Description

SF Climate Week kicks-off Monday (4/21) in grand fashion aboard the Historic Klamath with a full day of expert presentations and panel discussions on the future of transportation, wildfires, forestry, drought resilience, aviation, tech and AI, and more, capped with a beer and wine reception sponsored by ACE Rail, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Arcadis, Gensler, Oliver Wyman, University of San Francisco, and Waymo! Due to SF Climate Week’s event protocols, all attendees are encouraged to RSVP individually for each panel discussion they plan on attending. See the RSVP links next to each agenda item below. Also, don’t miss Climate Action in 2025 and Beyond, a morning panel and fireside chat on climate resilience with occurring Thursday at the Battery SF in partnership with the Bay Area Council and DLA Piper. Check that link for speakers and RSVP information.

8:30am – Doors Open/Networking/Refreshments

9:00am – Welcome Remarks

9:10am-10:10am – Decarbonizing & Integrating Transportation: A Path Toward a Resilient Bay Area (RSVP)

Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California, accounting for about 40% of the total emissions statewide. Join Gensler and the Bay Area Council for a discussion with industry leaders in rail, autonomous vehicles, and water transit about how the Bay Area can lead in decarbonizing and integrating its transportation systems. After the discussion, stick around for other panels on aviation, tech growth and energy demand, drought resilience, wildfire resilience, and state and federal actions.

• Momoko Tamaoki, Deputy Director of Planning, ACE
• Seamus Murphy, Executive Director, Water Emergency Transportation Authority
• Adam Lenz, Head of Sustainability & Environment, Waymo
• Keith Tanner, Senior Transportation Planner, SFMTA
• Kirsten Ritchie, Global Director, Climate Action and Sustainability, Principal, Gensler – Moderator

10:15am – 11:15am – Decarbonizing Aviation (RSVP)

Aviation currently accounts for about 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally. Here in California, the California Air Resources Board says airlines must use sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF, (jet fuels refined from recycled biomass) to meet 80% of all fuel demands by 2045 for California to meet its net zero goals. How can airports, airlines, and refineries meet surging demand for SAF? What role will hydrogen play in future of air travel? Join San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the Bay Area Council for a discussion with industry experts to learn how aviation is decarbonizing.

• Erin Cooke, Sustainability + Environmental Policy Director, SFO
• Tyson Eckerle, ARCHES Chief Governmental Relations and Strategy Officer
• Tiffany Roberts, Western Regional Manager – State Government Affairs, Phillips 66
• United Airlines, TBD

11:20am -12:20pm – Navigating Nature: The Tech Sector’s Path to Sustainable Growth (RSVP)

As the tech sector expands, how is the industry working to reduce its impact on water, energy, and land? Join Oliver Wyman and the Bay Area Council for a discussion with industry leaders in data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and water and energy utilities about how the tech sector manages  nature impacts, how water and energy utilities are responding to changing industry demands, and how these stakeholders are collaborating to enable sustainable growth.

• Saji Sam, Senior Partner, Oliver Wyman Energy & Natural Resources
• Aaron Baker, Chief Operating Officer, Water Utility, Valley Water
• Fawn Bergen, Global Sustainability Director, Intel
• Jake Zigelman, Vice President, Bay Region, PG&E
• Mike Werner, Head of Sustainability Programs & Innovation, Google

LUNCH BREAK – Note: Lunch will not be provided. Nearby options are available at the Ferry Building and along the Embarcadero.

1:45pm-2:45pm – Water Resilience: Integrating Complex Systems for a Changing Climate (RSVP)

California has experienced two millennium-scale droughts over the past decade and scientists are expecting warming temperatures to lead to long-term reductions in snowpack and overall precipitation. What policies and technologies must cities, utilities, and companies implement to strengthen California’s economic and environmental resilience to drought?

• Rob McCarthy, Vice President and Program Manager, Parsons
• Iris Huang, Principal Project Manager, Parsons
• Cora Snyder, California Water Resilience Initiative Lead and Project Manager, Pacific Institute
• Gordon Feller, Global Fellow, Smithsonian Institute (Moderator)

2:50pm-3:50pm –  How Forestry Innovation is Reducing Wildfire Risk (RSVP)

California witnessed an explosive increase in wildfire activity over the past decade, with hundreds of lives lost and billions of dollars in damages sustained. In response, a growing consensus of scientists and policy makers are calling for the state to change land use patterns, building standards, and forestry management practices to reduce wildfire risk and prevent fuel buildup. Join us for a discussion with forestry and insurance industry leaders about how forestry innovations arereducing wildfire risk across California.

• Kyra Peyton, Senior Manager, Innovation, CSAA Insurance Group
• Zach Knight, CEO, Blue Forest
• Anukool Lakhina, Co-Founder and CEO, BurnBot
• Temra Costa, Executive Director, Regenerative Forest Solutions
• David Weiss, Partner, Reed Smith LLP (Moderator)

3:55-4:55 – All Hands on Deck: Data, Dollars, and Local Action for Climate Resilience (RSVP)

Dynamic conversation exploring how climate resilience is driven by the intersection of data, funding, policy, and community leadership. As extreme weather intensifies and environmental impacts grow more complex, governments, researchers, and communities alike must navigate vast datasets, shifting policies, and resource constraints. Panelists will examine how environmental data can inform equitable decision-making, the challenges and opportunities in accessing and aligning funding and policy, and the essential role of local knowledge and community-driven action in shaping adaptive strategies. Together, these elements form the foundation for inclusive, effective climate resilience.

• Arnauld Billard, Director of Climate Engineering, Arcadis
• Laura Tam, CEO, Bay Planning Coalition
• Violet Wulf-Saena, Founder & Executive Director of Climate Resilient Communities
• Clare Keating, Climate Resilience Lead – Bay Area, Arcadis (Moderator)

5:00pm – 6:30pm – BEER/WINE RECEPTION