09 Oct SXSW Eco: Urgency, Hope and Optimism

My experience of SXSW Eco 2014 this week revolved around three words urgency, hope and optimism. These words were spoken by the first keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Bullard, Professor at Texas Southern University, and echoed in the tone of the closing keynote address by Dr. Ernie Moniz, U.S. Secretary of Energy. In the conference sessions I attended, I encountered many speakers and attendees who also reiterated the three words in various ways. Here were optimistic people in action with hope and a sense of urgency about addressing the current challenges of our world. Here are some of the notable presentations and panels from which I gathered inspiration and ideas:

• Climate Change and Vulnerability: A Southern Region Climate Change and Community Resilience Initiative (Dr. Robert Bullard) – Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have organized a climate change initiative to empower the “black and brown” communities to address regional climate change and socioeconomic challenges in the southern U.S.
• Creating Climate Wealth (Ann Davlin, Director Carbon War Room & Jigar Shah, CEO, Jigar Shah Consulting) – Carbon War Room facilitates business solutions to accelerate the adoption of renewable, low-carbon energy sources particularly in transportation and island economies.
• 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Bill Browning & Catie Ryan, Terrapin Bright Green) – Incorporating nature directly and indirectly through nature-inspired patterns into our built environment fosters human health and productivity.
• Collateral Positives (Julie Felgar & Alejandro Rios Galvan, Boeing) – Boeing's jet biofuel pilot project in the United Arab Emirates utilizes aquaculture to create food and generate plant seed oil feedstock for jet biofuel.
• The Ecological City: A Design Workshop (facilitators included Terrapin Bright Green, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and a biomimicry design expert) – Participants gained insights into the incorporation of ecological design and environmental services into park and city planning.
• Beyond the Garage: Collaboration for a Low-Carbon Future (panel included Honda, Solar City, ZIP Car & UT transportation systems professor) – This panel discussed the evolving connections between electrified transportation systems, distributed energy generation and shared transportation systems.
• All of the Above in a Carbon-Constrained World (Dr. Ernie Moniz, U.S. Secretary of Energy) – Secretary Moniz highlighted the significant progress we've made with regard to energy in the last few years, especially in wind generation, solar PV deployment, LED lighting technology and plug-in electric vehicles. The Department of Energy will continue to support the adventure we're all undertaking to evolve our energy economy.