Key points of the Bloomberg Green Festival in Seattle

Seattle, Washington – Marking a major turning point in the city’s persistent dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship, Seattle was the host for the Bloomberg Green Festival. The event showcased creative ideas and solutions meant to address climate change to participants from across the country.

Starting with a variety of events including keynote speeches, performances, and a special restaurant and bar series, the festival transformed the city into a center for environmental conversation. Some of the most important events of the festival took place on the “Green Stage,” which was also the main venue. Among these was an emotional speech by Mayor Bruce Harrell of Seattle stressing the uniting power of environmental projects.

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“Climate work could be the biggest unifying element in this country — in this world – if we do this right,” Mayor Harrell said, highlighting the inclusive nature of Seattle’s approach to sustainability.

Mayor Harrell also spoke on major local investments in clean energy and green jobs, highlighting the diversity in these new prospects.

Courtesy of City of Seattle

“Mayors get things done… We just invested another 2.24 million into the Clean Energy and Career Pathways Program — we are going to place 300 workers, women, and people of color [into clean energy positions],” he added.

This project guarantees that people most impacted by climate change are represented and active in finding solutions in addition to helping the local economy.

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Honored as a “Green Champion,” OSE Director Jessyn Farrell took front stage offering ideas in two main presentations. One session concentrated on turning environmental passion into a profitable career, while the other covered techniques for decarbonizing challenging infrastructure such as hospitals under the historic BEPS Legislation passed in December. A rare point of agreement in a politicized environment, Farrell noted the community-wide agreement on the urgency of tackling pollution.

“Seattle, like everywhere else in the United States, is deeply polarized on a wide [range] of issues, but [reducing emissions is] a place where we [are] able to find a lot of consensus. I think that’s because people across sectors, across our communities get that climate change is happening right now,” Mayor Harrell added.

Courtesy of City of Seattle

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Along with a film competition drawing a lot of interest, the festival included a TED Countdown series including eight experts presenting on different climate-related subjects. The competition’s grand prize of $25,000 went to “Finding Home” by Maria Stanisheva, which poignantly portrays the struggles of climate refugees.

Finishing with a day of outdoor community events, festival attendees interacted directly with the local surroundings, supporting the active, community-led change values of the festival by helping with gardening projects and informative tours.

Courtesy of City of Seattle

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OSE and the City of Seattle commended Bloomberg for selecting Seattle as the point for what many anticipate will continue to be a regular, significant event following the successful end of the Bloomberg Green Festival. Apart from gathering environmental leaders and activists, the celebration established a standard for next joint initiatives in climate change.