SXSW 2025
City Climate Planning When the Climate Is Already Changing
Description:
Cities are responsible for 70% of the world’s emissions, more than half the world’s population, and are most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. Many US cities have had climate programs for close to 20 years now. What have we learned? This panel will explore how cities are answering the urgent call for rapid decarbonization through community-driven solutions that push beyond counting carbon. Learn how leading cities are breaking the bureaucratic mold with policy, finance and technical innovations while navigating the effects of the climate already changing their communities.
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Takeaways
- Go beyond counting carbon: The climate is already changing, so equity and resilience are not extras—they are indispensable parts of city climate work.
- Communities have solutions: Leading cities partner with frontline communities to move past “listening” to engaging citizen policymakers.
- You have to pay for city climate work: Innovative ways to fund climate work exist and have typically come through the ballot via referendum.
Speakers
- Susan Peterson, Editor and Producer, NPR Member Station 90.5 WESA in Pittsburgh
- Vivian Satterfield, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Portland
- Hilari Varnadore, Vice President, LEED for Cities, US Green Building Council
- Ava Richardson, Sustainability Director, City of Baltimore Office of Sustainability
Organizer
Susan Peterson, Editor and Producer, NPR Member Station 90.5 WESA in Pittsburgh
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