In celebration of Earth month, the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability and the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF), both based at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, hosted the sixth annual Climate Forward conference on April 3.
The event, held at USC’s University Park Campus, featured experts from both sides of the political aisle debating and discussing climate change issues, practical solutions, and political obstacles to implementing change.
Garret Graves, a former Republican U.S. Representative from Florida, and Barbara Boxer, former Democratic U.S. Senator from California, discussed “Climate Policy and the Two Parties: The Search for Common Ground” with USC Dornsife’s Bob Shrum, director of the CPF.
Jennifer Granholm, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, outlined “A Battle Plan for the Next Four Years of Climate (In)Action” with Joe Árvai, Dana and David Dornsife Chair, Wrigley Institute director and professor of psychology, biological sciences and environmental studies.
Republican pollster David Hill, director of Hill Research Consultants, and CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy discussed political trends impacting electric vehicle adoption among red and blue states.
Held annually, the Climate Forward conference brings together leaders from across the political spectrum to explore nonpartisan solutions to the challenges associated with the changing climate. Speakers at past events include former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.