Climate Change (The Other Crisis)
The 2020 LABC Sustainability Summit
September 20-21, 2020
A high-level convening of leaders in one of the most environmentally forward-thinking cities of the world.
This year’s Summit will cover a number of pressing topics, including international climate policy, regionalization of the energy grid, California’s resiliency strategy in the face of growing natural disasters, and more.
Watch the FULL Summit:
Monday, September 21st Kickoff and VIP & Awards Reception Agenda
3:30 p.m.
LABC Nadine Watt, Chair, Los Angeles Business Council
3:35 p.m.
USC Welcome Dana Goldman, Interim Dean, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and Leonard D. Schaeffer Director’s Chair, USC Schaeffer Center
3:40 p.m.
Intro of Spotlights David Wilhelm, Chief Strategy Officer, Hecate Energy
3:45 p.m.
Spotlight Session 1 Mary Wenzel, Executive Vice President, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Wells Fargo & Company
3:55 p.m.
Introduction Kip Field, Southern California Area Manager, HDR
4:00 p.m.
Congressional Keynote a Clean Energy COVID Recovery U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Assistant Whip for House Leadership
4:20 p.m.
Break
4:35 p.m.
Introduction Alberto Diaz, Managing Director of LAX, United Airlines
4:40 p.m.
Federal Keynote: Securing Our Energy and Climate Future Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Distinguished Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology; Former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
5:00 p.m.
Panel: Moving Toward 100% Renewable Energy & Resource Adequacy
Moderator:
Sammy Roth, Energy Reporter, LA Times Panelists:
Martin L. Adams, General Manager & Chief Engineer, LADWP
Tom Buttgenbach, Founder & CEO, 8minute Solar Energy
Michael Garland, CEO, Pattern Energy
Carla Peterman, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Regulatory Affairs, Southern California Edison
Liane Randolph, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
6:00 p.m.
Introduction Alex Pugh, Development Manager, Hecate Grid
6:05 p.m.
Spotlight Session 2 Sustainable Energy: Myths and Truths – And J.P. Morgan’s Commitment RA McDonough, Managing Director & Head of Energy, West Region & LA, Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase
Tuesday, September 22nd
8:45 a.m.
LABC Welcome Brad Cox, Chair, Los Angeles Business Council Institute
8:50 a.m.
Special Guest The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger, 38th Governor of California
8:55 a.m.
Introduction Ambassador Nina Hachigian, Deputy Mayor for International Affairs, City of Los Angeles
9:00 a.m.
Keynote Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, British Ambassador to the USA
9:15 a.m.
Panel: Accelerating Just, Equitable Climate Goals
Moderator:
Michael Northrop, Program Director, Sustainable Development, Rockefeller Brothers Fund Panelists:
The Honorable Kevin de León, Councilmember-elect, City of Los Angeles
The Honorable Fran Pavley, Former California State Senator & Environmental Policy Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute
Kate Gordon, Director, Office of Planning and Research & Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Change, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Dr. Manuel Pastor, Director, USC Equity Research Institute
10:15 a.m.
Break
10:25 a.m.
Introduction Mary Leslie, President, Los Angeles Business Council
10:30 a.m.
Fireside Chat Educating the Future Workforce To Achieve a Sustainable, Equitable Region
Moderator:
Dr. Daniel A. Mazmanian, Chair, Presidential Working Group on Sustainability & Professor of Public Policy, USC Panelists:
Dr. Carol L. Folt, President, University of Southern California
The Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los Angeles
11:00 a.m.
Introduction Nadine Watt, Chair, Los Angeles Business Council
11:05 a.m.
Business Leader Keynote Emile Haddad, Chairman & CEO, FivePoint
11:20 a.m.
P.M. Panel 2 the Buildings of Tomorrow
Moderator:
Lauren Faber O’Connor, Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti Panelists:
David Hochschild, Chair, California Energy Commission
Zafer Sahinoglu, Vice President, Business Innovation, Mitsubishi Electric US Inc.
Reed McMains, Vice President & General Manager, Turner Construction Company
Jason Barrett, Vice President, GAF Energy
12:00 p.m.
Break
12:10 p.m.
Introduction Sam Arons, Director of Sustainability, Lyft
12:15 p.m.
P.M. Fireside Chat
Moderator:
Mary Leslie, President, Los Angeles Business Council Panelists:
U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Chair, Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency
12:45 p.m.
P.M. Panel Providing Clean, Affordable Water for Californians
Moderator:
David Nahai, President, David Nahai Companies Panelists:
The Honorable Henry Stern, Senator, State of California
Gil Crozes, Partner, Carollo Engineers
Brian Jordan, Vice President, Tetra Tech
Rupam Soni, Principal Public Affairs Representative, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Enrique C. Zaldivar, P.E., Director and General Manager, LA Sanitation & Environment
1:45 p.m.
Introduction Garrett Gin, Marketing Executive, Greater Los Angeles, Bank of America
1:50 p.m.
Keynote Pathway to the Clean Energy Future Kevin Payne, President & CEO, Southern California Edison
2:05 p.m.
P.M. Panel the Future of Clean Transportation
Moderator:
Pete Holland, Executive Vice President & Regional Executive, AECOM Panelists:
Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board
Genevieve Giuliano, Director, METRANS Transportation Center, USC
David Kim, Secretary, California State Transportation Agency
James De La Loza, Chief Planning Officer, LA Metro
Matt Petersen, President & CEO, LA Cleantech Incubator
3:00 p.m.
Introduction Adam Davis, Managing Partner, Ecosystem Investment Partners
3:05 p.m.
Closing Keynote Investing in Clean Infrastructure for Our Communities U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas, Member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2020 Sustainability Summit Sponsors
The 2020 LABC Sustainability Summit wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our Sustainability Summit sponsors.
Co-Chair

Event Host

Committee Member

To become a sponsor, please contact Rachel Levy at rlevy@labusinesscouncil.org.
The LABC Thanks Our 2020 Sustainability Summit Cooperating Organizations
AltaSea
American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles
American Planning Association- LA
American Society of Civil Engineers, Los Angeles
Aquarium of the Pacific
Bay Area Council
Better World Group
California Business Alliance for a Clean Economy
California Community Economic Development Association
California Community Foundation
California Electric Transportation Coalition
California Energy Storage Alliance
California Environmental Justice Alliance
California League of Conservation voters
Center for Sustainable Energy
Century City Chamber of Commerce
Clean Coalition
Clean Power Alliance
Climate Action Reserve
Climate Resolve
Coalition for Clean Air
Communities for a Better Environment
Community Corporation of Santa Monica
E2
Ednovate Charter Schools
Environment California
Environmental Defense Fund
Estolano Advisors
Faith 2 Green
Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce
Green Business Networking
Green Hydrogen Coalition
GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Heal the Bay
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Kilroy Realty Corporation
Korean American Coalition, Los Angeles
LA Better Buildings Challenge
LA County Sustainability Office
LG Chem ESS Battery Division
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
Los Angeles Conservation Corps
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability
Move LA
Mujeres de la Tierra
National Association of Women Business Owners, LA Chapter
Natural Resources Defense Council
Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Pacoima Beautiful
Pando Populus
River LA
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE – Z)
Sustainable Works
The Climate Center
The Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance
The Transit Coalition
TransForm
Trust for Public Land
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
United States Green Building Council
Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles
Young Professionals in Energy – LA (YPE)