The 20th Annual Municipal Green Building Conference & Expo: JOIN VIRTUALLY, May 21-22 - for Professionals & Community
Join Sustainability Leaders & Youth Voices Reflecting on “The Time is Now”, What is Next for SoCal, and How to be Part of the Green Movement
PLUS: Green Jobs Fair on Day 2
LOS ANGELES (May 11, 2021) The
U.S. Green Building-Los Angeles Chapter’s (USGBC-LA) 20th Municipal Green Building (Virtual) Conference and Expo (MGBCE), the longest-running and largest gathering of leading sustainability and green building advocates (public and private) in Southern California--will offer a central place for discussion on issues ranging from rapid decarbonization to pandemic case studies, from building with equity (inside and out) to a local resilience hub. The speakers and topics at this two-day event, May 21-22, 2021, will embrace the theme “The Time is Now”, a recognition that our actions to combat climate change, while strengthening our adaptive capacity, must be immediate, must be accelerated, and must be intersectional. (For Agenda, Speakers & Registration, please visit
mgbce.online.)
It is our youth that best expresses the urgency. States USC student and “Youth in Action” (Day 2) panelist Sheetal Madnani, “Living in Los Angeles this past year, the environmental injustices faced by low-income communities of color have been made clearer than ever to me. In particular, the higher levels of air pollution faced by certain communities have rendered them more vulnerable to health risks, and the clear inequities faced by these communities in the COVID-19 crisis indicates that it is more urgent now than ever to mitigate the health risks posed by climate change.”
The unprecedented events of 2020 punctuated the urgency of the climate crisis, the pervasiveness of racial inequities and environmental injustices, the deep impacts of housing unaffordability, and the vulnerability of our societal systems to handle extreme disruptions. This year marks the 20th anniversary of MGBCE, and more than ever, sustainable solutions are being recognized as critical pathways to address many of these challenges.
MGBCE will feature its annual AEC industry-focused Municipal Green day on Friday, May 21, and its Community Green day on Saturday, May 22, for anyone working in or curious about the sustainable built environment. The event features speakers, panels, a career fair, workshops, civic awards, networking, tours and the arts. Both days are open to anyone. Friday is free to USGBC-LA members, $75 for non-members; Saturday is free for everyone.
Both days will also include an interactive EXHIBIT HALL, with businesses such as Clean Power Alliance, Connect Homes, Greenscreen, Howard Building Corp. and Trane Technologies; industry organizations such as American Inst. of Steel Construction, ASHRAE, and Assn. of Women in Water, Energy & Environment; and community groups such as Plug In America, Real Estate Assn. of Latinx Professionals, Sierra Club, and T.R.U.S.T. South LA. All the regional utilities will be on hand. The Expo Hall will also feature the new 2021 cohort of startup companies from USGBC-LA’s
Net Zero Accelerator.
Day 1 / Municipal Green (May 21):
The annual lunchtime Power Panel, titled “C40 Cities Race to Zero,” will be introduced by City of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, and feature City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler. The 20th Annual Civic Awards will be presented immediately following the Power Panel, with a lead-in from USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam.
MGBCE will again host the utilities’ annual Gathering of the Green Teams, in two parts. Between the morning session, “Part I - COVID Adaptations for Broader Reach and Deeper Impact”, and the afternoon, “Part II - Climate Action in Corporate America”, the panels of utility representatives will review how COVID may have actually helped accelerate inclusivity and sustainability improvements, and then how businesses are gravitating towards science-based targets and net zero goals.
Four tracks of
sessions—Climate Action & Rapid Decarbonization, Adaptation & Resilience, Equity & Environmental Justice, and Healthy Post-COVID Future—will offer a mix of practical case studies and best practices, notable education, and guidance from thought leaders.
The day will close with a a presentation of the Elected Official Award, followed by a “LA100 Fireside Chat” on Municipal Innovation between Lauren Faber O’Connor, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Los Angeles, and Nancy Sutley, Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, LADWP.
Day 2 / Community Green (May 22):
Day 2’s community programming focuses on career pathways in the green building sector, education for parents and kids, as well as hyper-local projects and youth voices, both of which empower their communities:
- Green Schools workshop sessions will be offered throughout the day
- Green Jobs Fair with active employers, and job listings
- Youth in Action panel; and how architecture students fit in climate crisis
- Project discussions around the new EMJ Park, a resiliency hub in Boyle Heights, and more
The keynote speakers (
announced prior)—Kerry Duggan, CA Sen. Dave Cortese, City of LA’s Capri Maddox, State of CA’s Angela Barranco, and Christopher Locke—will offer a strong “The Time is Now” foundation across both days.
Reflecting on this point in time, MGBCE co-chair Kate Diamond, FAIA, LEED AP, says, “On the 20th Anniversary of the MGBCE, we will gather with a sense of optimism - under the new Administration, the US is recommitting with vigor to the Paris Accord and their Infrastructure Bill is focused on green solutions and green jobs. And at the same time, there is a driving sense of urgency because we know that this decade is our last chance to keep global warming below 1.50 C while addressing equity and justice. Come join us for two amazing days of keynote speeches, enlightening presentations that will send us all back to work with a renewed sense of energy, ready to take on the challenges ahead. We can do this together! We must do this together!”
The conference attracts a wide variety of building industry disciplines, including municipalities, utilities, public agencies, architects, engineers, building owners, contractors, non-profits, and manufacturers. All these groups are working together to create connected cities that succeed in the three E’s: Economic, Environmental, and Equity solutions.
USGBC-LA thanks MGBCE Gold sponsors
SoCalGas, Silver sponsors
Howard Building Corporation and
Southern California Edison, and Bronze sponsors
Clean Power Alliance,
Connect Homes, and
LADWP. Also a special thanks to WriteGirl for youth poets who will contribute to Day 1.
For MGBCE schedule and general information, please visit
mgbce.online or contact Becky Feldman at
Email Contact. For Sponsorship & Exhibitor information, please contact Ben Stapleton at
Email Contact.
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About U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles
USGBC-LA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to creating a prosperous and sustainable future within one generation. Our mission promotes sustainability in LA County's built environment by delivering access to knowledge, resources, recognition and networking. (
www.usgbc-la.org)
About Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo (MGBCE)
Since its inception in 2001, MGBCE has become the longest-running and largest gathering of leading sustainability and green building advocates within both the public and private sectors in Southern California. This annual conference and trade show provides cutting-edge thought leadership, education, and networking opportunities to inform local government agencies, building industry professionals, and the general public about the principles, practices, and products associated with green building. (
https://usgbc-la.org/programs/mgbce/)
Media Contact:
Julie Du Brow, 310-922-1301
julie@dubroworks.com