Caution | Mandatory Outdoor Water Restrictions

Due to continued dry conditions, mandatory Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions are in place until further notice.

Visit Calgary.ca/restrictions for more information.

Calgary Climate Symposium

Calgary Climate Symposium October 23-27, 2023
Join the conversation and build a greener and healthier Calgary for everyone.

The Calgary Climate Symposium continues the conversation about climate change, shares how it affects Calgarians, what we can do together, and why we need to talk about it.

The Calgary Climate Symposium explores:

  • how Calgary can position itself for a low carbon future and leverage economic opportunities
  • how Calgary can strengthen communities to be resilient to climate change impacts and hazards
  • how we ensure no one is left behind as we look to the future

This year’s Climate Symposium will be held October 23 – 27.

Mark the days in your calendar, and we look forward to seeing you in-person and/or online.

Virtual event program


Thank you to all of our 2022 Climate Symposium Partners


Sessions from the 2022 Calgary Climate Symposium


The 2022 Calgary Climate Symposium included sessions for students of all ages on a broad range of environmental topics. A selection of video recordings from the 2022 Calgary Climate Symposium can be found here.

Have questions about the Calgary Climate Symposium ? Contact ClimateProgram@calgary.ca

October 24

Session #1: Opening & Keynote

The Keynote session speaks to the convergence of Indigenous knowledge and western climate science; Indigenous perspectives on climate change; how Indigenous peoples are changed and are adapting and how they are contributing to the transition to a low carbon economy.

Hetxw’ms Gyetxw, also known as Brett D. Huson, is from Gitxsan Nation of the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Brett has published a series of educational books for children and works with the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg to connect science and Indigenous Knowledges.

Session #2: The cost of inaction vs. the cost of action

This session explores global and localized climatic changes and the economic consequences of climate inaction. Spatially resolved estimates of economic impacts will be translated into a regulatory figure called the Social Cost of Carbon: the most important number you've never heard of.

Session #3: Climate Change 101: What is it and what does it mean for Calgary?

Climate change has become a defining issue of our time, and the majority of Calgarians are concerned about it. In this session, City staff help demystify this complex topic, providing information about what climate change is, how climate change is impacting Calgary, how The City of Calgary is acting and how Calgarians can be part of the solution.

October 25

Session #4: Preparing for climate change: Making our lives and homes more resilient

Extreme heat events, wildfires, severe storms and heavy rainfall are becoming more frequent and intense in Calgary due to climate change. Along with these hazards comes rising insurance costs, health impacts, and property damage. This session, hosted by City of Calgary staff, helps you understand what climate change means for Calgary, what actions you can take to prepare, and what The City of Calgary is doing.

Session #5: What is climate equity? Understanding vulnerabilities and possible solutions in Calgary

The impacts of climate change are not evenly felt across society – the adverse impacts of which are felt disproportionately by equity-deserving people. Equity-deserving groups often lack access to the resources required to protect themselves from climate change impacts and may not have their voices heard in the planning and discussion of climate action. As the effects of climate change increase, so does the urgency of addressing inequity issues. Please join us for a discussion with a range of equity experts presenting important perspectives, from Indigenous ways of knowing to how equity-deserving folks experience climate change in Calgary.

Session #6: How a Zero Emissions Buildings Exchange (ZEBx) can help Calgary reach 2050 climate goals

This session introduces the concept of a Zero Emissions Buildings Exchange (ZEBx) for Calgary. ZEBx is a collaborative industry hub that facilitates knowledge exchange to accelerate market transformation and strengthens the public, private, and civic capacities for zero emissions buildings. Several subject matter experts will be brought together to speak in a moderated roundtable discussion on the general concept of a ZEBx platform, it’s potential to accelerate market transformation and drive local investment, and what is needed to expedite implementation. This session can be viewed as the nucleus of ZEBx Calgary and be used to drive interest from the local business community.

October 26

Session #7: Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA): Ready Business

Disasters can strike without warning. Learn about the risks that might affect your business operations in Calgary, how you can prepare your business ahead of time, and learn what to expect after an emergency or disaster has occurred.

The Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) plans and coordinates services and resources during major emergencies and disasters. We work with city services, emergency responders and other partners, communities, businesses and non-profit agencies to mitigate risks and help Calgary prepare, respond to, and recover from a disaster.

Session #8: Funding opportunities for a low carbon future

Last year, Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Energy Savings for Business (ESB) program opened to applications.

Incentives for a wide range of energy saving technologies and up to $250,000 in funding per project are helping small- and medium-sized businesses save energy and money. Brittany Tran shows what some recipients have already put in place with their funding and what funding/programs are still available.

Natural Resources Canada administers the Canada Greener Homes Grant Initiative, which provides funding (including grants up to $5,000) to homeowners for retrofits to increase energy efficiency and climate resilience. Dinesh Parakh, Manager of Program Policy and Outreach for the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, shares information about the Initiative and how it can help Canadians save money, save energy, reduce emissions, and make homes more comfortable.

City staff shared information about the new Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) launching Fall 2022 and how citizens can access funds for energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. 

Session #9: Urban heat: Cool ways of reducing impacts of extreme heat in Calgary

Climate projections tell us that Calgary will continue to experience increasingly hot summers with longer and more frequent heatwaves. Urban areas are more at risk to extreme heat where daytime surface temperatures can be as much as 10-15°C hotter than rural areas. The impacts on our social, economic, mental and physical wellbeing can be significant, especially for more vulnerable groups. This discussion explores the expected impacts and possible solutions for our warming city, including how Calgarians can act themselves.

October 27

Session #10: Implementing electric vehicle charging in existing condominiums and apartments

As more hybrid and electric vehicles hit the road, condo and apartment buildings will see increasing demand for the supporting charging infrastructure. This presentation highlights what condo boards need to consider with respect to policy and electrical capacity when it comes to the assessment, installation and long-term advantage of EV charging in multi-unit buildings.

Speaking to both EV owners and non-EV owners, this session digs into the ifs-ands-or-buts on the process, costs, and how you can go from thinking about EV charging to charging them. 

Session #11: Electrification: Possible pathways, technologies and innovation

Electrification is a concept identified as both a solution to reducing GHG emissions and an economic opportunity for Calgary. Join representatives from Shell, ENMAX, and Zeno Renewables for presentations on electrification – what is it, and what are the electrification pathways and technologies that will move us towards our 2050 net zero emissions target?

Session #12: Building an equitable solar sector

Join Solar Alberta, a not-for-profit society that has operated as a community and industry hub for over 30 years, along with City of Calgary staff and a representative from Renfrew Community Solar to learn about equity in the solar sector. 

October 28

Session #13: Supporting new net-zero construction & accelerating building retrofits

Federal and local governments, corporations, and investors are committing to and supporting economy wide targets to reach net zero emissions by 2050. With buildings constituting 18% of our national carbon emissions, it is imperative that we accelerate retrofits and go deeper than ever before on carbon reductions.

Session #14: Beyond emissions: People-centred climate actions

Since the inception of the Climate Innovation Fund in 2020, equity has been a key lens for identifying and funding urban climate projects. But what does that mean for Alberta Ecotrust and their partners? Stefanie Drozda and Jessica Lajoie, Program Specialists, discuss Alberta Ecotrust's ongoing approach to meaningfully integrate equity into their climate work.

A selection of video recordings from previous years' Climate Symposium can be found on the City of Calgary's YouTube channel here:

Stay connected


Join the Climate Symposium Mailing List to receive updates, education opportunities throughout the year and when registration opens for 2024.

1 Your personal information is collected pursuant to Section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. Your personal information may be used and disclosed for the purpose of event registration and your participation in sessions at the 2022 Calgary Climate Symposium. Personal information is collected via Eventbrite and disclosed to The City of Calgary (“The City”). For information on Eventbrite’s personal information please visit their website. If you have any questions about this collection, use, and or disclosure of personal information please contact the Environmental Outreach Coordinator at Climate & Environment, Floor 8, Public Building, 205 – 8 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB, T2P 2M5, or call 403-826-7870.

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