
Download the slides for this presentation (PDF - 920KB)
Adele Morris, Daniel Raimi: Enabling a just transition for workers and communities
May 2021
Adele Morris and Daniel Raimi, in conversation with commissioners Catherine Leining and Dr Judy Lawrence, share respective insights from their research into communities dependent on fossil fuel industries in the US.
Chris Greig: An audience with Chris Greig, Princeton's Andlinger Center
April 2021
Our commission Chair Dr Rod Carr and Commissioner Catherine Leining spoke with Senior Research Scientist Chris Greig. They discuss the potential pathways and impacts of a transition to net zero in both Aotearoa and overseas.
Prof. Frank Convery: An audience with Professor Frank Convery, UCD
April 2021
Our Commissioners Dr Harry Clark and Catherine Leining joined Professor Frank Convery to discuss the role of agriculture emissions in the transition to a low emissions future, the similarities between Ireland and Aotearoa, and leading the way on climate action.
Rt Hon John Gummer: An audience with Lord Deben, Chair of the UK Committee on Climate Change
March 2021
Climate change is a global issue – so our Commissioner Dr Harry Clark sat down with global leader Rt Hon John Gummer, Lord Deben, Chair of the UK Committee on Climate Change, for an open Zoom on the UK's climate response and what Aotearoa can learn from it.