Keynote - Building Decarbonizing for All: Where Policy Meets Practice

Our community is better equipped to decarbonize our built environment than ever before, with data-driven knowledge, new technologies, proven solutions, and a growing consensus that climate justice is social justice. With greater access, broad community commitment, and resource availability, the path to cutting dangerous climate pollution from our built environment is clearer, better defined, and attainable. This year's BuildingEnergy NYC keynote speakers will celebrate big wins in climate policy, discuss the scale of change ahead, and demonstrate how — through specific action by practitioners in the field — we can succeed in our ambitious and critical journey toward environmental justice and equitable decarbonization.

From her role as Director for Building Emissions in the White House Climate Policy Office, where she leads building sector climate policy for the Biden Administration, Heather Clark will bring perspective on the federal government's climate priorities for buildings and the transition to a zero emissions economy. Jamal Lewis, an environmental justice leader and Rewiring America's Director of State and Local Policy for the Mid-Atlantic and South, will leverage his experience in policy and program design and implementation, and will discuss how to make sure everyone can benefit from the clean energy transition.

Session Speaker(s): 

Event Time: 

Thursday, October 12, 2023 - 9:00am to 10:00am

Room / Location: 

The Forum

CEU Information: 

Approved for 1 credit hour toward AIA (LU), BPI, and BOC certification. Credit is offered for the full conference day toward NARI, PHI, Phius, and RESNET certification.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the latest federal climate policy wins and their impact on the decarbonization of the built environment.
  • Use the framework and tools of environmental justice and the Justice40 initiative to help ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of climate investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
  • Analyze the role of policy program implementation in the long-term decarbonization transformation of our building stock and economy.
  • Advocate for the skills and training needed for the clean energy workforce and how to develop and grow this workforce equitably.

Session ID: 

NYC23-101