Is net-zero possible by 2050?

The world needs to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and half global emissions by 2030, in any hopes of avoiding the worst of climate change. Half of the technologies we need to reach net-zero are not yet commercial. This is the single largest transformation of our economy since the industrial revolution and will require breakthrough innovation and collaboration between governments, corporations, and society. This talk will describe why we need to get to net-zero by 2050 and the opportunity to make an impact in ones career at the intersection of the three most important levers we have to save the world – technology, policy, and finance.

Biography:

Phil De Luna is currently an Expert, Sustainability at McKinsey & Company where he advises corporations, governments, and non-profits on decarbonization to enable sustainable inclusive growth. He is a Governor General Gold Medal winning researcher ranked in the top 0.1% in the world in his field, a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab, and chair of Carbon Management Canada. Prior to McKinsey, Phil was the youngest-ever Director at the National Research Council where he built and led a $57M R&D program developing disruptive technologies to decarbonize Canada. He was a founding member of CERT Systems, a carbontech startup and finalist in the $20M Carbon XPRIZE. He is a Member of the Royal Society of Canada, an adjunct Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, a former Member of Parliament candidate, a Globe & Mail Top 50 Changemaker, and a Forbes Top 30 Under 30.