PLENARY SESSION

PRESENTER	EVENT	MATERIALS
Ellie Cohen, The Climate Center	Welcome – Accelerated, equitable climate action	– Slides (PDF) – Full plenary video
Wade Crowfoot, Natural Resources Agency	Why we need nature-based sequestration and what the state is doing about it
J. Mijin Cha, PhD, Occidental College	Climate Justice: a better world for everyone
Veronica Garibay, Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability	Climate Impacts on frontline communities
Susan Longville	Introduction
Celeste Cantu, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board	Building on the Water & Climate Nexus in California	– Slides (PDF)
Walker Wright, Sunrun	Introduction
David Hochschild, CA Energy Commission	Grid for the Future – Integrated, Distributed, Resilient	– Slides (PDF)
Legislative Leaders Plenary Panel, Moderated by Colby Bermel, Politico California	Restoring CA’s Leadership on Climate Action
Asm. Cristina Garcia	AB 2649 Nature-based Sequestration
Senator Bob Wieckowski	Climate leadership
Allie Detrio, Microgrid Resources Coalition	SB 833, Community Energy Resilience Act
Gregg Fishman, SMUD	Setting an ambitious goal for clean electricity

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

COMMUNITY ENERGY RESILIENCE 

Grid for the Future	Raghav Murali, Enphase Energy, moderator, Lorenzo Kristov, Energy Systems Consultant, Allie Detrio, Microgrid Resources Coalition	– Slides (PDF) – Panel transcript
Distributed Energy Technology Solutions	Tanya Peacock, Bloom Energy, moderator, Allan Schurr, Enchanted Rock, Ardi Arian, Renewable America, Adam Simpson, Mainspring Energy, Peter Asmus, AutoGrid	– Slides (PDF) – Panel transcript
Project Development in Frontline Communities	Jina Kim, Communities for a Better Environment, moderator, Katrina Leni-Konig, California Energy CommissionMatt Roberts, Blue Planet EnergyShina Robinson, Asian Pacific Environmental Network	– Slides(PDF) – Panel transcript

PHASEOUT OF FOSSIL FUELS & SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY 

Prioritizing public health and safety in a managed phase-out of oil and gas extraction in California	Martha Dina Argüello, Physicians for Social Responsibility LA, moderator, Monica Embrey, National Energy Campaigns at Sierra Club, Kyle Ferrar, FracTracker Alliance	– Slides (PDF) – Panel transcript
Petroleum refining in a climate crisis – public health and climate imperatives	Abby Young, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, moderator, Marisol Cantú, Richmond Listening Project, Connie Cho, Communities for Better Environment	– Marisol Cantú slides (PDF) – Panel transcript
Top priorities for advancing equity-centered transportation electrification	Eileen Tutt, CA Electric Trans. Coalition, moderator, Craig Segall, CARB, Mobile Sources & Incentives, Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, Laura Deehan, Environment California	– Chris Chavez slides (PDF) – Laura Deehan slides (PDF) – Panel transcript

NATURAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION 

What is it: An overview of natural carbon sequestration and benefits	Renata Brillinger, CalCAN, moderator, Tim LaSalle, PhD, California State University, Chico, Ariel Lew Ai Le Whitson, TreePeople, Jean Okuye, Okuye Farms	– Slides (PDF)
How will we scale it up: Policy support for accelerated natural carbon sequestration	Michelle Passero, The Nature Conservancy, moderator, Arohi Sharma, Natural Resources Defense Council, Kim Guo, Better World Group, Torri Estrada, Carbon Cycle Institute
How will we pay for it: Enlisting private sector support for multi-benefit natural climate solutions	Ellie Cohen, The Climate Center, moderator, Newsha Ajami, PhD, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Zach Knight, Blue Forest	– Zach Knight, Blue Forest slides (PDF)

FINANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE

Climate Budget & Financing	Rosa Cucicea, River City Bank, moderator, Emily Schwimmer, AECOM, Glyn Milburn, Ygrene Energy Fund, Shereen D’Souza, California Environmental Protection Agency	– Slides (PDF) – Panel transcript
Carbon Capture and Storage and Cement	Katelyn Roedner, Environmental Defense Fund, moderator, Diane Doucette, Project 2030, Ryan McCarthy, Weideman Group, Roberto Reichard, Zero Emissions Advisors	– Slides (PDF) – Panel transcript
Corporate Responsibility	Melissa Romero, Cal Enviro Voters, moderator, State Senator Scott Wiener, Miriam Eide, Fossil Free California, Christopher Soriano, Student Activist, Sim Bilal, Student Activist	– Panel transcript

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Learn more about our afternoon breakout tracks:

Community Energy Resilience: This track opened with a presentation summing up the latest data on energy reliability in California as well as updates on the deployment of clean energy microgrids and other distributed energy resources. We also discussed vehicle electrification and the use of electric vehicles as resilience assets, heard case studies on clean energy resilience deployment in vulnerable communities, and reviewed opportunities for financing clean, resilient energy in California communities. 

Phase Out Fossil Fuels (POFF): This track included panels on the fossil fuel supply side – phasing out oil and gas extraction, and petroleum refining. And on the demand side, a panel focused on sustainable mobility. 

Carbon Sequestration on Natural and Working Lands: The latest science indicates that both rapidly cutting climate pollution and drawing down past climate pollution from the atmosphere are both essential to achieving a stable climate. However, not all carbon dioxide removal approaches are created equal. In this track, we discussed how nature-based solutions can sequester carbon naturally, affordably, in an environmentally just manner, and with a multitude of benefits. We discussed how technological Direct Air Capture is not the solution for this decade as it is in its infancy, is energy-intensive, and is expensive. We also explored key 2022 policy priorities to advancing nature-based sequestration in regulatory and legislative venues.

Finance, Accountability, Carbon Capture & Storage: What are the Governor’s climate budget priorities this year and what can be done to bring in more private sector investment to achieve speed and scale climate solutions? How do we track corporate emissions to make sure reductions are actually being made and ensure that the state’s retirement systems walk away from fossil fuel investments? And what role if any should carbon capture and storage play in the state’s climate policy toolbox? This diverse track included a discussion about this year’s budget proposals, Senator Wiener’s SB 260 on requiring large corporations to track their emissions and set reduction targets, Senator Lena Gonzalez’s SB 1173 to no longer invest state pension funds in fossil fuels, and a panel on whether there is an appropriate role for carbon capture and storage.