White Houses’ National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, DOE’s Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Dr. Geri Richmond, NSC’s Senior Director for Climate and Energy Sarah Ladislaw to deliver conference keynotes

At the third Innovations in Climate Resilience Conference (ICR24) held April 22-24 in Washington D.C., national experts and leaders from government, the nonprofit sector, industry and academia will convene to address the world’s greatest challenge, climate resilience, through the lens of “Solutions For Scaling Change.”

The conference’s program offers depth and diversity of perspectives on emerging and ongoing research, policy and private-sector efforts offering insights into solutions for each key aspect of climate resilience: adaptation, mitigation and sustainability. This year, the conference will focus on four key areas: empowering action for rapid carbon neutrality, investing in climate resilient infrastructure, systems to fortify our future and advancing sustainability solutions for the next generation.

“As Battelle approaches a century since its founding, even as threats to our society have evolved, we find our motto ‘It Can Be Done’ more relevant than ever. It underpins our approach to climate resilience,” said Battelle President and CEO Lou Von Thaer. “But one thing is clear – while it can be done, it cannot be done alone. Each year, the discussions and sharing that happens at ICR becomes more and more critical to moving our society toward constructive solutions.”

The keynote speaker lineup is headed up by Ali Zaidi, National Climate Advisor, who leads the White House Climate Policy Office, which coordinates policy development and the Biden Administration’s all-of-government approach to tackle the climate crisis, positively impact the economy, and advance environmental justice.

In partnership with the National Labs, the Department of Energy’s, Dr. Geri Richmond, Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, will open the event with Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., President, Howard University. Dr. Richmond leads the Office of Science, the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, DOE’s applied R&D areas of nuclear, fossil, and renewable energy, and energy system integrity, among others.

Joining from the National Security Council, Senior Director for Climate and Energy Sarah Ladislaw will bring experience coordinating national security and climate issues from her position heading up the U.S. National Security Council’s (NSC) Climate and Energy Directorate, responsible for coordinating national security policy on issues including the climate crisis, energy security, stability and reliability, and strengthening environmental sustainability.

From the private sector, Douglas Chan, Chief Operating Officer, Climeworks will share his first-hand experience leading manufacturing and energy projects around the world. Douglas is responsible for Climeworks’ plant operations as well as structuring the supply chain, project execution, and production teams that are needed to enable direct air capture and storage (DAC+S) to reach gigaton capacity by 2050.

Battelle Technical Fellow and conference co-chair, Justin Sanchez said, “This year’s conference is unlike any other climate meeting because it sparks real-world impact through science- and technology-driven conversations about approaches to climate resilience that are effective, sustainable, adaptable and tie directly into new policy.”

The in-person conference is expected to attract an audience of over 300 government leaders, entrepreneurs, and technology innovators whose expertise lies in restoring our ecosystems, enabling adaptation of our built infrastructure and societies, improving human health, boosting national security, securing the food supply, and dramatically reducing the trajectory of causative factors.

Additional confirmed keynote speakers, in order of appearance, include:

• Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senior Advisor, Akin (Member of Congress 1989-2019)
• Dina Esposito, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) at USAID
• Ambassador Maria Viotti, Brazilian Ambassador to the United States
• Anthony Leiserowitz, Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and a Senior Research Scientist, Yale University
• Ben Reinke, Vice President of Global Business Development, X-energy
• Richard Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator
• Kelly Cummins, Acting Director, Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

To register for the event, please visit our website.

Media registration is available here.

For more information about this year’s event, visit the ICR24 website or send inquiries to climateconf@battelle.org.

On-demand keynote speakers and panel videos from the 2023 Innovations in Climate Resilience can be found here.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

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