Thousands of people from around the world will convene at the Salt Palace Convention Center (100 South and West Temple) in Salt Lake City from Aug. 26-28, for the United Nations Civil Society Conference to discuss creating inclusive and sustainable cities and communities. Below are summaries of workshops led in part by University of Utah-affiliated scholars.
To connect with University of Utah panelists after the conference, contact Lisa Potter, science writer for University of Utah Communications at lisa.potter@utah.edu or 801-585-3093.
Energy Justice
Aug. 26, 2019 | 5-6 p.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 255B
People from lower socio-economic status spend a larger proportion of their income on energy than more well-off folks. This panel will discuss the communities most affected by energy inequity.
Panelists:
- Daniel Mendoza, Department of Atmospheric Sciences and the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah
- Shelby Stults, community program coordinator, Utah Clean Energy/Empower SLC
- Angela Romero, representative for House District 26, Utah State Legislature
- Joshua Lloyd, deputy director of programs, International Rescue Committee
- Jackie Drury, Utah Community Action
Creating a Sustainability Management Plan
Aug. 27, 2019 | 12-1:15 p.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 225A
This presentation will address how tourism, as one of the world’s largest economies, can contribute to addressing societal, ecological, and economic challenges if done sustainably. It will introduce attendees to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria as a tool for managing sustainable tourism in all types of destinations.
Panelists include:
- Kelly S. Bricker, director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, professor of sustainable tourism, ecotourism and nature-based recreation
- David Randle, president and CEO, WHALE Center, host, Blue Community Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Special Consultative status at the United Nations.
- Richard Jordan, has represented Her Royal Highness Princess Dr. Nisreen El Hashemite at the U.N. for the past 4 years.
Dark Skies
Aug. 27, 2019 | 12-1:15 p.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 151DEF
Worldwide, light pollution is growing twice as fast as Earth’s human population. In response, a new field has emerged that explores the impacts of artificial light and the loss of the night skies through a broad range of disciplines. This workshop will focus on how communities across the world are dealing with this issue and preserving the disappearing dark.
Panelists:
- Daniel Mendoza, co-director, Consortium for Dark Sky Studies, University of Utah
- Ruskin Hartley, executive director, International Dark-Sky Association
- Aubrey Larsen, acting coordinator, Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative
- Aaron Dekeyzer, Living Wasatch
Cities Must Save Themselves from the Nuclear Weapon Threat
Aug. 28, 2019 | 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 255D
The U.N.’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was passed in 2017 and signed by 120 countries. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to advance the treaty. The treaty requires ratification from 50 nations and is only halfway to that milestone. A cities campaign encourages cities to issue proclamations supporting the treaty. About 100 cities have, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Baltimore, Salt Lake City and five others in the U.S.
Presenters:
- Gail Blattenberger, emeritus professor of economics, University of Utah and co-author of Salt Lake City resolution against nuclear weapons
- Representative from the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
- Anna Ikeda, program associate, Office for U.N. Affairs, Soka Gakkai International (SGI)
- Rick Wayman, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
- Christie Marcy, executive assistant, Community Empowerment, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office
- Jennifer Seelig, Ph.D., director, Community Empowerment, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office
- Deb Sawyer, co-author of Salt Lake City resolution against nuclear weapons
- John Prehn, co-author of Salt Lake City resolution against nuclear weapons
University of Utah Sustainability Across Campus and Beyond
Aug. 28, 2019 | 10-11:15 a.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 151G
Working toward sustainability targets requires the involvement of many groups across the University of Utah. This workshop will highlight efforts from the administration, student body, main campus, health campus, facilities and community outreach groups to showcase actionable projects and their outcomes.
Panelists:
- Dan Reed, senior vice president for Academic Affairs, University of Utah
- Angelina DeMarco, doctoral student, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah
- Chris Benson, manager, Facilities Department of Sustainability & Energy, University of Utah
- Dean McGovern, executive director, Bennion Center, University of Utah
- Daniel Mendoza, Department of Atmospheric Sciences and the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah
Salt Lake County Health Department Climate Action Plan
Aug. 28, 2019 | 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 151G
In 2017, the Salt Lake County Health Department released a climate adaptation plan. Climate adaptation was too reactionary, so a committee was formed to make a climate actionplan. The session will discuss how the county will reduce carbon emissions and lessen the impact of climate change from the perspectives of the science, policy, industry, communication and non-governmental organizations.
Panelists:
- Daniel Mendoza, chair, Salt Lake County Health Department Climate Action Committee,Department of Atmospheric Sciences and the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah
- Royal DeLegge, director of environmental health, Salt Lake County Health Department Climate Action Committee
- Jennifer Eden, faculty, Westminster College, formerly on the Utah Air Quality Board
- Lindsay Beebe, Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club
Global Mental Health Initiative
Alexander Au, recent graduate, University of Utah School of Medicine
Salt Palace Convention Center Exhibit Hall, Booth 721
This presentation addresses the importance of health care in building sustainable and inclusive cities and communities. Au is developing a mobile app to address the growing need for mental health resources in areas where psychiatrists are scarce or nonexistent. He will be specifically highlighting suicide and how this app can provide tools for physicians and improve data collection for the World Health Organization. Au will present at the top of each hour on the days and times below.
- 26, 2019 | 12-4 p.m.
- 27, 2019 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- 28, 2019 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m.