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Inaugural Atlanta Climate Week Addresses the Metro Region’s Climate and Resilience Goals with Events and Action

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Monday, October 5th, 2026

Organizers of the inaugural Atlanta Climate Week (ACW) today announced a wide-ranging series of events set for Oct. 10 - 15, 2026 around metro Atlanta. ACW will bring together regional leaders, innovators, businesses, academia and community organizations to focus on key climate and resilience goals and to advance Atlanta’s ability to innovate around sustainable solutions.
 
Through speaker events, action days, community activities & climate innovation, ACW will create opportunities to share ideas, build partnership & turn sustainability goals into action.
 
“Atlanta Climate Week will unite changemakers, innovators, and communities to transform bold ideas into climate action,” says Michael Hawthorne, Head of Planning, Atlanta Climate Week, “The week will feature a keynote innovation event with six panels tapping the knowledge of the region’s top climate and sustainability leaders.”
 
Atlanta Climate Week focuses on Atlanta’s climate and resilience goals including: 
  • 100% clean energy for all Atlantans by 2035 
  • 59% greenhouse gas reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050 
  • Fresh, affordable food within a half-mile of every Atlantan by 2030 
  • Reducing the energy burden for the city's most vulnerable households 
  • Building a connected, multimodal transportation system 
 
“Atlanta is one of the most dynamic climate and clean-energy hubs in the country with a community of founders, organizers, and advocates who are already doing the work. The inaugural Atlanta Climate Week will put our global climate action leadership on full display, ” says Chandra Farley, Atlanta’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
 
ACW is part of the worldwide Climate Week Network, bringing local momentum to a global movement of more than 30 climate weeks.
 
Oct. 12 - Keynote Innovation Event
 
Atlanta Climate Week’s keynote event is a daylong “Innovation Event” on Monday, Oct. 12 at SCADshow (1470 Spring St. NW Atlanta, GA 30309).  
 
  1. Date & Time: Mon., Oct. 12, 9am-4pm ET
  1. Ticketing:
    • Early Bird Pricing (through Sept. 27): $25
    • Standard Pricing (Sept. 28- Oct. 11): $35
Topics and Speakers:
 
  • KEYNOTES: 9:30AM-10:00AM
§  Chandra Farley, Atlanta’s Chief Sustainability Officer

§  Nikema Williams, U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th district

  • PANEL 1: 10:00AM-10:45AM: Sustainable Business & Corporate Leadership - ESG, circular economy, sustainable supply chains, responsible business, and innovation.
Coca-Cola- Anisha Joshi, Senior Sustainability Director
Rivian- Grant Garrison, Senior Director, Sustainability
Interface- Liz Minne, PHD, Head of Global Sustainability Strategy

Moderator: Nick Schittone, Yes&

  • PANEL 2: 10:45AM-11:30AM Healthy & Resilient Communities - Public health, air quality, green spaces, food access
Northside Hospital- Jay Dennard, President GHS Foundation & Northside Hospital SVP Governmental & Community Affairs

Moderator: Jon Shieber, Resilience Media

  • PANEL 3: 11:30AM- 12:15PM: Sustainable Fashion - How fashion influences sustainable innovation and public narratives
SCAD- Jens Kaeumie, Associate Dean, School of Fashion & DeSole School of Business Innovation
Vertical Active Wear- Tia Robinson, CEO
Notorious 111- Brandon Rochon, Executive Creative Director

Moderator: Mirtha Donastorg, Atlanta Journal Constitution

  • PANEL 4: 1:00PM-1:45PM: Mobility & Transportation - Public transit, sustainable aviation and smart mobility.
Delta Air Lines- Charlotte Lollar – Director of SAF and Emissions
Atlanta Airport- Dr. Quinta Warren, Senior Director of Sustainability
EVNoire, Mobility Intelligence Consulting Group- Terry Travis, Managing Partner

Moderator: Kelly Yamanouchi, Atlanta Journal Constitution

  • PANEL 5:  1:45PM-2:30PM: The Built Environment - Sustainable buildings, green infrastructure, architecture, real estate development.
Southface Institute- Sam Culpepper, Program Director
JLL- Rex Hamre, VP Sustainability 
Adelaide Steedly, SVP Regulatory, Strategy & Policy Affairs, Atlanta Housing
Moderator: Zachary Hansen, Atlanta Journal Constitution
 
  1. PANEL 6 2:30PM-3:15PM Entertainment & Sports Influence - How entertainment & sports shape narratives, inspire climate action, sustainable innovation
Mercedes-Benz Stadium- Andrew Bohenko, Sustainability Initiatives Manager
Klean Energy Kulture- Corey Dennard, Co-Founder & Award-Winning Music Producer
Renaissance 94- Daniel Blackman, Founder

Moderator: Michael Hawthorne, Electric Kulture

  • FIRESIDE CHAT: 3:15PM-3:30PM
Cherry Street Energy- Michael Chanin, CEO
Moderator: Cynthia Gibson Curry, Metro Atlanta Chamber 
 
Additional Signature ACW Events (Partial list. Click for link to registration)
 
Saturday, Oct. 10 - Atlanta Climate Week Kickoff Celebration. Time: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., Location: Goodie Nation office at The Willoughby
 
Sunday, Oct. 11 - “Climate, Canopy & Community.” Join this short nature hike along Lake Allatoona and then enjoy a plant-based community potluck lunch. Time: 10:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Location: Red Top Mountain State Park, Acworth, GA.
 
Sunday, Oct. 11 - “A Resilient Future” Premiere. A cinematic documentary about how the landscapes closest to us can become part of the Earth’s return to health. Time: 2 - 4 p.m., Location: Tara Theater
 
Monday, Oct. 12 - Why the 2026 Midterms are the Most Important Climate Action Opportunity of the Decade. Time: 1 - 2 p.m., Location: Zoom
 
Monday, Oct. 12 - A Flooded City: Rethinking Infrastructure and Climate Resilience in Metro Atlanta
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Location: 1442 Richland Rd SW
 
Wednesday, Oct. 14, Drawdown Georgia Business Compact All Hands. Time: 3 - 5 p.m., Location: Sheller Tower, 55 5th Street, NW
 
Thursday, Oct. 15 - 2026 Southface Visionary Awards. Celebrates those who have boldly led sustainability efforts. Time: Noon - 2 p.m., Location: Georgia Aquarium
 
Thursday, Oct. 15 - 2026 Climate Resilient ATL Roadshow. Join the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience to celebrate the city’s first community-led and data driven Climate Resilience Action Plan. Time: 6 - 8 p.m., Location: Rivian, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave.