NYC Food and Climate Justice Summit: Creating a Platform for Change

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW:

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, New York University and Just Food present NYC Food and Climate Summit: Creating a Platform for Change, a day-long feast of workshops, training and action planning. The Summit will bring together some 1,000 community gardeners, family farmers, educators, advocates, elected officials, city government leaders and concerned citizens. The goal of the Summit is to increase awareness and action around our food system's role in climate problems and solutions.

The Summit will be tackling key food and climate change questions, including:

• How and why does our food and agriculture system account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions?
• Why aren't more stimulus funds going to the ultimate "green jobs" sectors...urban agriculture and sustainable farms?
• Why should urban and regional agriculture be indicated in NYC efforts to mitigate climate change?
• What foods and modes of food production have the lowest climate "footprint"?
• Does composting really reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
• How can we increase green jobs and labor rights in food processing, packaging and service work?

The Summit is timed to coincide with a major global UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen and will provide a forum for the NYC community to show global solidarity with climate justice advocates in Copenhagen and around the world. The Summit will result in a Platform for Action to turn Summit-generated ideas into grassroots mobilizations and policy advocacy in 2010.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

REGISTRATION 8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, Lower Lobby

566 LaGuardia Place

MORNING SESSION 9:30AM-11:00AM

Welcome

Lynne P. Brown

Senior Vice President

University Relations & Public Affairs

New York University

Remarks

Hon. Scott M. Stringer

Manhattan Borough President

Jacquie Berger

Executive Director

Just Food

Plenary Session

Anna Lappé

Founder

Small Planet Institute

Marion Nestle

Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies & Public Health

Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

New York University

BREAK 11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS 11:15 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.

Depending on your interest and expertise, you may choose to attend informational sessions, skill-building workshops, or public policy sessions.

Informational

Introduction to food and global warming issues and solutions

Session 1: Introduction to Food and Climate Issues

Skills Building

Hands-on training to promote a climate-friendly food system through individual choice and action

Session 2: Faith-Rooted Climate and Food Justice Organizing

Session 3: Best Practices in Institutional Purchasing

Session 4: Tackle Hunger, Health and Environment in Your Community

Session 5: Grow Food in the Big Apple

Session 6: Cool Food on a Budget: Good Diet for People, Pocketbooks and Planet

Session 7: Cool Food Demonstration: Preservation Without Refrigeration

Session 8: Composting Your Food Waste

Session 9: What’s at Steak: Tips for Talking about Animal Food and Climate Change Connections

Session 10: How to Mobilize around Food and Climate Change Issues

Public Policy

Forum where experts will address current challenges to reducing the climate and environmental impact of the local food system and engage the audience in identifying new solutions

Session 11: Urban Agriculture: Community Gardens, Urban Farms, and More

Session 12: The Food Shed: Promoting Sustainable Local Agriculture

Session 13: Greening Food Infrastructure

Session 14: Setting an Agenda for Child Nutrition, School Food and Food Education

Session 15: From Farm to Landfill: Reducing Food Waste in New York City

LUNCH 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Bring your own, dine in, or dine out!

For those who wish to dine in: you are invited to purchase a tasty bag lunch (locally sourced and vegetarian; cost $9), be sure to select the ticket type with Lunch Voucher when registering for the event.

For those who wish to dine out: a map of local sustainable restaurants will be provided. Or bring your own!

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Depending on your interest and expertise, you may choose to attend informational sessions, skill-building workshops, or public policy sessions.

Informational

Introduction to food and global warming issues and solutions

Session 16: Understanding Your Foodprint

Skills Building

Hands-on training to promote a climate-friendly food system through individual choice and action

Session 17: Cooking Up Climate-Friendly Change: Youth Lead the Good Food Movement

Session 18: Tackle Hunger, Health and Environment in Your Community

Session 19: Grow Food in the Big Apple

Session 20: Cool Food on a Budget: Good Diet for People, Pocketbooks and Planet

Session 21: Cool Food Demonstration: Preservation Without Refrigeration

Session 22: Composting Your Food Waste

Session 23: What’s at Steak: Tips for Talking about Animal Food and Climate Change Connections

Session 24: How to Mobilize around Food and Climate Change Issues

Public Policy

Forum where experts will address current challenges to reducing the climate and environmental impact of the local food system and engage the audience in identifying new solutions

Session 25: Urban Agriculture: Roofs, Walls, and Other Under-Utilized Spaces

Session 26: The Food Shed: Harnessing New Yorkers’ Buying Power

Session 27: Institutional Procurement: Buy Local and Sustainable

Session 28: The Food-Collar Economy

Session 29: Structural Discrimination Related to Food and Climate Change

RECEPTION AND EXPO 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

At the end of the day, join us for a networking reception and informational expo. Sample tasty treats from local food and beverage purveyors, and learn more about organizations working with climate change and food issues.