Net Zero Conference
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| Net Zero Conference | |
|---|---|
| File:Net Zero Conference Logo.png | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Conference |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | -2019, 2021-2023, 2025: Los Angeles Convention Center -2024: Anaheim Convention Center Trailblazer Gala Venues: -2021: Grammy Museum, Los Angeles, CA -2024: House of Blues, Anaheim, CA |
| Locations | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Years active | 11 years |
| Inaugurated | 2014 |
| Founder | Drew Shula |
| Most recent | September 17-18, 2024 |
| Next event | October 1, 2025 |
| Attendance | 1,500 (2023) |
| Area | International |
| Organised by | Verdical Group |
| Website | netzeroconference |
The Net Zero Conference is one of the largest annual conferences in the world dedicated to net zero design.[1] The conference provides tools, knowledge and inspiration for ways that buildings, products, and corporate operations can transition to net zero,[2] such as moving away from fossil fuel use.[3][4][5]
The Net Zero Conference is hosted and produced by Verdical Group, a sustainability and green building consulting firm. The conference focuses primarily on the built environment due to the fact that approximately 40% of global carbon emissions come from buildings,[6] but covers a broad array of sustainability topics including: climate change, net zero buildings, environmental, social and governance (ESG), zero waste, social equity, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate resilience.[7][8]
Since 2019, the Net Zero Conference has featured the annual Trailblazer Awards Gala,[9] celebrating interdisciplinary leaders[10] who have made a positive impact on people and the environment.[11][12][13]
Verdical Group founder and CEO, Drew Shula, created the Net Zero Conference in 2014.[14] In its first year, the conference had approximately 100 attendees.[15] As of 2023, the conference has grown to more than 1,500 attendees from 54 countries and 45 U.S. states.[16]
The Net Zero Conference has previously been held at the LEED Gold certified Los Angeles Convention Center[17] and the LEED Gold certified Anaheim Convention Center.[18] The event has been featured in media publications such as Metropolis, Canary Media,[19] and Forbes[20] and has been used as a platform for major announcements by USGBC and the World Green Building Council.[21]
Notable Net Zero Conference keynote speakers
[edit]Source:[22]
2025
- Nalleli Cobo, Environmental Activist, and Goldman Environmental Prize Winner
- Leah Thomas, Author, and Environmentalist
- Joel Cesare, Growth Lead, Cambio, and past Global Net Zero Real Estate Strategy Lead at Google
- Michael Ford, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, the “Hip Hop Architect,” and Founder, The Hip Hop Architecture Camp
2024
- Drew Shula, Founder & CEO of Verdical Group, and Founder of the Net Zero Conference
- Kimberly Dowdell, 2024 President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Principal at HOK
- Donnel Baird, CEO, BlocPower
2023
- Wawa Gatheru, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist
2022
- Lakisha Ann Woods, CEO, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Kate Williams, CEO, 1% for the Planet
- William Bridge, CEO, Global Green
2021
- Jedidiah Jenkins, New York Times Best Selling Author
- Dr. Kimberly Miner, Earth & Climate Scientist, NASA
- Marcius Extavour, VP Energy & Climate, XPRIZE
- Caroline Choi, SVP Corporate Affairs, Southern California Edison
- Ashley Orgain, Chief Impact Officer (CIO), Seventh Generation
2020
- Winona LaDuke, Executive Director, Honor the Earth and two-time Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate
- Jamie Margolin, Co-Founder, Zero Hour
- Zanagee Artis, Co-Founder, Zero Hour
- George Bandy Jr, Head of Worldwide Circular Economy, Amazon
- Jason Pugh, President, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) & Principal, Gensler
2019
- Edward Mazria, Founder & CEO, Architecture 2030 / The 2030 Challenge
- Amanda Sturgeon, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI)
- Terry Tamminen, CEO, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
2018
- Jason McLennan, Founder, Living Building Challenge
- Mahesh Ramanujam, CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
2017
- Dr. Chris Luebkeman, Fellow, Director for Global Foresight, Research and Innovation, Arup
- R Rex Parris, Mayor, City of Lancaster California
2016
- Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO, Thirst Project
Notable Trailblazer Award Winners
[edit]2025
- Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles
- David Gottfried, Co-founder, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC National), and Founder, World Green Building Council
- Peter Templeton, President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC National)
- Jerome Foster II, Environmental Justice Activist
2024
- Eric Corey Freed, Principal, CannonDesign[23]
2023
- Sara Neff, Head of Sustainability, Lendlease Americas
