The Net Zero Conference is one of the largest annual conferences in the world dedicated to net zero design. The conference provides tools and knowledge about ways for buildings, products, and corporate operations to transition to net zero, such as moving away from

fossil fuel A fossil fuel is a hydrocarbon-containing material formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel. The main fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels m ...

use. The Net Zero Conference is hosted and produced by Verdical Group, a

sustainability Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...

and green building consulting firm. The conference focuses primarily on the built environment due to the fact that approximately 40% of global

carbon emissions Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and larg ...

come from buildings, but covers a broad array of sustainability topics including: climate change, net zero buildings, environmental, social and governance (ESG), zero waste, social equity, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate resilience. Since 2019, the Net Zero Conference has featured the annual Trailblazer Awards Gala, which awards leaders who have made a positive impact on people and the environment. Verdical Group founder and CEO, Drew Shula, created the Net Zero Conference in 2014. In its first year, the conference had approximately 100 attendees. As of 2023, the conference has grown to more than 1,500 attendees from 53 countries and 45 U.S. states. The Net Zero Conference has previously been held at the

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...

Gold certified Los Angeles Convention Center, but will be held at the LEED certified Anaheim Convention Center in 2024. The event has been featured in media publications such as ''Metropolis'', Canary Media, and '' Forbes'' and has been used as a platform for major announcements by USGBC and the

World Green Building Council The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is a non-profit organisation and global network of national Green Building Councils (GBCs). It has member councils in over 70 countries worldwide, which collectively have 49,000 members (25,000 member co ...

Notable Net Zero Conference keynote speakers

2023 * Wawa Gatheru, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist 2022 * Lakisha Ann Woods, CEO, American Institute of Architects (AIA) * Kate Williams, CEO,

1% for the Planet One Percent for the Planet is an international organization whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual revenue to environmental causes to protect the environment. The aim is to offer accountability, prevent greenwashing and "ce ...

* William Bridge, CEO,

Global Green Global Green is the American affiliate of Green Cross International, an international non-governmental organization founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 to "foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. ...

2021 * Jedidiah Jenkins, ''New York Times'' Best Selling Author * Dr. Kimberly Miner, Earth & Climate Scientist, NASA * Marcius Extavour, VP Energy & Climate, XPRIZE * Caroline Choi, SVP Corporate Affairs, Southern California Edison * Ashley Orgain, Chief Impact Officer (CIO), Seventh Generation 2020 * Winona LaDuke, Executive Director,

Honor the Earth Honor the Earth is a non-profit organization founded to raise awareness and financial support for Indigenous environmental justice. The organization was founded by Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers after meeting Winona LaDuke, and after consu ...

and two-time

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation ...

Vice Presidential Candidate *

Jamie Margolin Jamie Margolin (born December 10, 2001) is an American climate justice activist. She is the Co-Executive director of Zero Hour. Education Margolin attended Holy Names Academy. She currently studies film at the New York University Tisch Sc ...

, Co-Founder, Zero Hour *

Zanagee Artis Zanagee Artis (born 1999) is an American climate activist. He is best known for co-founding the youth-led climate activist group Zero Hour in 2017. As of 2021, Artis was Acting Policy Director of Zero Hour. Biography In high school, he started ...

, Co-Founder, Zero Hour * George Bandy Jr, Head of Worldwide Circular Economy, Amazon * Jason Pugh, President, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) & Principal, Gensler 2019 * Edward Mazria, Founder & CEO, Architecture 2030 /

The 2030 Challenge ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

* Amanda Sturgeon, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI) *

Terry Tamminen Terrance Arthur Tamminen (born March 7, 1952) is an author, lecturer, and strategist on energy and the environment. In 2003, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him as Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ...

, CEO, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation 2018 *

Jason McLennan Jason F. McLennan (born 1973) is an architect and prominent figure in the green building movement. He is the founder, former chair, and current board member of the International Living Future Institute and Cascadia Green Building Council, a chapte ...

, Founder, Living Building Challenge * Mahesh Ramanujam, CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) 2017 * Dr. Chris Luebkeman, Fellow, Director for Global Foresight, Research and Innovation, Arup * R Rex Parris, Mayor, City of Lancaster California 2016 * Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO,

Thirst Project The Thirst Project is a non-profit organization whose aim is to bring safe drinking water to communities around the world where it is not immediately available. The Thirst Project raises money and builds Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene projects in ...

Notable Trailblazer Award Winners

2023 * Sara Neff, Head of Sustainability, Lendlease Americas * Indigo Teiwes, Director of Corporate Responsibility,

Helen of Troy Helen of Troy, Helen, Helena, (Ancient Greek: Ἑλένη ''Helénē'', ) also known as beautiful Helen, Helen of Argos, or Helen of Sparta, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believe ...

(parent company of brands: OXO, Hydro Flask, Osprey) 2022 * Darcy Shiber-Knowles, Director of Operational Sustainability & Innovation, Dr. Bronner’s * Andrew Bohenko, Sustainability Coordinator,

Mercedes-Benz Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Opened in August 2017 as a replacement for the Georgia Dome, it serves as the home stadium of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) ...

* Lindsay Baker, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI) / Living Building Challenge 2021 * Xavier Roussel, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Dole Food Company * Ellen Jackowski, Chief Impact Officer (CIO) & Head of Sustainable Impact, HP * Nicole Whiteman, CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 2020 * Denis Hayes, Chairman & President, Bullitt Foundation, and Founder of

Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 b ...

Janine Benyus Janine M. Benyus (born 1958) is an American natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author. After writing books on wildlife and animal behavior, she coined the term Biomimicry to describe intentional problem-solving design inspired ...

, Co-Founder, Biomimicry Institute *

Rick Fedrizzi Rick Fedrizzi is the founding chair and former CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). During his tenure at USGBC, he oversaw the creation of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Early life and educat ...

, Co-Founder & former CEO U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Chairman & CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) / WELL Building Standard *

Jason F. McLennan Jason F. McLennan (born 1973) is an architect and prominent figure in the green building movement. He is the founder, former chair, and current board member of the International Living Future Institute and Cascadia Green Building Council, a chapte ...

, Founder, Living Building Challenge * Elizabeth Heider, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Skanska * Gabrielle Bullock, Director of Global Diversity & Principal, Perkins&Will *

Wanda Dalla Costa Wanda Dalla Costa is a practicing architect and professor who has been co-designing with North American indigenous communities for nearly two decades. Her teaching and research focuses include indigenous place-keeping, culturally responsive desi ...

, Founder, Indigenous Design Collaborative 2019 *

Steven M. Hilton Steven Michael Hilton (born November 9, 1950) is an American philanthropist. He is the son of hotel magnate Barron Hilton, and grandson of Conrad Hilton who founded the Hilton Hotels chain. Steven Hilton is the chairman of the Conrad N. Hilton F ...

, Chairman,

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an American non-profit charitable foundation, established in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur Conrad Hilton. It remained relatively small until his death on January 3, 1979, when it was named the principal beneficiary ...

Nancy Sutley Nancy Helen Sutley led the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for five years during the administration of Barack Obama. She was unanimously confirmed for that post by the United States Senate on January 22, 2009. The CEQ coordinates ...

, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power * Lauren Sparandara, Sustainability Partner, Google * Will Vicent, Deputy Director of Building Standards, California Energy Commission * Lauren Faber O'Connor, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

References

{{Reflist Conferences Annual events Recurring events established in 2014