Canadian sustainability expert shares climate change strategies

The senior sustainability programs manager for Vancouver, British, Columbia, will share a more pro-active approach to climate change Wednesday. Dave Ramslie will discuss possible new financial opportunities presented by climate change, a departure from the more common warnings of negative consequences, diand dire warnings about altered weather patterns and temperatures. His free presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. at Escent Lighting in downtown Spokane, at W. 605 Spokane Falls Boulevard. It is sponsored by the Cascadia Green Building Council. Ramslie is the second speaker to come to Spokane as part of Cascadia’s Transformational Lecture Series. His presentation will address the failure of international agreements and peer reviewed science in broadly motivating a response to climate change and how cities are now taking the lead in developing meaningful climate change initiatives. Ramslie will also talk about how the topic of climate change has moved from creating fear to becoming an viable economic development opportunity through green jobs and green technology. He oversees and is responsible for the City of Vancouver’s climate change, green building, air quality and electric vehicles programs. Some of his recent projects have included authoring the city’s 2020 carbon neutral buildings strategy, developing Vancouver’s Home Energy Loan Program, its solar city initiative and writing what is widely regarded the “greenest building code” in North America. Dave has taught and lectured on sustainability issues internationally and has served on the Board of Director’s of the Cascadia Regional Green Buildings Council and on Canada Green Building Council’s intergovernmental affairs committee. His work has won national awards from the Canadian Institute of Planners for Vancouver’s EcoDensity Initiative, and from the Canadian Green Building Council, for Government Leadership in Green Building. The 2011 Transformational Lecture Series aims to inspire all building industry professionals and the general public to embrace their roles in creating a sustainable built environment now, as well as ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to all development in the future. Doors open at 5 p.m., and Ramslie’s lecture begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration, although free, is required. To register visit here.