Net Zero Conference Explained

Net Zero Conference
Genre:	Conference
Frequency:	Annually
Location:	Los Angeles
Years Active:	10 years
First:	2014
Founder Name:	Drew Shula
Next:	September 17-18, 2024
Organised:	Verdical Group
Url:	https://netzeroconference.com/

The Net Zero Conference is one of the largest annual conferences in the world dedicated to net zero design.^[1] The conference provides tools and knowledge about ways for buildings, products, and corporate operations to transition to net zero,^[2] such as moving away from fossil fuel use.^{[3] [4] [5]}

The Net Zero Conference is hosted and produced by Verdical Group, a sustainability and green building consulting firm. The conference focuses primarily on the built environment due to the fact that approximately 40% of global carbon emissions come from buildings,^[6] 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.^{[7] [8]}

Since 2019, the Net Zero Conference has featured the annual Trailblazer Awards Gala,^[9] which awards leaders who have made a positive impact on people and the environment.^{[10] [11] [12]}

Verdical Group founder and CEO, Drew Shula, created the Net Zero Conference in 2014.^[13] In its first year, the conference had approximately 100 attendees.^[14] As of 2023, the conference has grown to more than 1,500 attendees from 53 countries and 45 U.S. states.^[15]

The Net Zero Conference has previously been held at the LEED Gold certified Los Angeles Convention Center,^[16] 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,^[17] and Forbes^[18] and has been used as a platform for major announcements by USGBC and the World Green Building Council.^[19]

Notable Net Zero Conference keynote speakers^[20]

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
• William Bridge, CEO, Global Green

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 and two-time Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate
• Jamie Margolin, Co-Founder, Zero Hour
• Zanagee Artis,  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
• Amanda Sturgeon, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI)
• Terry Tamminen, CEO, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

2018

• Jason McLennan, 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

2016

• Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO, Thirst Project

Notable Trailblazer Award Winners

2023

• Sara Neff, Head of Sustainability, Lendlease Americas
• Indigo Teiwes, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Helen of Troy (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 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
• Janine Benyus, Co-Founder, Biomimicry Institute
• Rick Fedrizzi, Co-Founder & former CEO U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Chairman & CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) / WELL Building Standard
• Jason F. McLennan, Founder, Living Building Challenge
  • Elizabeth Heider, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Skanska Gabrielle Bullock, Director of Global Diversity & Principal, Perkins&Will
• Wanda Dalla Costa, Founder, Indigenous Design Collaborative

2019

• Steven M. Hilton, Chairman, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
• Nancy Sutley, 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2019-09-04 . Net Zero for All: An Interview with Net Zero Conference Event Chair Drew Shula Trim Tab . 2024-05-03 . en-US.
2. Web site: Woodruff . Chloe . 2023-08-28 . Net Zero Conference Coming Soon to Ignite Climate Action . 2024-05-03 . Innovation & Tech Today . en-US.
3. Web site: Woodruff . Chloe . Verdical Group's 7th Annual Net Zero Conference: Building a Net Zero Future . 2024-04-04 . Metropolis . en-US.
4. Web site: 2023-05-26 . Stop F*cking Around – Build Our Zero Carbon Economy Now . 2024-04-04 . Facade Tectonics Institute . en.
5. Web site: Tucker . Ethan . With the Net Zero Conference, Drew Shula Aims to Inspire Radical Transformation . 2024-04-04 . Metropolis . en-US.
6. Web site: April 12, 2024 . Navigating the Path to Net Zero . 2024-08-09 . Metropolis . en-US.
7. Web site: Woodruff . Chloe . 2023-08-28 . Net Zero Conference Coming Soon to Ignite Climate Action . 2024-04-04 . Innovation & Tech Today . en-US.
8. Web site: Meet the Climate Leaders Awarded at this Year's Net Zero Conference . 2024-04-04 . Metropolis . en-US.
9. Web site: Verdical Group: Building a Net Zero Future 1% for the Planet Blog . 2024-04-04 . www.onepercentfortheplanet.org . en.
10. Web site: Backbone . 2022-09-30 . Klean Kanteen Co-Owners Awarded 2022 Trailblazer Award . 2024-04-04 . Outdoor Sportswire . en-US.
11. Mattress . Avocado Green . AVOCADO AWARDED TRAILBLAZER AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP ON CLIMATE . 2024-04-04 . www.prnewswire.com . en.
12. Web site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Receives Trailblazer Award at 2022 Net Zero Conference Mercedes-Benz Stadium News . 2024-04-04 . www.mercedesbenzstadium.com . en.
13. Web site: Admin . 2022-08-01 . Net Zero Conference Q&A with CEO Drew Shula, Verdical Group . 2024-04-05 . Getting to Zero Forum . en-US.
14. Web site: Q&A with Drew Shula, founder of the Net Zero Conference U.S. Green Building Council . 2024-04-04 . www.usgbc.org . en.
15. Web site: About Us . 2024-04-04 . Net Zero Conference . en-US.
16. Web site: Net Zero 2022 Makes the Case for Expanding the Green Movement . 2024-04-04 . Metropolis . en-US.
17. Web site: 2021-09-28 . Steelmakers forge ahead on cleaning up their notoriously dirty… . 2024-04-04 . Canary Media . en.
18. Web site: Steele . Jeffrey . It Is Zero Hour For Net Zero Energy Buildings . 2024-04-04 . Forbes . en.
19. Web site: Thorpe . David . 2018-06-12 . Industry challenged to achieve net zero carbon buildings . 2024-04-04 . The Fifth Estate . en-AU.
20. Web site: [e-mail] . 2023-09-29 . Honoring Past Keynote Speakers and Trailblazer Award Winners . 2024-04-15 . Net Zero Conference . en-US.