North Austin News

Members of the Office of Sustainability have participated in various national and global climate events this fall. These events allowed them to share their work and build relationships with other climate leaders.

Chief Sustainability Officer Zach Baumer was invited to present at New York Climate Week, described as "the biggest annual climate event of its kind." He joined a panel titled Adapt Together: Urban Neighborhoods Against Climate Change, focusing on urban development's role in climate adaptation and equity.

In October, the team attended the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) annual meeting in Minneapolis. Shannon Stewart, Public Information & Marketing Manager, remarked on the importance of connecting with others working on climate action. She highlighted the impact of hearing from those affected by recent climate disasters in North Carolina and Florida, emphasizing the urgency of their work.

Meanwhile, Rohan Lilauwala, Climate Project Manager, represented the office at the Gwangmyeong Carbon Neutral International Forum through the Sister Cities program. This initiative fosters long-term partnerships between international communities. The forum included participants from Korea, the United States, Germany, Japan, and China. It provided a platform for sharing best practices and identifying solutions for carbon neutrality goals.

Lilauwala noted that "international cooperation, cultural understanding, and intellectual curiosity" are crucial for effective climate policies that adapt to local needs. He emphasized that successful approaches require flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

The Office of Sustainability aims to integrate these insights into their ongoing initiatives to address climate change creatively and innovatively.