Free Climate Topics in Chicago
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3: Browse for a topic, Click the orange request button, Fill out the contact form.
Now the speaker will contact you in the next few days to coordinate details.
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Climate Change in Illinois and Chicago: Impacts, Forecasts and Solutions
Cynthia Linton, Chair, Climate Reality Project: Chicago Metro Chapter
Although Illinois is not on a coast facing sea level rise, or in a severe drought area beset by wildfires, or in the South with it's increasingly severe hurricanes, we do have some serious climate impacts here in Illinois and they will grow in the future. Learn about severe weather, flooding and extreme heat in the Midwest and how Illinois and Chicago can cope with the changes. MORE >
Linton will talk about what steps local and state government are taking and what you can do as residents. -
Solutions to Climate Change
Andrew Panelli, Group Leader, Chicago South Suburbs, Citizens' Climate Education
Here’s an opportunity to engage your audience in a fun way to learn more about the climate change issue, solutions, and the relative effectiveness of those solutions. As part of the exercise, we discuss various actions that can be taken. The audience is engaged to offer suggested solutions to slow climate change. MORE >
Our trained facilitator will show the group how each suggested action(s) will impact climate change on a MIT/Sloan simulator that will model their proposed solution(s) instantly in “real-time”. This stimulates discussions as to why an action may or may not be as effective a course of action as expected. We’ll also share bipartisan actions that Congress is considering and evaluate what impact those actions have on climate change.Participants leave the discussion with new insights on how the problem should be addressed.
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Mitigation and Adaptation Solutions to Climate Change
Kristina Murphy, Meteorologist, Water Resources Engineer, Confluence Climate Consulting
Solutions for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change to public health and infrastructure. Individuals and organizations can take actions to improve our environment.
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En-Roads Climate Simulator
Mark Ailes, Climate Advocate, Citizens Climate Education
Can the audience solve the climate problem? They get to pick the levers they think will have the biggest impact and see what happens. Climate Interactive and MIT Sloan have worked together to build a simulator with most of the variables in a world wide climate model. I have been trained to run a workshop using the model that has also been used by the US Senate. It is interesting to see what is needed to solve the problem and what factors make the biggest difference. (About 1 hour) MORE >
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The Issues & Solutions to Climate Change
Henry Moss, Outreach Educator, Citizens Climate Lobby Education
Climate Change is humanity’s greatest challenge. Its solution depends on innovative policy and low-carbon technology that will catalyze and accelerate the global transition to a clean energy economy. Henry’s presentation will increase awareness of the urgency of Climate Change and how your members can be part of the solution to Climate Change. MORE >
Presentation Overview:
How to be part of the solution to Climate Change
The importance of political will
The basics of Climate Change
The urgency of Climate Change
An innovative bipartisan policy solution
Pricing carbon to accelerate technical solutions
Renewable energy to grow our economy & jobs -
Electric Vehicle Total Cost of Ownership and Role in Sustainability
Tom Coleman, Sustainability Analyst, Climate Reality Chicago Metro Chapter
Tom discusses electric vehicle (EV) costs from battery manufacturing to charging to driving. He also discusses a comparison of internal combustion engine and EVs on pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs. Other points covered are: MORE >
• The current state of EV range and charging.
• The role of hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, fuel-cell (hydrogen) electric, and battery electric vehicles.
• Automaker initiatives and EV availability.
• The value proposition of EVs. -
History and current importance of drainage for a healthy and sustainable Chicago Region
Richard Lanyon, Consultant, Retired Executive Director, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Richard will discuss how the flow in the Calumet and Chicago Rivers was reversed, why this is still important today to protect public health, and how current water infrastructure reduces flood damages, provides recreation, recovers resources and protects Lake Michigan as a clean and safe source of water. Richard’s topics can be tailored to your local interests. MORE >
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How I Became a Climate Advocate.
Mark Ailes, Climate Advocate, Citizens Climate Education
My climate story. A brief tour of how as an active bicyclist I became an advocate for national action on climate change. In particular how an effective nonpartisan solution became a large focus of my retired life. Followed by a question and answer session focused on the interests and concerns of the audience about solving the climate problem. (30 minutes to 1 hour) MORE >
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Flood Inundation Mapping
Kristina Murphy, Meteorologist, Water Resources Engineer, Confluence Climate Consulting
Flooding causes billions of dollars of damage every year. To become resilient to flooding, there are a number of actions that can be taken. Having a dynamic, real-time model simulation of the river elevations and those forecast in the future can be useful in evacuations and preventing damages.
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What You Eat and How It Affects the Climate Crisis
Cynthia Linton, Chair, Climate Reality Project: Chicago Metro Chapter
Diet and food waste are two major drivers of greenhouse gases that cause the planet to warm. Learn the facts about food impacts and have a lively discussion about how you would be willing to change your diet to fight climate changes.