CU Boulder launches 75th annual Conference on World Affairs on Wednesday

Apr. 8—Experts from around the world will offer discussions on global climate change at the 75th annual University of Colorado Boulder Conference on World Affairs, Wednesday through Friday.

Music, videos, presentations and discussions will fill two and a half days of learning about climate change. Events are free, open to the public and in-person, with a virtual streaming option available.

Hannah Wood is the interim associate director of operations and programs at CU Boulder and helped organize the conference. She said 88 speakers, local and national, will highlight different aspects and perspectives on climate change.

"There's no more urgent local issue right now than climate change, and we felt that that was really important to highlight this year," Wood said.

She said this year's CWA will cover climate change through many lenses, including the arts, business, science and technology. She also said it will focus on many different perspectives, including discussions on climate anxiety, positive topics and solutions.

The event will feature two keynote speakers, environmental photographer, videographer and CU Alum James Balog and former Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario.

Balog, who is known for his work documenting the human impact on nature, will talk about the environmental damage he has captured and how people can help from 3 to 4:30 pm Wednesday, at Macky Auditorium.

Balog said attendees will see excerpts from films and more than 100 still life photos, including images of endangered wildlife, America's oldest trees, wildfires and work done on retreating glaciers and sea level rise.

"It's going to frame the entire conference," Balog said. "It provides the broad context that the rest of the conference will dig into, it provides context in a captivating visual way."

The second keynote speaker is former Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario, who will discuss the impact corporations have on the planet. Chancellor Philip DiStefano will join Marcario to facilitate a discussion from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, also at Macky.

The conversation is on leadership in the age of climate change, and the two will discuss a range of topics about the role of businesses in climate policy, the need for action and practical examples of action businesses can take.

"Though the situation we face is complex and dire, there is much good work to do to reverse and mitigate the damage caused by the climate crisis and business has an important role to play," Marcario said. "I hope people we walk away inspired to act."

Balog said he hopes those who attend find "inspiration" and "a new way of thinking about their lives and the world."

Two thousand people are registered for the conference and expected to attend in person, Wood said. To register, see the full schedule of events and for more information, visit colorado.edu/cwa/.