From there, a series of plenary panel discussions will explore a range of topics, from transforming the food system, to climate justice, to the impacts of climate change on public health, to the future of renewable energy in the American West.
Other topics will include the state of electric and autonomous vehicles, industrial ecology, tools for effective storytelling, corporate sustainability, and carbon pricing.
“It is inspiring to see the real impact our alumni are having worldwide in every conceivable sector and discipline,” said F&ES Dean
Indy Burke, who will moderate the closing plenary panel. “Having so many of them come together for this event is a great opportunity to learn more about their innovative work and to discuss how together we can address the really complex challenges facing our planet.”
The bipartisan event will also feature two former EPA Administrators:
William Reilly ’62 B.A., a Republican and Chairman Emeritus at the World Wildlife Fund who will join the closing panel titled, “Moving Ahead: Change Making, Sound Science, and the Rule of Law”; and
Gina McCarthy, a Democrat, who will appear in conversation with
Daniel Esty ’86 J.D., Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at F&ES and Yale Law, on the topic, “Maintaining Environmental Momentum in the Age of Trump.”
“One of the things that’s been most exciting to me in this planning process is working with people who are not giving up, who are not backing down, but instead saying, how can we come together, expand our networks in new ways, and take steps in a positive direction,” said Smiley Smith.
View the detailed schedule of events and register for the Yale Environmental Sustainability Summit
here.