This presentation will draw on “Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the Unmanageable and Managing the Unavoidable”, a recent report prepared by an international group of experts for the United Nations' Commission on Sustainable Development. Strategies to combat climate change must combine both mitigation and adaptation efforts and in ways that create economic opportunities and advance rather than impede societal goals. An immediate and major acceleration of efforts is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and black soot to prevent the degree of climate change from becoming unmanageable and to implement wise planning and management practices to reduce the harm from climate change that proves unavoidable. Leadership is required to establish policy frameworks that create incentives and further public-private partnerships to achieve these goals. These issues will be discussed within the context of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.