State and Local Climate Policy Symposium

As the federal climate landscape grows increasingly uncertain, states and local governments are emerging as the laboratories of climate innovation—and the front lines of implementation. From energy affordability and housing to food systems, infrastructure, environmental justice, and climate resilience, many of the most consequential climate policies are now being shaped in state legislatures, city halls, public utility commissions, and local communities. 9 - 9:50: Climate's Trojan Horse? Leveraging the Insurance Crisis for Climate Action - Elyse Schupak, Policy Advocate at Public Citizen - Frances Sawyer, Founder and Principal at Pleiades Strategy - Chris Kocher, Co-Founder of Extreme Weather Survivors Moderated by: The Sunrise Project, Jason Schwartz 10 - 11:15 Climate Leadership in Every Community: A Conversation with NY's Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus Leaders - Assemblymember Amanda Septimo - Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha - Assemblymember Emerita Torres - Assemblymember Jennifer González-Rojas Moderated by: Vanessa Fajans-Turner, EANY Executive Director and Chair of the Caucus, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages 10:30-11:30 - Feeding People, Not Landfills: Policy Solutions that Tackle Food Waste and Food Insecurity - Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson - Niamh Moore, Director of Healthy Communities at EANY - Ora Kemp, Senior Advisor at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy - Steven Deheeger, Associate Director of Advocacy at City Harvest Moderated by: Alexandra Payne, Managing Director, Amplify: Food Systems and Strategy 11:30 - 12:30 - Housing Is a Climate Issue - Mark Chambers, Executive Director of Terreform ONE - Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President at Regional Plan Association (RPA) Moderated by: Adam Zurofsky 11:30 - 12:30 - States Under Pressure: Resisting Federal Climate Rollbacks - Assemblymember Steve Otis - Kacy Manahan, Senior Attorney at Delaware Riverkeeper - Hilary Flint from Center for Oil & Gas Organizing - Tony Luisi, Council at Department of Environmental Conservation Moderated by POLITICO 1 - 2: The Politics That Shape Utility Policy ​​- Peter Hubbard, Georgia Public Service Commissioner - Sara Enright, Senior Director of Safety and Sustainability at Consumer Reports - ​Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director and Counsel of Public Utility Law Project of New York (PULP) Moderated by POLITICO 2 - 3: The Data Center Dilemma: Building Smart Policy for the AI Era - ​Dr. Anna Kelles, NY Assemblymember - Lucie Drummond, Senior Director of Market Policy at Voltus - Jon Binder, Executive Director of the Model Climate Laws Initiative and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Sabin Center. Moderated by POLITICO