Orlando: Solutions to Advance a Sustainable Energy Future in the City Beautiful

Description

Orlando is one of the most recognized and visited cities in the world but gets its claim to fame for its world-class sports, entertainment, and theme park destinations. But there's an entirely different half of the city that is positioning itself as a City of the Future at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Since 2014, Chris Castro has worked at the city of Orlando as the senior advisor to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, director of sustainability and resilience, and 'Future-Ready' steering committee member, developing a comprehensive set of policies and programs that advance the city's sustainability, climate action, and smart city goals. Castro will discuss his experience in spearheading Orlando's efforts, including specific strategies that are working to accelerate a sustainable energy future.

This webinar is hosted by the School of Advanced International Studies' Energy, Resources, and Environment Program and the Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy.

Christopher Castro is an award-winning sustainability professional, clean-energy enthusiast, and eco-entrepreneur with a passion to advance smart, resilient, and sustainable cities in balance with nature. Since 2014, Castro has worked at the city of Orlando as the senior advisor to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, director of sustainability and resilience, and "Future-Ready" steering committee member, developing a comprehensive set of policies and programs that advance the city's sustainability, climate action, and smart city goals.

Castro is best known for his entrepreneurial efforts prior to coming to the city, including co-founder and president of IDEAS for Us, a global UN-accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to incubate and fund innovative projects that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In 2012, Castro also started a clean-energy consulting and development firm called Citizen Energy that operates in Washington, D.C., and in 2013 co-created "Fleet Farming," the renowned urban farming social enterprise program that is redefining local food systems by building organic farms on homeowner lawns, schools, and underutilized land throughout neighborhoods and communities.