Ideas change everything

Decarbonizing fossil fuels

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Countdown Summit |

Countdown Summit

• October 2021

In a panel discussion about fossil fuels and accelerating the trajectory of decarbonization, Christiana Figueres (architect of the Paris Climate Agreement) talks with Chris James (cofounder of the activist fund Engine No. 1), Lauren MacDonald (climate justice activist) and Ben van Beurden (CEO of Royal Dutch Shell). This challenging, enlightening conversation also features Lindsay Levin (co-host of Countdown) and Johan Rockström (climate impact scholar).

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

In a panel discussion about fossil fuels and accelerating the trajectory of decarbonization, Christiana Figueres (architect of the Paris Climate Agreement) talks with Chris James (cofounder of the activist fund Engine No. 1), Lauren MacDonald (climate justice activist) and Ben van Beurden (CEO of Royal Dutch Shell). This challenging, enlightening conversation also features Lindsay Levin (co-host of Countdown) and Johan Rockström (climate impact scholar).

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

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About the speakers

Ben van Beurden

CEO, Royal Dutch Shell

Ben van Beurden is the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, the largest Europe-based oil and gas company. In 2020, it released a plan to cut emissions to net-zero by 2050. (Interview)

Chris James

Entrepreneur and investor

Chris James founder Engine No. 1, an activist fund that successfully installed three new directors on the board of the US’ largest oil firm, ExxonMobil. (Interview)

Lauren MacDonald

Climate justice activist

Lauren MacDonald is a Scottish activist and a member of the Stop Cambo campaign, fighting against a proposed offshore oil field west of the Shetlands. (Interview)

Christiana Figueres

Stubborn optimist

See speaker profile

Christiana Figueres is an internationally recognized leader on climate action and steered the global diplomatic effort that culminated in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.