Climate × Risk
Friday, May 2, 2025
8:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Columbia Business School
David Geffen Hall, Cooperman Commons
645 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027
The physical risks of climate change — from wildfires to powerful hurricanes to extreme heat events — are rising dramatically, creating challenges to businesses globally. Join us for the latest insights on climate risk from business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers.
This conference — a joint effort by the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change and the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School, and Columbia Climate School — brings together business leaders and academics to understand how new advances in research and practice can inform investments in specific sectors of the global economy. The forum explores topics that address the value and opportunity of using a science-based approach to inform and guide business and investment decisions.
Participants will include members of the investment community, a range of business sectors, and academia.
Agenda
Please note that the agenda is in formation and is subject to change.
8:30-9:00 AM
Registration Opens
9:00-9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks
- Costis Maglaras, Dean and David and Lyn Silfen Professor of Business at Columbia Business School
9:10-9:25 AM
Physical Climate Risk Fundamentals
- Radley Horton, Professor of Climate at Columbia Climate School
9:25-9:45 AM
Keynote: Investment Landscape Going Forward
- Emmanuel Lagarrigue, Partner and Co-head of Global Climate at KKR
- Bruce Usher (moderator), Co-director of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change; Elizabeth B. Strickler '86 and Mark T. Gallogly '86 Faculty Director, and Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Business School and Columbia Climate School
9:45-10:15 AM
NYC Real Estate Challenges in a Changing Climate
- Jonathan Rose, President of Jonathan Rose Companies LLC
- Rohit Aggarwala '00, Adjunct Professor at Columbia School for International and Public Affairs; Chief Climate Officer for New York City; Commissioner at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection
- Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh (moderator), Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at Columbia Business School
10:15-10:35 AM
Housing Markets and Climate Realities
- Skylar Olsen, Chief Economist at Zillow
- Gernot Wagner (moderator), Senior Lecturer at Columbia Business School; Faculty Director of the Climate Knowledge Initiative at the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change
10:35-10:50 AM
Coffee Break
10:50-11:10 AM
Aligning Business Strategy with Climate Risk
- Vindi Banga, Operating Partner at CD&R
- Nicole DeHoratius (moderator), Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Business School
11:10-11:45 AM
Farming, Food, and Climate Uncertainty
- Courtney Thompson ’17, Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Products and Solutions, Global Sustainability Office at Morgan Stanley
- Vincent Gauthier, Senior Manager, Climate-Smart Agriculture at EDF
- Xavier Rolet ’84, Chairman of the Board, Prytek; Founder of Chene Bleu Wines
- Jessica Fanzo (moderator), Professor of Climate and the Director of the Food for Humanity Action Collaborative at Columbia Climate School
11:45-11:50 AM
Climate Knowledge Initiative × YEARS Project: Climate Entrepreneur Mini Documentary
11:50 AM-12:20 PM
Navigating Climate Risk in Insurance
- Megan Hart, Global Head of Analytics and Collaborations within Climate Risk Advisory at Aon
- Kieran Bhatia, Senior Vice President, Head of Climate and Sustainability for North America at Guy Carpenter
- Parinitha Sastry (moderator), Assistant Professor of Finance at Columbia Business School
12:20-12:30 PM
Closing Remarks
- Alexis Abramson, Dean and Professor of Climate at Columbia Climate School
12:30-2:00 PM
OPTIONAL SESSION
A LEAP-Facilitated Conversation: Harnessing Climate Data + Modeling to Impact Societal Sectors
- More information can be found below. You will need to register for this optional session separately.
David Geffen Hall, Cooperman Commons
(Optional Session) A LEAP Panel: Harnessing Climate Modeling for Impact Across Societal Sectors & Lunch
Following the Climate Business + Investment Conference, participants are invited to join an optional session "A LEAP Panel: Harnessing Climate Modeling for Impact Across Societal Sectors" at 12:30 PM, hosted by Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP).
Attendees will learn about use cases and applications of climate data and models in city government and public health, and interact with a panel of experts who will discuss gaps, challenges, and opportunities for climate data’s critical impact on equitable adaptation to climate risks.
Note: Due to limited seating, this session has reached capacity.
12:30-2:00 PM
Kravis Hall, Room 1080
Speakers & Facilitators
- Catherine Cha, Senior Manager of Communications and Knowledge Transfer at LEAP
- Gregory Elsaesser, Associate Research Scientist at Columbia Climate School
- Hayley Elszasz, Climate Science Advisor in the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
- Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health
