2°C, A Symposium on Climate Change,
Organized by the AIA|LA Committee on the Environment,
To Offer Attendees Essential Strategies and Tactics to Forestall Climate Change

For immediate release – Los Angeles, February 20, 2019: Against a backdrop of new data that demonstrates as little as eight years is left to reverse the course of climate change, the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Committee on the Environment (COTE AIA|LA) will host a symposium dedicated to updating architects, policy makers, and the greater Los Angeles community on strategies to address the most perilous challenge of our time.

Taking place on Friday, March 1, 2019 from 7:30AM – 4:00PM, 2°C, A Symposium on Climate Change will be hosted by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in downtown Los Angeles. The symposium’s name references the need to keep the global average temperature from rising more than 2°Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The world’s average temperature has already increased nearly 1°C.

Featured headliners demonstrate the breadth of innovation, leadership, and expertise the event will offer attendees. They are:

• Kevin de León, Senate President Pro Tempore Emeritus. De León is the author of California’s ground breaking law, SB 100, which requires the state to obtain 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free energy sources by 2045. His appearance is an opportunity to discover more about the details of this legislation, how it was passed, and how we can continue to advance sustainability goals through policy making.
• David Hertz, FAIA, LEED AP. Hertz, who won the $1.5M Water Abundance XPRIZE in partnership with Laura Doss-Hertz, will present the award-winning solution—point-of-use Atmospheric Water—as well as power-generation strategies for climate resilience, self-reliance and disaster relief. Hertz has a long history of involvement in sustainability issues and is the founder of S.E.A.- Studio of Environmental Architecture and Skysource.org.
• Anthony Brower, AIA, LEED Fellow. Director of Sustainability, Gensler, Brower is both a big picture theorist and an “application” expert. Trained as an architect, this LEED Fellow, took an early foray into the construction industry to more deeply understand “the details of our craft.” In addition to his responsibilities creating and overseeing sustainable strategies for Gensler clients, Brower serves on boards such as Los Angeles METRO’s Sustainability Council.
• Eric Corey Freed. Freed’s title literally is “Sustainability Disruptor” for Morrison Hershfield. The engineering firm has consulted with hundreds of municipalities, agencies, and companies to reduce their carbon, boost their performance, slash their operational expenses, and provide healthy spaces for everyone.
• Dr. Chris Luebkeman. Based in San Francisco, ARUP’s Fellow and Director of Global Foresight + Research + Innovation, has a global understanding of sustainability in relation to design. He earned his Doctorate in Architecture from ETH in Zurich, and began his career in architecture as a protégé of Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish architect with a global reach.

Essential information for those committed to curbing climate change will also be presented by experts and innovators appearing on three panels, each with a separate focus: Carbon, Energy and Water. The way forward to a carbon-negative planet, legislative precedents and energy-saving design strategies, and how water conservation can set the trajectory to course-correct climate change will be discussed amongst other ideas.

Rounding out the day’s keynotes, panels, and individual talks, will be “Lunch Think” breakout sessions during which conference attendees will contribute their own expertise.

The March 1 conference is the second such event organized by COTE AIA|LA. This year, 2?C has attracted panelists and speakers who are elected officials, policy makers, and staff members from city governance and significant institutions as well as architects, engineers and developers. For a full speaker list along with bios visit: https://www.aialosangeles.org/aiala-events/2-degrees-c-climate-change/

Symposium Details:
Date/Time: Friday, March 1, 2019 | 7:30AM-4:00PM
Location: LA Department of Water & Power, John Ferraro Building
Address: 111 N Hope St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open to the Public
AIA|LA Members: $95
Public: $135

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About the Committee on Environment of AIA LA (COTE LA): The Committee on the Environment (COTE) works to advance, disseminate, and advocate design practices that enhance the design quality and the environmental performance of the built environment. COTE LA serves as a voice regarding sustainable design on behalf of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

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