Climate City is just one of Asheville’s many nicknames. A local nonprofit is working to elevate that moniker to a new level. In March, the climate innovation center, The Collider, is kicking off ClimateCon 2018. The business of climate is the headline event of the conference that organizers say – has something for everyone. BPR’s Helen Chickering spoke with Megan Robinson, The Collider’s Executive director.
A number events during The Climate City Experience are open to the general public and will take place in a variety of venues including craft breweries, including:
- Friday, March 16: Highland Brewing Company hosts a toast to Climate City, open to the public, where the company plans to release a special small-batch beer crafted to commemorate ClimateCon 2018.
- Monday, March 19: The Business of Climate Forum kicks off with an evening reception sponsored by Twin Leaf Brewery, featuring keynote speaker John Frey, an expert in information technology efficiency and sustainability at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
- Tuesday, March 20: Highland Brewing will host The Climate Solutions Showcase, where entrepreneurs will demonstrate their climate products and services available for commercial application. The evening also features a presentation by Auden Schendler, vice president of sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company, speaking on “The Case for Meaningful Action on Climate Change.” Free to business forum attendees, the general public can also attend the event with paid admission.
- Wednesday, March 21: The Business of Climate Forum concludes with “Cheers to ClimateCon: A Conference Finale,” featuring, of course, local craft beer.
We stopped by ClimateCon and spoke with:
Drew Jones is is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Climate Interactive in Asheville and a member of the Collider.
Melissa Malkin Weber, Sustainability Director at the Self-Help Credit Union & Venture Fund, Durham.
James McMahon, former director of the Collider and now co-founder and CEO of The Climate Service, a technology company that helps corporations measure, monitor, and manage their climate risk using artificial intelligence and expertise.
Greg Lowe, Global Head of Resilience and Sustainability at Aon plc, a leading provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services.
