WEST: Water, Energy, Smart Technology
The WEST Summit is Sustainable Silicon Valley’s largest annual event, furthering the organization’s mission to lead the Silicon Valley community to a more sustainable future. WEST stands for Water, Energy, and Smart Technology, all critical elements necessary to drive sustainability in our region and beyond.
Climate volatility is placing new risks and costs on our global economy which are largely unaccounted for in corporate business strategy and crisis preparedness. In an era of uncertainty, and without historical data, the impact is difficult to judge. What is clear is that there is a growing need for regional resiliency to severe weather events that cause business and trade interruption and catastrophic loss.
The 2012 WEST Summit is bringing together thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs from business, government, utilities and NGOs to collaborate on innovative solutions and implementation strategies to the impacts of climate change, inspire action and create a new vision for Silicon Valley.
The 2012 Program will examine the problems, solutions, inspiration, implementation, and innovation necessary to catalyze change in Silicon Valley to deal with climate volatility. We will explore entrepreneurial ways to preserve jobs and regional prosperity while supporting our collective planetary life-support systems.
Program highlights include:
Problem: Perspectives on Global Trade and Climate Volatility
- Understanding the effect of climate on global trade
- How to monetize the risks and associated costs
- Existing models for catastrophic loss
- Adapting to the new water reality
Solution: Climate Volatility on Supply Chains
- Impacts on trade route and business interruption
- Energy production externalities driving increased fuel costs
- Smart and distributed energy, water and materials support systems
Inspiration: Taking on Unprecedented Challenge
- Revolutionary business models
- The power of collaboration
- Bringing our deepest intentions to action
Implementation: Building Innovative and Entrepreneurial Regional Resiliency
- Distributed energy systems and production
- Smart distribution and planning
- Intelligent resource management
Innovation: Building Regional Resiliency
- Visionary venture capital
- Role of leadership and vision in building the sustainability base
- Sustainability as a driver of economic value
For more information on sponsoring or attending the WEST Summit, contact SSV at sponsorWEST@sustainablesv.org