Events

Representatives from Columbia Global Center Rio are set to speak at Rio Innovation Week, the largest global event in innovation and technology, which will happen in Rio de Janeiro from August 13th to 16th. During four days, entrepreneurs, scholars, startups, and investors from different economic sectors will take part in conferences and workshops dedicated to technological innovations and business development. In its 7th edition, the annual event aims to build an inclusive economically sustainable future based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Global Compact. It is estimated that more than 155,000 people will attend the event.

Prof. Thomas Trebat, PhD, the founding director of CGC Rio, and Camila Pontual, MSc, the Climate Program Manager at Climate Hub Rio will represent Columbia Global Center Rio in the event and take part in different debates on issues related to climate change, environment and sustainability.

On Tuesday 13th at 6:30 p.m., Mr. Trebat will speak in a panel on “Sustainability and Environment: how to prepare cities for climate challenges”. He will present alongside Prof. Simone Feigelson Deutsch, from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO); Mr. Alvaro Albernaz, Director at FINARQ Consultoria and PhD candidate in Public Policies for Urban Economy at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ); and Prof. Patricia Cristina Rodrigues, from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).

On the following day at 6:30 p.m., Ms. Camila Pontual, Climate Program Manager at Climate Hub Rio, will join efforts with Prof. Maria Fernanda Lemos, from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at PUC-Rio, in a presentation titled "Climate Emergency in Cities: Action and Funding for Adaptation". According to the UN, 93.6% of the Brazilian population will be living in cities by 2050. Meanwhile, the climate issue faces underinvestment when it comes to adapting, preventing, and mitigating the effects of extreme events, especially in the Global South. This whole picture calls for the need to develop fundraising policies for cities, in collaboration with regional and national governments, civil society, and private companies, as well as among different countries and international financial institutions to enable a more sustainable operational model. 

On Thursday 15th, at 4 p.m., Ms. Pontual will also act as a mediator on the panel “Investment Opportunities for Climate Innovations”, which features Amanda Magalhaes, PM Technology Projects at Climate Ventures, Felipe Vignoli, founding partner of Impacta Financas Sustentaveis, and Natalia Dias Melo, with 30+ of experience in global investment banks, most recently Brazilian National Bank of Social and Economic Development (BNDES) and currently on garden leave.

More information about the event, including the full schedule, can be found at: https://rioinnovationweek.com.br/programacao/