Developing and implementing solutions for climate change challenges through technologies, markets, financial mechanisms and partnerships

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Karl Schultz is creator of the climate vulnerability reduction credit (VRC™) mechanism for evaluating and sustainably funding climate change adaptation, and serves as the Executive Chairman of The Higher Ground Foundation, the organization that develops and manages the VRC Standard, tools and programs. He has worked in developed and developing countries worldwide, for local, regional, and national governments and in the private sector. His current work focuses on climate adaptation economics and finance, climate change and cities, vulnerability reduction monitoring, evaluation, and crediting.

Sustainability in law & policy, adaptation & resilience, regulatory innovation & soft law

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Ira Feldman is a US-based sustainability leader positioned at the leading edge of the convergence of sustainability, climate adaptation and ecosystem services.  As a practitioner, policymaker, standards developer and academic, Ira has led a diverse range of environmental and climate initiatives.  In the legal arena, he previously served as special counsel at US EPA headquarters and as chair of the ABA’s climate and sustainability committee.  His work has explored the role of ES&G factors in the financial sector; the implications of "soft law" or "private law" – especially international voluntary standards -- for business and government; the use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to advance sustainable development and resilience; and the emergence of blockchain governance.

Transformational change for transformational change

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Tom Baumann has over 20 years experience and has worked with hundreds of organizations in the climate, cleantech, sustainability and digital space. In 2019 Tom was recognized as as a Top 100 Fintech for SDG Influencer.  Tom’s focus is to innovate new technology-based solutions for more robust collaborative governance systems, knowledge management, capacity building and market operations to enable strategic solutions to sustainability issues.  Tom has co-founded several startups since 2007: ClimateCHECK, the GHG Management Institute, Collaborase (online collaboration software for Standards 2.0 and Nextgen governance), Xpansiv (Blockchain-enabled platform), and the Climate Chain Coalition. Tom is on the Faculty of the Blockchain Research Institute and a Fellow of the Global Solution Networks.

Coastal resilience policy & law, emerging technology product development for climate adaptation

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Dr. Lisa Granquist’s research focuses on the environmental, legal, regulatory, and economic impacts of coastal shoreline change and coastal resilience strategies, the legal and policy frameworks that could facilitate local and regional resilience adaptation implementation, and the interaction of stakeholders in the adaptation decision-making context. She has advanced climate adaptation partnerships in academia and practice. ​Dr. Granquist has worked extensively with international teams in disruptive adaptation technology and emerging markets business development and nonprofit management.

Low-carbon, climate adaptation and sustainability risks, opportunities and strategic transformation

 

David Greenall is the Founder and Managing Director of VIRIDI - a strategy and innovation consultancy focused on catalyzing novel solutions for a sustainable future. David is the National Focal Point (Canada) on behalf of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for ARISE (Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies) initiative.  He is also a founding member of the Board of Directors of NovaSphere – a Canadian not-for-profit focused on advancing the application of disruptive innovations, technology and finance to address climate and sustainability challenges. He has extensive experience in advising public and private sector organizations, specializing in assisting clients to integrate climate into business strategy and execution, investments, operations, and culture.

Quantitative sustainability and ES&G risk

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Jason Libersky excels at using data, analytics, and creativity to identify opportunities that drive value.  He combines data/technologies/systems to leverage the opportunity; creates teams to maximize that opportunity; and engages stakeholders to socialize, commercialize, and create the new market(s). For the past decade Jason has been at the forefront of commodity differentiation, new ES&G products & risk metrics, indices, and other innovative solutions to fill market gaps.

Climate adaptation and vulnerability reduction metrics, clean energy

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Linus Adler is strategic climate change/adaptation and clean energy consultant with over a decade of experience in helping clients develop a strategic understanding of the implications of energy and climate policy, with a particular concentration on work national energy and climate policy. As a co-founder of the Higher Ground Foundation, he contributed to the initial drafting of the VRC Standard Framework and has provided technical analysis and modeling of the impacts of climate change develop methods for quantifying project baselines, climate impacts, and project outcomes. For Adaptation Ledger, he is currently supporting the translation of Higher Ground adaptation project software into code for a coastal defense app. 

Indigenous communities and climate adaptation

 

Blake Gentry is an international program and policy expert with 20 years of experience in indigenous community health, development, and climate change adaptation.  He has served as adjunct faculty and research associate at the University of Arizona, including in the public health, geography and international development, and Mexican-American Studies programs.  A member of the Cherokee Nation, Blake has a portfolio of projects reflecting his interaction with more than fifty indigenous nations, principally in Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, United States and Canada. With his expertise in policy and governance issues as they relate to local communities around the world, Blake is assisting A-L in the commercialization of digital applications for climate adaptation opportunities for agricultural supply chains and smallholder farmers.