Building construction and operation accounts for 37% of global carbon dioxide emissions. This jarring statistic, reported in 2021 by the United Nations Environment Programme’s global status report, and those reported over the last several decades have refocused our industry’s efforts from minimizing its negative impact to neutralizing and supporting the recovery of greenhouse gases through innovation in the built environment. Sustainable design and construction practices once considered novel are now critical factors to an industry attempting to stunt the effects of climate change by 2030. Through this program, attendees will learn:

• How the UNEP’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being implemented not only in how projects are designed and built, but how they are approved and funded
• What knowledge, experience, and innovative practices are captured in the mission, vision, and values of firms best positioned to deliver this expertise and/or support
• The process and responsibility of defining, tracking, and reporting sustainability data, seeking accreditation
• If funding from the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and Inflation Reduction Act will impact public work as efficiently as, or in conjunction with, private investment

Moderator: Kyle Goehring – Head of Sustainability, Turner & Townsend 

Kyle leads Turner & Townsend’s sustainability practice across the United States. His experience establishing sustainability goals, evaluating technologies, solutions providers and coordinating delivery teams has enabled the investment of billions of dollars into sustainability programs and reducing carbon footprints across tens of millions of square feet. He has led multi-faceted teams that include design, engineering, construction, finance, and technology professionals and has worked across a wide variety of market sectors. Under Kyle’s leadership, organizations have successfully implemented Net Zero, 100% renewable energy, and climate resiliency programs.

PANELISTS

Daniel A. Zarrilli - Special Advisor, Climate & Sustainability, Columbia University

Daniel Zarrilli is the Special Advisor for Climate and Sustainability at Columbia University where he is supporting the creation of its new, world-leading climate school and advising on pathways to achieve the university’s deep decarbonization goals. He joined Columbia University from the NYC Mayor’s Office, where he served most recently in the role of Chief Climate Policy Advisor.

With senior climate and resilience appointments from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Mayor Bill de Blasio over eight years, Daniel positioned New York City as the global leader in the fight against climate change. Notable successes include launching a comprehensive $20 billion climate adaptation program, aligning the city’s greenhouse gas emission reductions with the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement, divesting the City’s pension funds from fossil fuel reserve owners and investing billions into climate solutions, committing to end the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure serving New York City, and launching a ground-breaking program to embed environmental justice into the City’s decision-making.

Under his leadership in 2019, New York City released its latest long-term strategic plan, OneNYC 2050, which includes bold new actions to confront our climate crisis, address health and wealth inequities, and strengthen our democracy. He also served on NOAA’s advisory committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment, concluded a 3-year term on FEMA’s National Advisory Council, and advised the State of Louisiana on its 2017 Coastal Master Plan update.  He is currently an author on the Fifth National Climate Assessment and serves on the NYC Water Board.

Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Asset Management at the New York City Economic Development Corporation and spent five years with Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation. Daniel is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and holds an MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from MIT and a BS in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University. He resides in Staten Island with his wife and three children.

Clay Han - Strategic Advisory and M&A Analyst, Environmental Financial Consulting Group (EFCG)

Clay is an Analyst on Advisory team at EFCG. Prior to joining EFCG, he worked as an Investment Banking Analyst, assisting companies in M&A transactions, valuations, and other strategic advisory engagements. Clay graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Economics and was also a member of the men’s varsity ice hockey team. In his free time, he enjoys anything outdoors such as golfing, travelling, skiing, and wake surfing. He is also an avid fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds despite being continuously let down year after year (especially in the post-season).

Andel Koester - Director, Karp Strategies

Andel Koester is Director at Karp Strategies, an equity-driven WBE/DBE/SBE-certified urban planning consulting firm. Andel leverages more than 15 years of experience empowering nonprofits, local government, and business leaders to use data, technology, and evidence-based public policy to solve society’s most pressing challenges. She led the firm’s work with Equinor, a global energy company, on their U.S. East Coast portfolio, overseeing community economic development strategy, stakeholder engagement, and policy advisement. Andel also advises NYSERDA on their Tier 4 Large Scale Renewables program. Previously, Andel worked with large corporate clients at FSG to develop their corporate social responsibility strategies; launched and led the impact and data strategy for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities initiative; and managed IBM’s signature philanthropic programs, the Smarter Cities Challenge and City Forward. She also serves as an advisor to the civic tech start-up mySidewalk. Her work has won awards from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and USDA, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and a Webby. Andel holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. in International Studies from Emory University and was a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs in New York. She is a native Spanish speaker and is fluent in German and French.