In commemoration of the third anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston’s Office of Sustainability will host a virtual Houston Climate Week to officially kickoff the implementation phase of the recently-released Houston Climate Action Plan.
“After COVID-19 cancelled our plans for an in-person Climate Action Plan launch in April, the idea of a virtual Houston Climate Week was born,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “To reach our climate goals, we need everyone – from multi-national corporations to middle school students – to do their part. In light of the pandemic, a virtual Houston Climate Week offers a way for the community to learn how the Houston is impacted by climate change and how to get involved in the climate action plan.”
Released on April 22, 2020, the Houston Climate Action Plan is a science-based, community-driven strategy for Houston to reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions, meet the Paris Agreement goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and lead a global energy transition.
Speakers include leaders from the City of Houston, Google, Tesla, BP, NRG, EVolve Houston, CenterPoint, ENGIE, GHP, Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, Texas PACE Authority, Marvin Odum, Dr. Robert Bullard, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, METRO, Greentown Labs, Sunnova, BQ Energy, Sunnyside, LINK Houston, The Nature Conservancy, Katy Prairie Conservancy, and Asakura Robinson.
A tentative Houston Climate Week schedule is below, but more events may be added. To view the full lineup of events and register, please visit www.houstonclimateweek.eventbrite.com or www.greenhoustontx.gov.
Monday, August 24:
11am: Opening Session: Making Houston the Renewable Energy Capital of the World
1pm: Houston Climate Impact Assessment: What Does the Future Hold for Houston?
Tuesday, August 25:
11am: Making Houston a Global Leader in Energy Innovation
1pm: Taking the Car Out of Carbon Emissions
3pm: Growing Climate Solutions: Green Infrastructure, Conservation, and Equity
Wednesday, August 26:
11am: Less is More: Making Energy Efficient Equitable and Efficient
1pm: Reinventing Cities: Sunnyside Landfill Solar Farm
2pm: City of Houston Quality of Life Committee – Houston Climate Action Plan Presentation
Thursday, August 27:
11am: 2020: The COVID-19, Climate, and Equity Connection
1pm: Texas Tough: Bringing EVs to Truck-Loving Texas
Friday, August 28:
11am: How Green Buildings Can Drive the Energy Transition
1pm: Closing Session: Partnerships and Pathways to Decarbonize Cities