Fireside chat: Nature, cities and climate change with Dr. Phil Levin
Join us in a fireside chat with Dr. Phil Levin to discuss the National Nature Assessment, why measuring nature matters, and how nature can help humanity fight climate change.
Nature, trees and climate change
The National Nature Assessment was created by President Biden's Executive Order in 2022 to help us assess and understand the evolving state of nature in a climate changed world.
Many of us are already well attuned to the contributions that our lands, waters, wildlife, and ecosystems make to our culture, economy, safety, public health and climate equilibrium.
The NNA is a deliberate taking stock of these contributions, with an explicit goal of identifying opportunities where nature can help us further. The NNA is an important baselining for governments, businesses, communities and leaders across sectors, and is expected to be completed in 2026.
We can’t value what we can’t measure, and the NNA is the first critical step.
About Dr. Phil Levin
Phillip Levin is a Professor of Practice at the University of Washington in the College of the Environment and is on loan to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as the Director of the first-ever National Nature Assessment.
Levin received the Department of Commerce Silver Award and NOAA’s Bronze Medal for his work on marine ecosystems, and the Seattle Aquarium’s Conservation Research Award for his work in Puget Sound. He has published over 200 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and technical reports, and edited the recent book, “Conservation of the Anthropocene Ocean: interdisciplinary approaches for nature and people.”
Phil’s work has been featured by NPR, The New York Times, BBC, MSBNC and The Economist. Much of his recent work addresses environmental justice issues, documenting and identifying ways to overcome the disproportionate impacts of floods, fires, and heatwaves on Tribal, Latino, and Black communities, including through direct community engagement.
About our moderator
Our discussion will be moderated by Susan Su, Partner focused on Early Stage Climate Investing at Toba Capital, a $1.3B AUM investment firm. Susan is a board advisor to The Environmental Voter Project and a member of the board of directors at the Carbon Business Council.