Draft:Net Zero Conference

The Net Zero Conference is the largest annual conference in the world dedicated to net zero design. The conference aims to build a net zero future by providing tools and knowledge to transform buildings, products, and corporate operations to net zero. One focus is to move the global economy away from fossil fuels and to begin to drawdown greenhouse gas emissions in the Earth's atmosphere to stop global warming and ease the climate crisis.

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 40% of global carbon emissions come from buildings, but has covered 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. Past winners include companies who have shown that for-profit business can also be a force for good and leaders who aim to influence others toward climate action.

Verdical Group founder and CEO, Drew Shula, has said that he created the Net Zero Conference in 2014 to inspire the growth of the net zero building movement, which was not well known at the time. 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 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. The conference has been used as a platform for major announcements. In 2018, USGBC announced the LEED Zero program for the first time publicly. Also in 2018, the World Green Building Council first announced publicly the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

== Notable Past Net Zero Conference Keynote Speakers == 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

2016
 * Dr. Chris Luebkeman, Fellow, Director for Global Foresight, Research and Innovation, Arup
 * R Rex Parris, Mayor, City of Lancaster California


 * Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO, Thirst Project

Notable Past 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