Past Program – 2023 Agenda

Achieving Net Zero: Making Sense of Alphabet Soup

Hosted by: Anew Climate

Down the Garden Path: Transportation Mobility and Equity Walking Tour

Hosted by: Caltrans and LA Metro

The State of Corporate Sustainability Disclosure

Hosted by: UCLA Anderson School of Management Center for Impact

Tackling Scope 3: Addressing Barriers and Achieving Reductions

Hosted by: WWF, WRI, CDP

A Local Approach to Climate Transition Planning and Identifying Economic Development and Financing Opportunities

Hosted by: CDP

Net-Zero Integration: Solutions for Deep Measurable GHG Reductions within Organizations

Hosted by: The Climate Registry and Arup

Swimming Upstream in the Supply Chain: Impactful Clean Electricity Procurement

Hosted by: Center for Resource Solutions

Hiring and Training the Climate Resilience Workforce

Hosted by: American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP)

Energy Storage and the Promise of Hydrogen Hubs: Unlocking our Clean Energy Rollout at Scale

Landmark federal legislation and sub-national climate policies have paved the way for a clean energy boom in every corner of the country. This session focuses on energy storage, distribution, and the investment being made in hydrogen hubs - with each needing to scale in order to fully integrate renewable sources of energy and drive the clean energy revolution.

Speakers:

• Rebecca Foster,  Chief Executive Officer, VEIC
• Karen Glitman,  Senior Director, Distributed Energy Resources Program, Center for Sustainable Energy
• Michelle Miano,  Environmental Protection Division Director, New Mexico Environment Department
• Julia Souder,  Chief Executive Officer, Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDESC)

Driving Down Emissions throughout the Value Chain

With Scope 3 emissions often making up more than 70% of an organization’s carbon footprint, tackling emissions throughout one’s value chain is imperative on the pathway to net zero. This immense and complex challenge requires collecting mass amounts of data to analyze your value chain, and then working with a diverse set of stakeholders, from internal teams to vendors to suppliers, to make data-driven changes. Panelists will share lessons learned on their journeys to drive down Scope 3 emissions through stakeholder engagement, consistent data collection, and innovative initiatives or pilot projects.

Speakers:

• James Lee,  ESG Sourcing Manager, The Clorox Company
• Josiah McClellan,  Carbon Assets, Land O'Lakes Truterra
• Peter Weisberg,  Director, Development, 3Degrees
• Roshini Das,  Associate Director, Commercial Sustainability, Guidehouse

Innovative Financing for Climate Solutions

The pathway to net zero requires a significant increase in global climate investments – to fund renewable deployment, technology and innovative pilot programs, resilience efforts and nature-based solutions, and overall transition planning. The Biden Administration has risen to the occasion, but federal agencies have to act fast to deploy funds allocated toward climate action. This session explores how organizations are making the business case, taking advantage of government spending and incentives, and where their investments can have the greatest impacts while ensuring equitable distribution and a just transition.

Speakers:

• Saskia Feast,  Managing Director, Global Client Solutions, Climate Impact Partners
• Esther Sosa,  Senior Advisor for Policy, IRA Implementation, Environmental Protection Agency
• Gwen S. Yamamoto-Lau,  Executive Director, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority
• Sharon Nolen,  Program Manager & Fellow, Global Natural Resource Management, Eastman Chemical Company

Delivering on Offshore Wind

Investing in offshore wind has gained momentum from both private and public sectors in recent years. And in addition to meeting our growing demand for clean energy, deploying offshore wind in the U.S. offers expanded supply chain opportunities at home, from manufacturing facilities to port capabilities to workforce development. This session presents perspectives from across the globe to share what barriers they face, opportunities and co-benefits gained, and the partnerships needed for successfully delivering on offshore wind.

Speakers:

• Emily Cloke,  His Majesty’s Consul General, British Consulate General, Los Angeles
• Beccie Drake,  Offshore Wind Digital Lead, Arup
• Suzanne MacDonald,  Senior Researcher, Stakeholder Engagement, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• Alice Reynolds,  President, California Public Utilities Commission

Breaking Down Barriers: Nature-Based Solutions to Achieve Climate Goals

Healthy landscapes sequester and store carbon, limit future greenhouse gas emissions, protect people and nature from the impacts of climate change such as heat and erosion, and build resilience. Business and local government alike are reaping the co-benefits of investing in natural climate solutions – this session delves into the essential nature of nature in building a resilient, equitable, carbon neutral future.

