The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and Ibrawork convened a special networking event in São Paulo on Thursday (6), bringing together experts and officials to discuss innovative tools in the fight against climate change.

Held under the theme “Unlocking New Tools to Fight Climate Change: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Path Forward”, the event at Ibrawork headquarters, featured two expert panels focused on climate solutions and sustainable development. 

Attendees included Fábio Faria de Sá, a deputy in the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, the Executive Secretary of AMPPESP, Bruno Oliveira, and the President of Ibrachina FC, Henrique Law.

The opening session was led by Dr. Thomas Law, founder of Ibrawork, and Greg Milne, CEO of CGI. The event was organized in the spirit of CGI’s annual meetings in New York, timed to coincide with Brazil’s hosting of the UN’s COP30 climate conference.

Dr. Law and Milne moderated the two key panels: Systems-Level Solutions for Innovation and Climate Finance, and Philanthropic and Grassroots Approaches to Climate Action: A Spotlight on Sustainable Agriculture.

The first panel featured Michael Swords (Vice President of Government and International Relations for the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator – LACI), and Christina Shim (IBM’s Chief Sustainability Officer). The following included speakers Jim Andrew (Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo), Philip Kauders (CEO & Co-Founder at Courageous Land), and Lyana Latorre (Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean at The Rockefeller Foundation).

Emphasizing the long-term goal, Thomas Law believes that the partnerships formed during the event “will strengthen our shared efforts to combat climate change and inspire a new era of global sustainability.”

CGI CEO Greg Milne praised the event’s outcome.

“This week’s convening brought together an extraordinary group of leaders. Our work  this week has laid the building blocks for new partnerships and tangible action on the climate crisis.”

The gathering also served as the launch platform for the booklet “The New-Industrial Revolution,” introduced by Dr. Adam Met — A guide on the need to foster collaboration with a new lexicon for discussing climate change and an orientation toward collective action. Dr. Met is a climate activist, professor at Columbia University, founder of the organization Planet Reimagined and a member of the band AJR. Ibrawork will publish a Portuguese version and make it available throughout Brazil.