Join us March 8-10 in Seattle to connect with the nation’s leaders on climate at the fifth annual Climate Leadership Conference (CLC). The CLC convenes around U.S. EPA’s prestigious Climate Leadership Awards, addressing climate change through policy, innovation, and business solutions.

Climate, energy, and sustainability professionals build strategic business connections through interactive learning sessions, networking events and tours, and the Climate Leadership Awards Dinner. The Climate Leadership Conference is presented by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and The Climate Registry, with U.S. EPA as the event’s headline sponsor.

Save 15% on registration BY FEB 28 using Climate Solutions' discount code: CLC-ClimateSolutions-15%.

Check out details on the program, the exciting roster of speakers, and a summary of who attends the CLC.

Also not to be missed are several side events and panels Climate Solutions and our local partners are co-organizing:

Rising to the Challenge: West Coast Business Leadership and Climate Action

(Tuesday, 9am-noon)
Hosted by Washington Businesses for Climate Action

This session will examine the role that businesses and business groups are playing to usher in the low carbon economy along the West Coast. Panelists will provide an overview of their policy advocacy work, successes and challenges to date, and opportunities for future business engagement. There will be a facilitated and interactive roundtable discussion for all attendees following the panel.

• Brenna Davis, Sustainability Director, Virginia Mason, Chair of WBCA
• Steve Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council
• Erik Wohlgemuth, COO, Future 500.
• Facilitator: Kevin Wilhelm, Sustainable Business Consulting

Regional Collaboration: A Roundtable on Community Strategies for Combating Climate Change

(Tuesday, 1pm-3:30pm)
Hosted by Climate Solutions

Urban leaders across the U.S. are forming regional collaborations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieving deeper and faster results than if they were working alone. Participants will first hear from elected officials and staff who have created place-based partnerships to drive community-scale carbon reduction strategies. Participants will then discuss what barriers they may face in partnering with neighboring jurisdictions, and brainstorm potential solutions to overcome those obstacles.

• Laura Engeman, San Diego Climate Collaborative
• Megan Smith, King County Executive Office
• Matt Kuharic, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
• Nicole Sanders, City of Snoqualmie, WA
• Elizabeth Willmott, Climate Solutions

Fossil Fuel Infrastructure, Carbon Bubbles and Divestment – Supply-Side Approaches to Carbon Reduction 

(Thursday morning breakout session)

• Discussion Leader: Ross Macfarlane, Climate Solutions

Although most climate policy debates have focused on limiting the demand for and combustion of fossil fuels, activists, investors and governments are increasingly targeting new infrastructure dedicated to extraction of fossil reserves that will need to stay in the ground if we hope to meet global GHG reduction targets. This session provides an opportunity to talk about the reasons for and limitations of supply-side strategies, including the growing divestment movement and campaigns opposing fossil fuel infrastructure.

Putting a Price on Carbon: Where Do We Go From Here?

(Thursday afternoon breakout session)

In the run-up to Paris, there were growing calls for carbon pricing from businesses and governments. Nearly 40 countries have either established or are considering a price on carbon.

Regional carbon caps and markets in North America are expected to grow as states implement the Clean Power Plan. This session will explore the post-Paris trends on carbon pricing policies and what we can expect in the coming years.

• Brad Neff, Climate Policy Principal, Pacific Gas & Electric
• Ross Macfarlane, Senior Advisor, Business Partnerships, Climate Solutions
• Janet Peace, Senior Vice President, Policy and Business Strategy, Center for Climate Change and energy Solutions (C2ES)
• Richard Saines, Partner, Baker McKenzie, LLP
• Michael Walsh, Managing Director for Public Policy and Research, Carbon Trade Exchange