Day 2: Policy & Advocacy
Policy drives action, and advocacy ensures that action is equitable and effective. This day will focus on the role of government, grassroots movements, and legal frameworks in shaping a climate-resilient future.
Topics for the day include:
Energy policy and resilience planning
The intersection of climate and national security
Grassroots advocacy for climate justice
How policy can drive investment in clean infrastructure
This day is powered by Tech for Climate Action, the world’s most inclusive series of events that unites governments and industries to advance climate action and sustainability.
This day is made possible by the generous supporters and partners, including:
Since the venue has limited seating, tickets will be given through a lottery system. If you've been accepted to join us at this DC Climate Week's hub location, you will be notified by April 22nd.
Day 2 Agenda
9:30AM – 10:00 AM | Registration and Networking
10:00AM – 10:10AM | Welcome Address
- Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director, DC Public Library
10:10AM – 10:30AM | Opening Keynote Fireside Chat
- U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14)
- Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director, National League of Cities
10:30AM – 11:50AM | Energy for a New Era
- U.S. Congressman Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA-08)
- Richard Jackson, Director of the Department of Energy and Environment, District of Columbia
- Joey Paolino, Senior Principal, Advanced Energy United
- Lindsey Baxter Griffith, Founder and CEO, Clean Tomorrow
- Dan Delurey, Senior Fellow for Energy & Climate
- Heather Reams, CEO, CRES Forum (moderator)
11:50AM – 12:00PM | Lightning Talk
- Lake Liao, Executive Director, Capitol Hill Academy
12:00PM – 1PM | Lunch Break & Wellness Activity
1:00PM – 1:10PM | Lightning Talk
- Javier Sancho Velazquez, Head of Global Issues and Innovation Section, EU Delegation to the United States
1:10PM – 2:10PM | Leading with AI: Innovation for Climate and Competitiveness
- Chris Bradshaw, Chief Sustainability and Education Officer, Bentley Systems
- Jonathan Gilmour, Data Scientist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Oliver Stephenson, Associate Director of AI and Emerging Tech, Federation of American Scientists
- Aneysha Bhat, Founder & CEO, Annova Strategies
- Peter Hans Hirschboeck, Founder, ImpactECI
- Christabel Randolph, Associate Director, Center for AI & Digital Policy (moderator)
2:10PM – 2:20PM | Lightning Talk
- Mary Cheh, Professor, George Washington University, former Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
2:20PM – 3:05 PM | National Security & Disaster Planning
- U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chief Deputy Whip, Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Member of the House Armed Services Committee
- Erin Sikorsky, Director, The Center for Climate & Security
- Melissa Jun Rowley, Climate Justice Columnist (moderator)
3:05PM – 3:25PM | Networking Break
3:25PM – 3:35PM | Lightning Talk
- Jaspreet Pahwa, Director of Capital Planning and Construction, DC Public Library
3:35PM – 4:20PM | Plastics and Climate Change
- Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus & Senior Advisor, Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Frankie Orona, Executive Director, Society of Native Nations
- Julia Cohen, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Plastic Pollution Coalition
- Steven Feit, Senior Attorney & Legal and Research Manager, Center for International Environmental Law (moderator)
4:20PM – 4:30PM | Lightning Talk
- Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG
The speakers and organizations participating during the DC Climate Week event do not represent the views of the event space hosts or DC Climate Week.