Weber State Hosts Virtual Sustainability Summit
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University will host the 12th annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit, March 18-19, bringing hundreds of sustainability professionals and emerging leaders together virtually.
Started by a Weber State student as a recycling event in 2009, the summit now includes a broad array of topics such as renewable energy, green buildings, supply-chain distribution, transportation, new economic models and cultural shifts.
This year’s virtual event will feature more than 60, locally and nationally renowned, speakers; an Eco Expo, where participants can interact with vendors showcasing sustainable products, services and solutions; a student poster competition; and ecologically focused art.
“While we will miss gathering in person this year, the virtual format hasn’t limited the wealth of offerings.” said Alice Mulder, WSU’s Sustainability Practices and Research Center director. “This event provides a vital opportunity for people from across sectors and approaches to come together to learn and share ideas and stories as we work to address the major challenges threatening the environment and human health.”
The summit will begin March 18 at 8 a.m. with a morning keynote via Zoom video conferencing from Jasmine Sanders, executive director of Our Climate, an organization aiming to empower young people to get involved in their communities to address climate change. Sanders will discuss enabling action on climate change and critical social justice links.
Hazel Henderson and Vicki Robin will discuss the ins and outs of green economics for the afternoon keynote address, March 18 at 2 p.m. via Zoom video conferencing.
Henderson is the founder of Ethical Markets Media, a multifaceted platform that explores new solutions to modern capitalism. She is also an author and environmental advocate, with a focus on sustainable development and business.
Robin is the co-author of “Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship With Money and Achieving Financial Independence,” which was featured as a best seller by The New York Times. Her work has also appeared in People Magazine, AARP and The Wall Street Journal.
Mulder said the summit sessions the first day will include a variety of topics addressing different approaches to solving climate change including renewable energy, electrification, net-zero buildings, climate action and adaptation, as well as broader subjects such as water conservation, air quality, organizational change, and social justice and sustainability.
Day two of the summit is workshop day. Participants have the choice of three half-day sessions. The first workshop will discuss adapting local landscapes to climate change, for example, a typical homeowner’s garden. The second workshop will focus on the theory and practice of community organizing and its role in building a sustainable social movement. The third workshop will examine climate action planning at the municipal, professional and community levels.
New to the summit this year, participants will have access to a series of short, on-demand presentations for the duration of the summit. Topics will include Weber State’s net-zero home, the importance of careers in sustainability and different approaches to climate engagement in Utah.
Registration is required for each summit day. For a full schedule of events and pricing, visit weber.edu/issummit.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
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Shaylee Stevens, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948 • shayleestevens@weber.edu- Contact:
Alice Mulder, Sustainability Practices and Research Center director
801-626-6198 • amulder@weber.edu