Monday, October 6
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Reception to follow
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Ave, Grand Rapids
$35 if paid online ($45 if via invoice or at the door)
Learn more and register here.
West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum’s Climate Resiliency Framework Initiative will host the West Michigan Climate Resiliency Conference on Monday, October 6 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids.
The full-day event will introduce participants to national and local thought leaders on climate resiliency in the public and private sectors, a line-up of experts in climate change adaptation, emergency preparedness, stormwater management, organizational vulnerability and energy innovation.
The conference will also serve as the pilot for a Toolbox for philosophical intervention to communication issues inherent in climate change adaptation and related topics, designed for the National Science Foundation’s Research Network for Sustainable Climate Risk Management and developed through a series of meetings with West Michigan stakeholders hosted by WMSBF earlier this year.
The conference is presented in partnership between West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, Penn State University’s Rock Ethics Institute, Michigan State University, Amway, Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership, U.S. Green Building Council-West Michigan and Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council.
Keynote speaker for the conference is David Titley, Director of the Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk at Penn State University. The center helps organizations and citizens prosper and succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s weather and climate environment by taking advantage of all the skill in weather and climate forecasts. Dr. Titley is a nationally known expert in the field of climate, the Arctic, and National Security. He served as a naval officer for 32 years and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. While serving in the Pentagon, Dr. Titley initiated and led the US Navy’s Task Force on Climate Change. He has spoken across the country and throughout the world on the importance of climate change as it relates to National Security.
Other speakers include:
Larissa Larsen, University of Michigan Associate Professor and co-author of the USGBC climate resiliency study
Dan Scripps, president of Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council
Michael O’Rourke, Michigan State University Professor, Director of the NSF-Sponsored Toolbox Project
Chuck Lippstreu, Michigan Agri-Business Association
Haris Alibasic, Director of the City of Grand Rapids Office of Energy & Sustainability
Jim Patchett, Founder and President of Conservation Design Forum
Aaron Ferguson, Project Manager & Health Educator, Climate & Health Adaptation Program, Michigan Dept. Community Health
Registration includes all program materials, continental breakfast, lunch and one complimentary drink during post-conference reception.
Source: WMSBF