Agenda-Announced-for-Aspen-Ideas-Climate-1
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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 Press Release
Melissa Berthier, Email: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
Matt Kenny, Email: mattkenny@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2022
Agenda Announced for Aspen Ideas: Climate;
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to Attend
— Presented by the Aspen Institute and the City of Miami Beach, the inaugural Aspen
Ideas: Climate takes place May 9-12 —
Miami Beach, FL – The agenda for Aspen Ideas: Climate is available now. The inaugural
event in Miami Beach will bring some of the most exciting innovators and leaders together with
the public to engage with local and global climate solutions with the potential to reshape our
world. Details were also shared for opportunities to visit sites of interest and cultural activations
across Miami-Dade as part of the event.
More than 130 speakers from across policymaking, science, business, technology, art,
education, food, journalism, and more will attend, including Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Michael S. Regan, who was announced today. Day passes are now available,
giving members of the public additional opportunities to attend and engage. Members of the
media interested in covering Aspen Ideas: Climate are invited to register here.
Additional updates will be made in the coming weeks. Among the programming currently
scheduled (view the agenda online for specific timings and updates):
May 9
• The opening night plenary sees Kleiner Perkins chairman and venture capitalist John
Doerr and engineer and investor Ryan Panchadsaram share their blueprint for saving
the planet. The principal of Climate and Nature Solutions and former Canadian Minister
for the Earth and the Environment Catherine McKenna examines the progress made
on global emission goals. Finally, Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez describes
his country’s ambitious plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
May 10
• Mayors Dan Gelber, Daniella Levine-Cava and Francis Suarez share Miami’s vision
for a more resilient future.
• EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan sets out his agency’s priorities for climate change
and the environment.
• Leading designers and architects including OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu explore
sustainable design principles.
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community.
• Some of the world’s top Chief Sustainability Officers, including Google’s Kate
Brandt and General Motors’ Kristen Siemen, discuss the latest trends in corporate
sustainability.
• How cities can upgrade their climate infrastructure: with New Orleans Mayor LaToya
Cantrell, Generate Capital CEO Scott Jacobs, and Sustainable Capital Advisors
CEO Trenton Allen.
• Higher education’s role in the climate crisis: Wayne Frederick of Howard
University, Julio Frenck of the University of Miami, and Madeline Pumariega of Miami
Dade College speak to Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield.
• What can parks and protected areas teach us about climate solutions? Susan
Goldberg speaks with Everglades National Park superintendent Pedro
Ramos, Environmental Defense Fund Senior Vice President Diane Regas,and
National Park Foundation CEO Will Shafrorth.
• Environmental Justice advocate Catherine Coleman Flowers and Hip Hop Caucus
founder Lennox Yearwood Jr. explain why the environmental movement should
protect the planet and its people.
May 11
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver lays out the NBA’s climate action plan to Tom
Farrey, head of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program.
• Filmmaker David Hernandez Palmar explains why indigenous narratives are key to
saving the planet.
• Deputy White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi shares the whole-of-
government strategy to build a climate-resilient economy, speaking to Richard
Newell, CEO of Resources for the Future.
• How does the ocean combat the climate crisis? Hear from conservationist and
journalist Swati Thiyagarajan, sustainable seafood expert Barton Seaver, and marine
biologist, artist, and coral aquaculturist Colin Foord.
• Are financial institutions starting to make a difference? The Financial Times’ Gillian
Tett leads a conversation with Kristen Weldon, head of sustainable investing at
Blackrock, Alex Liftman, Global Environmental Executive for Bank of America,
and Geneviève Piché, head of ESG Solutions at Wells Fargo.
• Knight Foundation President and CEO Alberto Ibargüen leads a conversation with
panelists including Kathryn Murdoch and Susan Goldberg on how the media covers
climate.
• Reinventing our food system with local, climate-smart, and scalable solutions:
with Devita Davison, executive director at FoodLab Detroit, Center for Good Food
Purchasing co-founder Paula Daniels, Indigenous Youth Advocate Samuel
Schimmel, Corby Kummer, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Food and
Society Program, and Washington Post food columnist Tamar Haspel.
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May 12
• Nuclear energy: why aren’t we using it more? Experts weigh in, including Westinghouse
Chief Technology Officer Rita Baranwal and Melissa Lott, Director of Research at
Columbia University’s SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy.
• How can we make sure carbon commitments translate into action? Blythe Chorne,
head of sustainability consulting at Ramboll Group, and Brian Stafford, CEO of Diligent
Corporation, speak to The Atlantic’s Robinson Meyer.
• How local and indigenous knowledge builds healthy ecosystems: hear from Nils
Christoffersen, executive director of Wallowa Resources, Marina Anderson,
administrator for the Organized Village of Kasaan in Alaska, and conservation
scientist Peter Houlihan.
Receptions across the city, ancillary events, field trips, and tours will take place throughout,
including those with free general admission to the public. They include:
• A guided tour of the Alfred C. Gassell, Jr. SUSTAIN Laboratory wind-wave tank which
can generate Category 5 hurricane force winds and the Coral Futures Lab at
the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
• A guided tour of the newly-launched FIU-FPL microgrid and control room, helping
advance research on renewable energy, and the Wall of Wind facility at the Florida
International University’s College of Engineering and Computing.
• Snorkel Cleanup hosted by Debris Free Oceans and Ocean Conservancy to clean up
the coral reefs off the shores of Miami and Key Largo.
• City of Miami Beach Resilience Tours to learn about the mitigation and adaptation
efforts in Miami Beach, including South Pointe Park and Sunset Harbour, the blueprint
neighborhood of sea-level rise climate change and adaptation.
• A walking tour of the newly-opened Phase 1 of The Underline, which aims to transform
the land below Miami’s metrorail into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail and public art
destination.
In the evenings from 8 p.m., programming will be “Wallcast” onto the side of the New World
Center, with the public invited to watch Aspen Ideas: Climate for free from SoundScape Park
each evening.
Aspen Ideas: Climate is grateful to the organizations and individuals whose support makes this
event possible. The title sponsors of Aspen Ideas: Climate are the John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation, RelatedPhilanthropic Foundation and the Jorge M. Pérez Family
Foundation. Presenting sponsors include the Miller Family Foundation, Amazon, Valor, the
Walton Family Foundation, McKinsey & Company, Thoma Bravo, Florida Power &
Light/NextEra Energy, WSP Global Inc., Shaklee Corporation, Wells Fargo, AT&T, Diana Ulis &
Alex Kleyner, LSN Partners, and Ruta Maya.
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We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and
equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership,
and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an
international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
World-famous Miami Beach welcomes millions of visitors each year to its white, sandy
beaches, turquoise waters and vibrant cultural scene. Known for its colorful art deco and MiMo
architecture, the 7.2-square-mile island offers some of the finest dining and hotel experiences
anywhere along with a beautiful oceanfront promenade that connects South Beach to North
Beach. Steps away from the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach is also at the
forefront of identifying workable solutions to meet the challenge of sea level rise.
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in
any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).