Climate Forward Conference

Seeking Solutions for a Changing Climate

The annual Climate Forward Conference, hosted in partnership with the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and Common Ground Committee, explores politically realistic solutions to the challenges associated with a changing climate.

Past speakers have included U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (pictured), Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman.

Climate Forward 2024

Dates and event information will be released early 2024. Stay tuned!

Climate Forward 2023

Our 2023 Climate Forward theme was “Bridging Divides, Sharing Solutions.” Policymakers, students, artists, and journalists came together to discuss realistic solutions to challenges associated with a changing climate. Watch the full event in the videos below. 

Panel 1: “Finding Common Ground on the Politics of Climate”

  • Val Demings – Former U.S. Representative (D-FL)
  • Adam Kinzinger – Former U.S. Representative (R-IL)
  • Bob Shrum (Moderator)- Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future

Panel 2: “Finding Common Ground in Climate Conversations”

  • Gina McCarthy- First Ever White House Climate Advisor & Former EPA Administrator
  • Bret Stephens- Opinion columnist for the New York Times, editor-in-chief of Sapir
  • Joe Árvai (Moderator)- Director, Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies