The costs of a changing climate won't just be paid in a distant future - they are starting to come due now. Luckily, we know the best way to mitigate emissions-driven climate risks.

What is key in the Paris Agreement is that the interconnected parts provide a model of governance. Whereas prior efforts relied on only one or two of these parts, the Paris Agreement's success will ultimately hinge on the interconnections between an entire constellation of moving parts.

My fear for COP 21 in Paris is that climate change stakeholders will look at taking measures, which will be unacceptable. Developed countries will be asked to pay for the pollution they have caused, while poorer countries will be asked to renounce on economic development to which they are entitled. The result will be wide-scale resistance!

In the biennial event, teams composed of college students from across the globe design, assemble and operate solar-powered homes. Students strive to create structures that are attractive, effective and energy-efficient.

Some consider Ecomagination a brand-makeover to solve a bad environmental reputation. Others call it a PR strategy. I believe Ecomagination is a best practice of how a brand can be a powerful driver of change.