- Indigo Teiwes, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Helen of Troy (parent company of brands: OXO, Hydro Flask, Osprey)
- Isaias Hernandez, Environmental Educator, Queer Brown Vegan
2022
- Darcy Shiber-Knowles, Director of Operational Sustainability & Innovation, Dr. Bronner’s
- Andrew Bohenko, Sustainability Coordinator, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Lindsay Baker, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI) / Living Building Challenge
2021
- Xavier Roussel, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Dole Food Company
- Ellen Jackowski, Chief Impact Officer (CIO) & Head of Sustainable Impact, HP
- Nicole Whiteman, CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
2020
- Denis Hayes, Chairman & President, Bullitt Foundation, and Founder of Earth Day
- Janine Benyus, Co-Founder, Biomimicry Institute
- Rick Fedrizzi, Co-Founder & former CEO U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Chairman & CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) / WELL Building Standard
- Jason F. McLennan, Founder, Living Building Challenge
- Elizabeth Heider, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Skanska
- Gabrielle Bullock, Director of Global Diversity & Principal, Perkins&Will
- Wanda Dalla Costa, Founder, Indigenous Design Collaborative
2019
- Steven M. Hilton, Chairman, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
- Nancy Sutley, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Lauren Sparandara, Sustainability Partner, Google
- Will Vicent, Deputy Director of Building Standards, California Energy Commission
- Lauren Faber O'Connor, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
References
[edit]- ^ "Net Zero for All: An Interview with Net Zero Conference Event Chair Drew Shula | Trim Tab". 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Woodruff, Chloe (2023-08-28). "Net Zero Conference Coming Soon to Ignite Climate Action". Innovation & Tech Today. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Woodruff, Chloe. "Verdical Group's 7th Annual Net Zero Conference: Building a Net Zero Future". Metropolis. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Stop F*cking Around – Build Our Zero Carbon Economy Now". Facade Tectonics Institute. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Tucker, Ethan. "With the Net Zero Conference, Drew Shula Aims to Inspire Radical Transformation". Metropolis. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Navigating the Path to Net Zero". Metropolis. April 12, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ Woodruff, Chloe (2023-08-28). "Net Zero Conference Coming Soon to Ignite Climate Action". Innovation & Tech Today. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Meet the Climate Leaders Awarded at this Year's Net Zero Conference". Metropolis. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Verdical Group: Building a Net Zero Future | 1% for the Planet Blog". www.onepercentfortheplanet.org. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Meet the 2024 Net Zero Conference Trailblazer Award Nominees". Metropolis. Archived from the original on 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ Backbone (2022-09-30). "Klean Kanteen Co-Owners Awarded 2022 Trailblazer Award". Outdoor Sportswire. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Mattress, Avocado Green. "Avocado Awarded Trailblazer Award for Leadership On Climate". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Mercedes-Benz Stadium Receives Trailblazer Award at 2022 Net Zero Conference | Mercedes-Benz Stadium News". www.mercedesbenzstadium.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Admin (2022-08-01). "Net Zero Conference Q&A with CEO Drew Shula, Verdical Group". Getting to Zero Forum. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Q&A with Drew Shula, founder of the Net Zero Conference | U.S. Green Building Council". www.usgbc.org. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "About Us". Net Zero Conference. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Net Zero 2022 Makes the Case for Expanding the Green Movement". Metropolis. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "The Net Zero Conference Highlights the Importance of Collective Action". Metropolis. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ "Steelmakers forge ahead on cleaning up their notoriously dirty…". Canary Media. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Steele, Jeffrey. "It Is Zero Hour For Net Zero Energy Buildings". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Thorpe, David (2018-06-12). "Industry challenged to achieve net zero carbon buildings". The Fifth Estate. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ hello@verdicalgroup.com (2023-09-29). "Honoring Past Keynote Speakers and Trailblazer Award Winners". Net Zero Conference. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
- ^ "Eric Corey Freed receives Net Zero Energy Trailblazer Award | CannonDesign". www.cannondesign.com. Retrieved 2025-04-03.