David Livingston and Varun Sivaram – The US Perspective on COP26 and Beyond

In the 2nd episode of Planet A’s third season, Dan Jørgensen talks with David Livingston and Varun Sivaram.

Livingston and Sivaram serve as Senior Advisers to President Biden’s Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry. Thus, they play a key role in fulfilling President Joe Biden's climate policy on the world stage.

In this episode, Livingston and Sivaram discuss the US priorities and expectations for COP26. They argue that COP26 can act as an accelerator for more ambitious climate targets, while they are keenly aware that the window of opportunity to stem climate change is closing.

Thus, the US is not merely pursuing climate action at the COP, but at a wide range of international fora such as the G20, the Major Economies Forum and at President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate.

They also discuss the question of finance by the developed countries and the goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion dollars a year by 2020 which is key to a successful COP26.

Beyond COP26, Livingston and Sivaram argue, two things are imperative to limit global warming. Deployment of renewable energy and other existing sustainable technologies will only provide 50 percent of the needed emission reductions. The remaining 50 percent will have to come from technologies that are not yet developed or matured.

Accordingly, innovation in long-term energy storage, heavy industry, shipping, aviation and agriculture will be essential to tackle the climate crisis. To promote innovation, the Biden administration is encouraging companies to make pledges that will promote demand for sustainable products such as green concrete or hydrogen.