Search

Elected leaders to headline CU Boulder Climate Week event April 1

Elected leaders to headline CU Boulder Climate Week event April 1

Colorado Climate Week is an event that convenes communities across the state and beyond to unite and elevate Colorado as a regional hub for climate innovation and resilience. This year, Climate Week will take place from March 30 to April 3. In partnership with event organizer Colorado Cleantech Industries Association, CU Boulder will host the event on Wednesday, April 1, at the Limelight Hotel. 

While most of the week’s programming will be held at the CSU Spur Campus and other locations across the region, Wednesday’s panels, presentations and discussions will take place at the Limelight Hotel Boulder. Speakers from across CU Boulder will participate, including Chancellor Justin Schwartz, who will deliver opening remarks.

Other notable speakers include Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Sen. Michael Bennet, who will speak to their visions of Colorado’s climate future, as well as Gov. Jared Polis, bestselling author and Foundry founder Seth Levine and many more.

The event is free and open to the public, and students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend. Register here. 

Now in its second year, Colorado Climate Week highlights Colorado’s collaborative culture and commitment to innovative climate solutions. The event aims to showcase and accelerate the state’s potential for climate impact.

This vision aligns closely with sustainability efforts at CU Boulder, where researchers collaborate across disciplines to develop climate solutions, educate the next generation of climate leaders, use campus as a living laboratory, and partner with organizations across the state to drive climate action.

“This event reflects CU Boulder’s deep commitment to advancing climate solutions through collaboration,” said Andrew Mayock, vice chancellor for sustainability. “One of our core sustainability priorities is community engagement—working alongside peers across the Boulder community, the state of Colorado, the nation and around the world to develop and scale innovative climate solutions.”

“Colorado Climate Week highlights the opportunity of connecting university expertise with leaders and policymakers across Colorado,” said Kirsten Schuchman, associate vice chancellor for external partnerships. “By strengthening partnerships at the local and state level, we can help translate innovative ideas into policies and actions that benefit communities throughout Colorado.”

For more information about registration, the day’s schedule and featured speakers, view the full agenda.

Colorado Climate Week with CU at Limelight | April 1, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

8:30–9 a.m.
The Buff Blueprint: CU Boulder’s Next Chapter in Climate Leadership
Chancellor Justin Schwartz, CU Boulder

9–9:30 a.m.
Fireside Chat: Capital Evolution—What the Future of Capitalism Means for Climate 
​Seth Levine, Partner and Co-Founder, Foundry
​Moderator: Wendy Lea, Board Director, Ecosystem Builder

9:30–10:15 a.m.
Plenary 1 Panel: AI at Scale: Energy, Water, and the Infrastructure of Intelligence
Moderator: ​John Goldman, Partner at Cooley LLC
Will Toor, Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office
​Kyri Baker, Associate Professor at CU Boulder and Research Scientist at Google DeepMind
Lon Huber, Senior Vice President, Chief Planning Officer, XCEL Energy

10:30–11:30 a.m.
Breakout I: AI at Scale -Clean Inputs, Transformative Outputs and Community Impact

Noon–1 p.m.
Lunch Session: Conservation, Climate and the Colorado Outdoors (lunch provided)
Moderator: Megha Agrawal Sood, Board Director, Mountainfilm Festival
​Erin Sprague, CEO, Protect Our Winters
​Drew Rayburn, Colorado Director of Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy
Noah Molotch, "Professor of Snow," CU Boulder
Natalie Ooi, Professor, Outdoor Recreation Economy, CU Boulder

1:15–2 p.m.
Plenary 2 Panel: From Pledges to Performance: The New Era of Climate Leadership
​Moderator: Kathryn Wendell, Exec Director, Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, CU Boulder
Kendra Tupper, PE, Head of Carbon Reduction Planning & Strategy, Google 
​Deanna Bratter, Chief Sustainability Officer, Crocs, Inc. 
Eli Gordon, Head of Sustainability Advisory – North America, Watershed

2:15–3 p.m.
Breakout Session II

3:15–4 p.m.
Plenary 3: Risk, Reward, and Impact: Climate Investment Playbooks
​Moderator: Trent Yang, CFO, Energy Dome
​Kristen Rocca, Partner at DCVC 
Danya Hakeem, COO, Elemental Impact 
Maggie Rodney, Partner, Massive

4–5 p.m.
Plenary 4: Colorado’s Climate Policy Agenda: A Fireside Chat with Democratic Candidates Attorney General Phil Weiser and Senator Michael Bennet

4–5 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Session: 1000 Gretas—Intergenerational Fairness

4–5 p.m.
Concurrent Session: Boulder Climate Ventures student pitches

5–6 p.m.
Networking Reception

Related Articles