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Forum 2017: 100% RE Allies and Energy Action from the Streets of Melbourne, Rio, and Växjö

GLOBAL LEARNING FORUM 2017 UPDATES

Vancouver, British Columbia / May 17-19

Register now for Global Learning Forum 2017 and enjoy early bird savings

In addition to 32 facilitated workshops on specific topics, Forum 2017 will be convening five plenary sessions that will allow participants to engage with some big energy ideas. Check out the two latest additions to our plenary series:

  • Private Sector Allies and Partners for CitiesCities can’t go it alone, they will need strong support from the private sector and energy producers to realize their ambitious energy goals. This plenary will invite TD Canada, a major bank that’s committed to 100% renewable electricity, together with other voices to highlight necessary partners for cities.
  • How Renewable Energy Is Changing Conventional Thinking about Energy for Cities: New distributed energy technologies and business models around the world are disrupting the ways that energy is conventionally produced and consumed. This plenary session will examine the convergence of opportunity, equity, and economics for 100% renewable energy in international cities.

Recognition: Thanks to Natural Resources Canada for coming in as a major sponsor of Global Learning Forum 2017. We appreciate the Government of Canada’s support towards the future of energy in cities.

Registration: Our early bird discount of 15% expires soon. Register now and save! Or learn more about Global Learning Forum 2017.

NEW SPEAKERS AND SESSION LEADERS

Our latest additions include a member of Canada’s 100% RE bank, a transformative mayor, leadership from the streets of Melbourne and Rio, and clean energy thought leaders from around North America.

Karen Clarke-Whistler, Chief Environment Officer at TD Bank Group

Representing one of Canada’s “Big Five” banks, which has a 100% renewable electricity target, Karen has a wide ranging international consulting career in the environmental sector. Karen has twice been named one of Canada’s Clean 16 for her “outstanding contribution to clean capitalism.”

Session: PRIVATE SECTOR ALLIES AND PARTNERS FOR CITIES

Len Hering, Executive Director at the Center for Sustainable Energy

A retired US Navy Rear Admiral, Len Hering advances sustainable clean energy at San Diego’s Center for Sustainable Energy, a 501(c)3 non-profit. He directs the Center’s work in California to affect large-scale energy market transformation through multi-sectoral and subnational government collaboration.

Session: HOW STATES AND PROVINCES CAN PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY LEADERSHIP BY MUNICIPALITIES

Chad Laurent, Vice President and General Council at Meister Consultants Group

Based out of Boston, MA, Chad Laurent is an internationally recognized expert working towards reducing the “soft costs” of solar installations. With a background in law and environmental policy, he conducts workshops and provides technical assistance to a range of stakeholders looking to move forward on solar energy.

Session: STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SOFT COSTS FOR SOLAR INSTALLATION

 

Rob Law, Project Manager at the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action

Rob Law works with a network of nine councils in Melbourne, Australia, and businesses and community groups, to scale up local climate action. Rob has spent most of his career working on energy and climate policy for state governments, universities, and NGOs.

Session: TBA

 

Luciana Nery, Former Chief Resilience Officer at the City of Rio de Janeiro

Luciana Nery is a published author and resiliency expert with 15 years of experience working in the areas of sustainability and project management, including advising Eduardo Paes, Former Mayor of Rio, and Brazil’s second largest hydroelectricity company. She has supported partnerships between the City of Rio and NASA, 100 Resilient Cities, C40 Cities, and WRI, among other groups.

Session feature: RESILIENCE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

 

 Judith Sayers, Adjunct Professor, Schools of Environmental Studies and Business, University of Victoria

First becoming involved in clean energy in 2001 when her First Nation developed the China Creek run-of-river hydro project, Judith Sayers is a well-known clean energy leader and strategic advisor in Canada. She has been awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Clean Energy BC, named as a member of Canada’s 2016 Clean50, and served on the Canadian Electricity Association’s Advisory Panel.

Session: FIRST NATIONS CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS: THE SECRETS TO SUCCESS

 

Anna Tenje, Mayor of the City of Växjö, Sweden

With a strong commitment to advancing renewables and energy efficiency solutions, Växjö, Sweden is one of the original “renewable cities”. Mayor Anna Tenje is a former Swedish MP and believer in cooperation between multiple levels of government.

Session: TRANSFORMATIVE ACTIONS ON THE ROAD TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY IN CITIES

 

Michael Westphal, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute

Michael Westphal is part of the core team for WRI’s World Resources Report on cities, Towards a More Equal City, and the New Climate Economy’s Coalition for Urban Transitions, and also leads work on climate finance. He consulted with and worked for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme during his extensive career working on international climate and energy.

Session: HOW RENEWABLE ENERGY IS CHANGING CONVENTIONAL THINKING ABOUT ENERGY FOR CITIES

For more information, visit the Global Learning Forum 2017 webpagespeakers page, or subscribe to our newsletter. Secure your space at Global Learning Forum 2017 by registering now.