2019 Georgia Climate Conference

Minimizing Georgia’s Risks. Maximizing Georgia’s Future.

November 7-8, 2019 | Emory Conference Center Hotel | Atlanta, GA

2019 Georgia Climate Conference

Thank you for joining us
at the 2019 Georgia Climate Conference

Hosted by the Georgia Climate Project, the 2019 Georgia Climate Conference brought together more than 430 leaders and experts from the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors to collaborate, raise awareness of work across the state, highlight progress, and identify opportunities to do more.

Sponsors

Presenting

Ray C. Anderson Foundation

Diamond

Emory University

Regions Bank

Gold

UGA Georgia Initiative for Climate and Society The Nature Conservancy

Silver

GreenPrint Turner Foundation

Bronze

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Other partners

Agnes Scott College Columbus State University Georgia Interfaith Power and Light Georgia State University Georgia Southern University Proterra Spelman College University of North Georgia

Presentations

Plenaries

The Business Case for Climate Action
What Does a Changing Climate Mean for Georgia and What Can We Do About It?
Closing Plenary

Salons

What do Georgians Think About Climate Change?

What do Georgians think about climate change and key solutions to reduce emissions and respond to climate impacts here at home? This session explores several efforts to begin answering that question and track how opinions are changing over time.

Disaster Response and Resilience: Lessons Learned from the Front Lines

In recent years, the United States has weathered a series of major natural disasters that have devastated communities and cost billions of dollars in damage. Here in Georgia, Hurricanes Irma and Michael reminded us that we must continue to be prepared. This session brings together the agencies and organizations that responded to these disasters to explore lessons learned from those responses and how we can strengthen our resilience to future disasters.

Managing Climate Risks to Coastal Infrastructure

How is climate change impacting infrastructure in Georgia’s coastal communities and how are communities managing these risks?  What are the legal and practical considerations as communities explore whether to upgrade, maintain, or in some cases abandon existing infrastructure?  This session will look in particular at coastal roads, onsite wastewater treatment systems, and a new sea level sensor network.  

Innovative Strategies for Managing Water Extremes in a Changing Climate

Leaders in Georgia are developing innovative strategies for managing extreme water events, including droughts and floods. This session discusses efforts to better map flooding risks and highlights efforts to use green infrastructure to manage too much and too little water.

What Does a Changing Climate Mean for Georgia’s Ecosystems?

How will Georgia’s ecosystems be impacted by a changing climate?  This session looks across a range of ecosystem types, including freshwater, terrestrial, and marine.

Georgia Drawdown 101

This session provides an overview of what it will take to get to a carbon neutral Georgia, using the Georgia Drawdown Project as a framework.  Panelists will provide an overview of the Georgia Drawdown Project and share emissions reduction solutions in the following areas: electricity, transportation, built environment and materials, food, and land use.  Panelists will also discuss efforts to look at “beyond carbon” at the equity, economic development, and health benefits of these solutions.

Climate Equity & Justice Dialogue

How does a changing climate impact vulnerable and disadvantaged communities?  How can climate solutions – either adapting to climate impacts or reducing emissions – benefit these communities?  This session will feature an exchange of ideas on impacts and solutions and an open discussion on how to move forward on climate, equity, and justice. 

City and Community Leadership on Clean Energy

This session highlights cities and communities across Georgia that have launched innovative policies and programs to accelerate deployment of renewables and stimulate local economic activity.

Rising to the Occasion: Building Flood Resiliency in Coastal Georgia

This session will provide an overview of historic and future projections for flooding and sea level rise in coastal Georgia as well as innovative ideas for managing these risks, such as green infrastructure projects.  The session will explore common concerns and divergent opinions on the risks of sea level rise and how we as a state should respond. 

Building Climate-Resilient Communities in Georgia

Across Georgia, communities are grappling with how to prepare for and respond to the impacts of a changing climate. This session provides examples of resilience planning across the state.

Building a More Energy Efficient Georgia

This session will provide an overview of historic and future projections for flooding and sea level rise in coastal Georgia as well as innovative ideas for managing these risks, such as green infrastructure projects.  The session will explore common concerns and divergent opinions on the risks of sea level rise and how we as a state should respond. 

Georgia Grown Climate Innovation

Georgia’s entrepreneurs and innovators are designing new solutions to address and respond to a changing climate.  This panel highlights innovations from across the state in sectors ranging from transportation to agriculture to food waste.

Georgia's Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate

This session explores how Georgia’s farm and forestry land is impacted by climate change. Panelists will share innovative practices for both coping with a changing climate and reducing emissions.

Climate and Health in Georgia

This session provides an overview of the health impacts associated with climate change, with a particular focus on Georgia-specific impacts and ongoing research. This includes the impact of extreme heat and pollen exposure on children, military personnel, and pregnant women.  

Planning for an Uncertain Water Future

As extreme water events become frequent, leaders in Georgia are making plans to address changing needs and risks at local, regional and state scales. 

Climate U: How Georgia’s Colleges and Universities are Engaging on Climate

At colleges and universities across the state, faculty, staff, and students are studying climate change and taking practical steps to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate impacts.

Climate Change and Georgia’s Coastal Marshes

This session will provide an overview of the state of Georgia’s coastal marshes, why this ecosystem is so important, and how it might be impacted by climate change.  Panelists will focus on advances in salt marsh research that enable coastal communities to address key challenges and to develop management strategies.

The State of Georgia's Electric Vehicle Market

This session provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges of increasing electric vehicles adoption in Georgia.