Greater Cleveland embraces green future at Sustainability Summit

Posted by: Laura DeMarco / Photos by Michael Collier and Megan Roth on Wednesday, January 24, 2024

More than 850 registered for largest public-private sustainability summit in the country

The future of Greater Cleveland is green.

A winter storm could not stop hundreds from braving the elements to attend Greater Cleveland Partnership’s second annual Sustainability Summit – which keynote speaker Kaitlin Bergan called “the largest civic-private event like this in the country.”

More than 850 sustainability leaders, CEOs, students and community stakeholders registered to attend the event at the Huntington Convention Center Tuesday.

GCP CEO Baiju Shah

They listened, learned and shared insights and best practices.

Topics included developing a regional climate plan, decarbonization, solar power, talent attraction and much more. The theme of the day was noted by GCP President and CEO Baiju Shah in his opening remarks: “Sustainability is a business imperative that is right for your purpose, right for your people, and right for our planet.”

Shah kicked off the event with a nod to Cleveland’s environmental past – and a focus on the future.

“The summit builds upon a strong regional tradition of sustainability that goes back more than 50 years, a region that sparked the modern environmental movement, leading to the Clean Water Act and the founding of the EPA.”

“We build on that legacy and today we are here to talk about the present and the future. About building a region where we not only make the things that matter, make them smarter and greener. And we are proud that our companies are leading the way.”

The summit has grown from a GCP to committee two years ago to more than 300 attendees last year, and more than double this year.

The main morning panel: The Business Case for Sustainability

GCP Board Chair Paul Dolan, who cited the region’s sustainability strengths.

“We are uniquely suited to be a global leader in sustainable transformation and growth. We have abundant natural resources and a prime location on the Great Lakes –– home to 20 % of the world’s fresh water – a strong, innovative, and diverse business base, visionary leadership, and history of public-private partnerships for the greater good.”

The chair cited a few recent examples of sustainability leadership in Greater Cleveland, such as Lincoln Electric who recently launched a new EV supercharger production facility in Euclid.

Dolan then introduced the morning’s keynote speaker: Kaitlin Bergan, Head of Sustainable Client Solutions for the Americas, at BlackRock. Bergan discussed how the rapidly evolving sustainability space poses opportunities for companies across sectors.

Keynote speaker Kaitlin Bergan.

She noted institutional investors are increasingly focused on sustainability, saying 56% globally plan to increase low-carbon transition options.

GCP Manager of Sustainability Initiatives Emily Keller moderated the main morning panel, which featured industry leaders discussing why sustainability is good for the world, and business.

They included:

Traci Forrester, EVP of Environmental & Sustainability at Cleveland- Cliffs
Chastity McLeod, VP of Sustainability, North America for Nestle
Walter Ripple, VP of Sustainability at Avient
Diana Smirnova, VP of R&D Materials Group, North America at Avery Dennison

Nestle’s McLeod powerfully made the business case for sustainability. “We are leaning into spaces that are novel and new, and in doing so we drive scale,” she said. “Working together … benefits business and the planet.”

GCP CEO Baiju Shah and Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel

Lunchtime featured a conversation between GCP’s Shah and Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel, who spoke about our state’s sustainability and environmental priorities and initiatives.

Director Vogel noted that Greater Cleveland will soon see studies on water sources in the region, emblematic of long-term efforts to protect the future.

Afternoon topics included solar power, innovation and Scope 3 emissions.

The day concluded with a look at what can happen when the private and public sectors come together to protect the region’s water, land and air. It included:

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne
Greater Cleveland Partnership CEO Baiju Shah
Cleveland Foundation CEO Lillian Kuri
City of Cleveland Director of Sustainability and Climate Justice Sarah O'Keeffe

The closing afternoon panel: A Greater Cleveland climate plan.

Shah concluded by imploring attendees to spread the word about “what’s going on” in Greater Cleveland. “Sustainability is occurring. It’s not just vision.”

The panel also include the world premiere of “Partnering Toward a Green Region on a Blue Lake,” a video that featured local sustainability leaders – including those on the panel and other.

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Kevin Johnson, Managing Partner of NextGen Interactive, summed up the power of community.

“If you have private, public and philanthropic and working together, then you have an opportunity to really establish a region as a hub for sustainability.”

As Tuesday’s informative and inspiring discussion proved, Greater Cleveland is on well on its way.

The day ended with networking.

Not only was it the talk on stage about sustainability Tuesday: GCP strove to “walk it like we talk it,” making the event as close to zero waste as possible, working with partners including Rust Belt Riders, Sustainable Cleveland, Energy Harbor, Mills James event producers, Levy Caterers, and the Huntington Convention Center. Efforts included digital signage, reusable plates and flatware, locally sourced foods and volunteers helping separate waste for composting and recycling.

“Efforts like this are so important,” said Robert Kurtz, commercial sales coordinator of Rust Belt Riders. “Conventions and big events can be huge source of single use products. Today we are showing intentionality to sustainability in every point of the process.”