City of Seattle, WA

07/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/16/2024 17:15

Seattle Hosts First Bloomberg Green Festival, Leaders Discuss Climate Solutions

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Seattle just hosted the first-ever Bloomberg Green Festival! The Office of Sustainability (OSE) was happy to join thousands of people from across the United States to learn about climate and sustainability solutions. Seattle's Mayor Bruce Harrell was a keynote speaker and OSE Director Jessyn Farrell was named a "Green Champion" among 50 other climate leaders in Seattle.

"Climate work could be the biggest unifying element in this country - in this world - if we do this right."

-Mayor Harrell

The festival kicked off with speaking sessions, performances, a restaurant and bar series, and more. The main auditorium was called the "Green Stage." The Green Stage featured many of the festival's big events, including Mayor Harrell's discussion on the role of cities in investing in climate solutions and a diverse and equitable climate workforce.

"Mayors get things done… We just invested another 2.24 million into the Clean Energy and Career Pathways Program - we are going to place 300 workers, women, and people of color [into clean energy positions]. This is the right thing to do because… you are talking to the communities impacted the most by climate change, and they are at the table in a meaningful way."

-Mayor Harrell

Director Farrell participated in two speaking events during the festival. One of these events was a discussion on how to turn your passion for climate into a career. The other was a panel on working to decarbonize complex buildings such as hospitals through the landmark BEPS Legislation, passed last December.

"Seattle, like everywhere else in the United States, is deeply polarized on a wide [range] of issues, but [reducing emissions is] a place where we [are] able to find a lot of consensus. I think that's because people across sectors, across our communities get that climate change is happening right now."

-OSE Director Jessyn Farrell

Other highlights of the festival included a TED Countdown series and a film competition. The TED series featured eight speakers giving presentations on climate-related subjects. The film competition screened five films for attendees to enjoy. The winner of the competition's $25,000 prize was "Finding Home," a film focused on telling the stories of climate refugees directed by Maria Stanisheva.

The last day of the festival was well-spent outside. Attendees lathered up in sunscreen and embarked on community excursions across the city. Participants mulched and weeded at Jefferson Park with Seattle Parks and Recreation, took tours of the Gates Discovery Center, and, for some, said goodbye to sunny Seattle to fly home.

On behalf of OSE and the City of Seattle, we would like to thank Bloomberg for bringing the first ever Bloomberg Green Festival to our city. We aspire to continue being a leader in the fight against climate change.