The Western New York Environmental Alliance’s 9th Annual Environmental Congress was a future-oriented forum, exploring innovative solutions for a cleaner and more sustainable Western NY. WNYEA brought together a panel of climate action leaders to engage in proactive and critical discussion surrounding the solutions being offered, their impacts on the WNY community and implications for climate justice. The panel represents a range of point of views, including environment, science, social justice, local government, faith, labor, and business. Panelists: Science – Jason Briner, Associate Prof. of Geology, University at Buffalo Social Justice – Anne Petermann, Executive Director, Global Justice Ecology Project Public Sector – Brendan Mehaffy, Executive Director, Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning Business – Joseph Mendelson, Director, Policy & Electricity Markets and Regulatory Counsel, Solar City Labor and Economic Justice – Franchelle C. Hart, Executive Director, Open Buffalo Environment – Adrienne Bermingham, Roots & Shoots Program Coordinator, The Jane Goodall Institute Faith – Rev. Shirley Chan, Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ / Disciples of Christ Moderator: Robert Shibley, Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo & One Region Forward MC: Ryan McPherson, Chair of the Board of Directors, Western New York Environmental Alliance Poets | Youth Ambassadors from the Just Buffalo Writing Center (JBWC): Lucy Handman, City Honors High School Beckett Lovullo, Olmsted School #156 Birch Kinsey, Home-Schooled and works at the Mass Ave Project Thanks to our partners The Western New York Rise Up for Climate Justice and The Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable. And thank you to our event sponsor The Buffalo Museum of Science.