Speakers:

• Luiz Barata,  Waterfront Resilience Program Senior Planner, Port of San Francisco
• M. Bernadette Bezy,  U.S. Ecological Sciences Technical Discipline Leader, Stantec Consulting Inc.
• Deborah January-Bevers,  President and CEO, Houston Wilderness
• John O. Niles,  Natural Climate Solutions, Senior Manager, Salesforce
• Michelle Passero,  Director, Climate and Nature-based Solutions, The Nature Conservancy

Navigating SEC Guidance and Evolving ESG & Climate Disclosures

Climate threats, impact, and the cost of inaction are keeping companies and stakeholders on their toes, while the rules and regulations around disclosures and material risks continue to evolve. This session provides an understanding of the latest SEC guidelines, how regulated disclosures may impact business and which data points offer companies the opportunity to build positive relationships with stakeholders and drive brand value.

Speakers:

• Dana Mooney Davis,  Assistant VP, Sustainability, Energy, Climate, WSP USA
• Verena Radulavic,  Vice President for Business Engagement, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
• Chris Benjamin,  Director, Corporate Sustainability, PG&E
• Matthew Cranford,  Director, Pollination

Networking Table Topics

Tables of 10, designated by topic; facilitated informal discussions

The Climate Registry Members Town Hall

TCR Members will receive a policy and protocol update, experience the new features of our reporting platform, and have an opportunity to give feedback.

Leveraging Advanced Technologies, Digitization, and Data Analytics to Decarbonize the Built Environment

With the built environment making up 40% of overall emissions, the opportunity for innovative solutions and technology abounds. Going beyond basic retrofits and clean energy procurement, organizations are relying on data collection and analytics, advancement in technologies, and digitization to accelerate the race to zero emissions. Session panelists share strategies, emerging trends and new tools for achieving deeper cuts in building-related GHG emissions.

Speakers:

• Joe Baker,  Senior Sustainability and ESG Reporting Specialist, IBM
• Elizabeth Beardsley, P.E.,  Senior Policy Counsel, U.S. Green Building Council
• Michelle Thomas,  Principal Manager, Building Electrification & Codes and Standards, Southern California Edison
• Kevin Davis,  Director of Emerging Technologies, CarbonCure Technologies

Transforming the Transportation Sector: Ensuring a Clean and Just Future of Mobility

Transforming the largest carbon-emitting sector in the U.S. is going to require a holistic and collaborative approach. The Biden Administration, local governments and public agencies continue to explore private sector engagement to make this important transition while ensuring a future of mobility that is clean, safe, secure, accessible, affordable, and equitable. Session speakers will share what challenges lie ahead, how teaming up with key stakeholders is driving new transportation options, and what the future of mobility may look like.

Speakers:

• Adam Gromis,  Head of Sustainability Policy, Uber
• Heather Repenning,  Executive Officer, Sustainability Policy, LA Metro
• Anne Smart,  Vice President of Public Policy, ChargePoint
• Kathryn Zyla,  Executive Director, Georgetown Climate Center

Community Solutions for Maintaining Public Health, Equity, and Resilience

In addition to understanding and preparing for the physical impacts of climate change, there is growing concern about the vulnerabilities that can ripple through the economy. Addressing significant climate impact necessitates more coordinated resilience-building efforts by organizations and their host communities—whose resources, work force, public health, and infrastructure they mutually depend on. This panel will explore mutually beneficial strategies to bolster community resilience, health, and equitable transition planning.

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Babcock,  Deputy Director, City and County of Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency
• Dr. Natalie Suder Egnot,  Managing Health Scientist and ESG Advisor, Stantec
• Stephen Torres,  Principal Manager, Climate Adaptation & Resilience Planning, Southern California Edison
• Dr. Idania Zamora,  Program Manager, Climate Protection, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)