Landscape Architecture Meets Climate Change Science, Policy and Design at the Grey to Green Conference June 1-4 In Toronto, Online Reg Closes May 29
5/2/2016Leave a Comment
With 2015 being the hottest year on record, it is becoming increasingly obvious that something is very wrong with our climate. About three months ago, you may recall, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded threatened to wipe Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from the map. Thankfully it lost much of its lethal power before making landfall. In today's paper, there is an article about snakes migrating northward in response to climate change, and the challenges that bumblebees are now facing due to warming temperatures. To the far southern reaches of our planet, incomprehensibly large Antarctic ice sheets are breaking away from the land, and slipping into the ocean. Their mass is so enormous scientists say that they will inevitably raise the level of the oceans and destroy many of our coastal cities.
In the face of such dramatic changes, we need to reduce greenhouse gases rapidly, while adapting quickly to the changes that are already upon us. There are huge opportunities in preparing for extreme weather events, such as severe storms which bring expensive floods, and extreme heat.
The 4th Annual Grey to Green Conference (www.greytogreenconference.org) in Toronto June 1-4, 2016 is about green infrastructure and its ability to provide scientifically proven solutions to the mitigation and adaptation challenges of climate change. Landscape Architects are in the climate solutions business! Green roofs, green walls, bioswales and urban forests can help us mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption directly in buildings and indirectly by reducing the urban heat island effect. Green infrastructure can be designed to capture and retain huge volumes of stormwater from the roofs, the walls to the streets and so on. This helps us reduce the risk of flooding, which is costing billions in insurance claims. At Grey to Green we will explore the wide breadth of opportunities that living technologies provide that will allow us to prepare for climate change and make our cities more livable.
Grey to Green starts on Tuesday June 1st with training courses on subjects like rooftop agriculture, green walls design, advance green roof maintenance, and a low impact development course all of which are CEU elligible. The conference the formally kicks off on Wednesday morning at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto, with over 50 expert speakers from Canada and the U.S., including Barbara Deutsch, Executive Director of the Landscape Architecture Foundation. There are research, design and policy sessions, covering topics ranging from the urban heat island mitigation and green streets policies to stormwater utilities and green infrastructure for renewable energy systems.
Toronto is a multicultural, safe, walkable and food oriented city. The evening reception and craft beer tasting will take place at the Amesterdam Brewery and Restaurant located on the beautiful Toronto Waterfront. There will be guided tours of the internationally recognized H20 Gardens and Music Gardens on the waterfront. We also provide you with ample opportunities to explore Toronto, a world class city bursting with arts and culture. Given the current strength of the US dollar, American attendees can expect to save about 30 per cent on all of their expenses. We look forward to seeing you a Grey to Green where we will advance our collective ability to take on the challenge of climate change. www.greytogreenconference.org