21 May 2015: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Climate Action held a Stakeholder Launch of the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2015 (SIF15) at Climate Week Paris, 200 days ahead of the SIF event to be held at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC in December 2015. UNEP and Climate Action partner to host the SIF, which is the largest business-focused event at each COP session.

Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director (via video), Pierre-Henri Guignard, COP 21 General Secretary, and Celia Blauel, Deputy Mayor of Paris addressed the Launch reception, which took place on 21 May 2015, at Shangri La Hotel in Paris, France.

Driven by the need for private sector innovation and technology transfer, the SIF focuses on transformative business thinking and partnerships that foster the innovations that will underpin the green economy. Topics discussed at the Launch included: sustainable cities and the circular economy; urban mobility; and the water, food and energy nexus.

The event served as a platform for high-level networking among the more than 100 stakeholders present. Climate Action’s mission is to build partnerships between business, government and public bodies to accelerate international sustainable development and advance the green economy, by providing platforms for knowledge, technology and expertise sharing and for identifying innovative solutions to the challenges caused by climate change and a growing population. Climate Week Paris is taking place from 18-22 May 2015. [Climate Action Press Release] [Climate Action Event Website] [Climate Week Paris Event Webpage] [Climate Action Website] [IISD RS Story on Climate Week Paris]