Rachel Kyte, Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank, will speak about the risk a 4 degree warmer world poses for development and the impact of sea-level rise, heat waves and extreme weather events globally, and in Australia and Oceania. Everyone will be affected by the changing climate, but the poor and vulnerable will suffer most.

She argues that we must avoid a 4 degree warmer world and prepare for 2 degrees, and highlights action that would make the biggest difference. However, while climate change is a major threat, inclusive green growth is an opportunity. Ms Kyte will outline the World Bank Group’s efforts to catalyze climate-smart development and green growth.

Rachel Kyte became Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank in September, 2011. As such, she has overall responsibilities for the organization’s global work in agriculture, environment, energy, infrastructure, urban, and social development, along with global public goods issues in those areas. Prior to her appointment, she was the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Vice President for Business Advisory Services and a member of IFC’s Management Team.

This seminar is presented by the Development Policy Centre and the Centre for Climate Economics and Policy at the Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University.