Aspen Ideas: Climate Program Tracks

Our program tracks guide conversations among global and local policymakers, scientific experts, corporate leaders, inventors and innovators, artists, young leaders, influencers, and engaged members of the public.

Our 2025 Program Tracks are:

The built environment is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for up to 40% worldwide. Decarbonizing this sector is a significant challenge, but also an extraordinary opportunity. Drawing inspiration from Chicago’s history of architectural innovation, hear leaders highlight some of the promising pathways toward this goal. From innovative partnerships and breakthrough technologies to sustainable building materials, explore solutions to reducing emissions and fostering healthier and more livable spaces.

With cutting-edge innovations in the agriculture and conservation sectors just under foot, hear from global leaders on food as a powerful solution for communities and the climate, nature’s essential force for resilience, the future of agriculture, and sustainably managing water in a time of record demand. The Midwest is a key driver of trends in these sectors throughout the broader U.S. and across the globe, and the Great Lakes alone represent 21% of the world’s surface freshwater.

With the circular economy unlocking environmental and economic benefits, increased domestic production of energy infrastructure and sustainable products, and businesses developing the next era of building materials to decarbonize hard to abate industries, hear what designs the next decades have in store. Centered in one of the nation’s largest manufacturing hubs, this track will draw on the Upper Midwest’s leadership in ushering in this next era of sustainable products and industrial innovation.

The global energy landscape is evolving rapidly, with demand surging and a suite of innovative  technologies and solutions emerging to meet this unprecedented  demand. Explore how these cutting-edge solutions—spanning technology, policy, workforce development, community engagement, and financing—can meet this growing demand while advancing grid modernization, reliability, security, and economic development.

With effective messaging at the heart of effective policymaking, hear from poets, artists, meteorologists, and other unconventional climate communicators, on how we can better craft and share our narratives, educate the next generation, and advance climate solutions. Home to countless research institutions, an iconic mix of art and cultural centers, and a comedy hub, experience Chicago, one of the most vibrant and compelling art and education scenes in the world.

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