A
WORKSHOP AGENDA
Pathways to Urban Sustainability: Lessons from the Atlanta Metropolitan Region
A National Academies Workshop
September 30–October 1, 2010
Georgia Tech Global Learning Center
Room 222
Atlanta, Georgia
OBJECTIVES
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Discuss the ways that regional actors are approaching sustainability, specifically, how they are attempting to merge environmental, social, and economic objectives
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Share information about ongoing activities and strategic planning efforts, including lessons learned
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Examine the role that science, technology, and research can play in supporting efforts to make the region more sustainable
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Explore how federal agency efforts, particularly interagency partnerships, can complement/leverage the efforts of other key stakeholders
Thursday, September 30, 2010
9:00 AM |
Welcome and Goals of the Workshop |
Denise Stephenson Hawk, Consultant and Former Director, Societal-Environmental Research and Education Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research |
9:15 AM |
Interactions Between Human and Natural Systems in the Built Environment |
Christopher Portier, Director, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Session I:
Perspectives on sustainability in the Atlanta metropolitan region
Plenary presentations will reinforce the value-added benefits of interdisciplinary solutions to urban challenges, and illustrate a “systems” approach to sustainability.
Moderator: Glen Daigger, Senior Vice President and CTO, CH2M Hill, Inc.
9:30 AM |
Marilyn Brown, Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech |
10:00 AM |
Carol Couch, Senior Public Service Associate, College of Environment and Design, University of Georgia |
10:30 AM |
BREAK |
10:45 AM |
Catherine Ross, Director and Harry West Chair, Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development, Georgia Tech |
11:15 AM |
Panel Discussion—sustainability and economic growth |
Charles Whatley, Director of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Atlanta Development Authority, and Greg Chafee, Chair of the Green Business Practice, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP |
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12:00 PM |
LUNCH BREAK |
Session II:
“Building Bridges”
Presentations from a range of organizations and stakeholders will address a set of core questions.
Moderator: Steven Olson, Director, Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, Georgia State University
1:15 PM |
A Tale of Two Brownfields: Atlantic Station and Edgewood Avenue |
Tom Weyandt, Director of Comprehensive Planning, Atlanta Regional Commission |
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1:45 PM |
Atlanta BeltLine Project |
Lisa Gordon, COO, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. |
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2:15 PM |
Water conservation challenges and successes: Lessons from San Antonio |
Karen Guz, Director of Conservation, San Antonio Water System |
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2:45 PM |
Advancing solar energy and the new energy economy in Georgia: a private sector perspective |
James Marlow, CEO, Radiance Solar |
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3:00 PM |
The role of natural ecosystems in sustaining societal values: the West Georgia Project |
Graeme Lockaby, Director, Center for Forest Sustainability, Auburn University |
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3:15 PM |
Decision-support tools: Modeling sustainable and resilient urban infrastructure in the Atlanta region |
John Crittenden, Director, Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, Georgia Tech |
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3:30 PM |
BREAK |
3:45 PM |
Breakout groups |
Neighborhood and city-scale projects |
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Andrea Pinabell, Program Manager, Sustainable Community Development, The Home Depot Foundation |
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Regional projects and plans |
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Ed Macie, Urban Forestry Group Leader, USDA Forest, Service Southern Region |
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Policy and Research |
Anne Keller, Senior Sustainability Advisor, USEPA Region 4 |
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4:45 PM |
Report back in plenary |
5:30 PM |
Adjourn |
Friday, October 1, 2010
9:00 AM |
Federal agency efforts to support sustainable communities |
John Frece, Director, Office of Sustainable Communities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
Session III:
“Integrating Goals, Measuring Progress, Translating Results”
Panelists representing a variety of perspectives will take part in a moderated discussion on how progress toward sustainability might be measured in the region. This session will highlight indicators that are currently in use, the timescales for measuring progress, potential returns on investments in sustainability, and methods for communicating results.
Moderator: Wayne Zipperer, Research Scientist, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station
9:30 AM |
Panel Discussion |
K.C. Boyce, Deputy Executive Director, Membership & Regional Impact, ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability |
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Renee Glover, President and CEO, Atlanta Housing Authority |
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Jeremy Hess, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University |
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Mandy Mahoney, Director of Sustainability, City of Atlanta |
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John Wegner, Senior Lecturer and Chief Environmental Officer Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University |
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10:45 AM |
BREAK |
11:00 AM |
Moderated Q&A with audience |
12:00 PM |
LUNCH BREAK |
Session IV:
“Moving Forward”
Participants will focus their discussion on a set of questions intended to illuminate how stakeholders in the region could take a more integrated approach to sustainable development
1:00 PM |
Breakout groups |
Closing the “Knowing-Doing” Gap |
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Kevin Moody, Ecologist, Federal Highway Administration Resource Center, U.S. Department of Transportation |
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Incentives to Change Practice |
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Vicki Coleman, Business Relations Manager, Fulton County Government |
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3:30 PM |
Report back in plenary |
4:00 PM |
Adjourn |