In partnership with the MIT, the Embassy of France in the United States and the Consulate General of France in Boston will organize a conference to discuss the economic impacts of climate change. Over the past several years, the world has experienced rising sea levels, extreme drought, heavy storms, wildfires and other indicators of climate change with increasing frequency and intensity. These events emphasize the growing threats posed by climate change and urgent need for action. Strong scientific research has shown that climate change is currently occurring and that, if ignored, will result in billions of dollars in economic, health and societal costs.

The panel of scientific and policy experts will outline the main consequences of climate change and the risks it presents to the economy, particularly in the North-East region. The panel will also highlight the economic opportunities of addressing climate change now and working to lessen its effects. Additionally, the event will also connect these issues to the on-going negotiations for a new climate treaty to be discussed in Paris, during the COP 21, in December 2015 and explain what can expected from this major international conference.

4:00 P.M. Welcoming remarks by Chappell Lawson: Associate Professor of Political Science at MIT and Director of the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives, United States.

4:10 P.M. Panel and Q&A.

- "The growing role of business in the international mobilization against Climate change" by Brice Lalonde: Special Advisor on Sustainable Development to the UN Global Compact, former Executive Coordinator for the Rio+20 Conference, and former French ambassador for climate change negotiations.

- "Curbing CO2 emissions thanks to economic tools" by Emilie Alberola, Associate professor of economics at HEC Paris and Head of Carbon Market and Energy research division at CDC Climate in Paris, France.

- "Understanding the role of human activities as a contributor to global environmental change and the effects of environmental change on the economy" by John Reilly: Senior Lecturer at MIT and Co-Director of the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, Center for Environmental Policy Research. Boston, United States.

- "A focus on extreme weather events" by Kerry Emanuel, Professor of meteorology at MIT and member of the US National Academy of Sciences. Boston, United States.

- "What does science tells us about the changes of our climate", by Jean Jouzel, Climatologist and glaciologist, researcher at the Atomic Energy Commission, Vice Chair of IPCC working Group I. Paris, France.

- "Time scales of climate change and societal change" by Susan Solomon, Professor of atmospheric chemistry at MIT, member of the Royal Society, the European Academy and the French Foreign Academy of Sciences. Boston, United States.

Moderated by Tom Zeller Jr.: Senior editor, Yale Environment 360 and 2014 Knight Science Journalism fellow at MIT; former staff writer and editor for The New York Times, National Geographic and The Huffington Post.

The event will be followed by a cocktail.