Net Zero Conference. The Net Zero Conference is one of the largest annual conferences in the world dedicated to net zero design.  The conference provides tools and knowledge about ways for buildings, products, and corporate operations to transition to net zero, such as moving away from fossil fuel use.

The Net Zero Conference is hosted and produced by Verdical Group, a sustainability and green building consulting firm. The conference focuses primarily on the built environment due to the fact that approximately 40% of global carbon emissions come from buildings, but covers a broad array of sustainability topics including: climate change, net zero buildings, environmental, social and governance (ESG), zero waste, social equity, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate resilience.

Since 2019, the Net Zero Conference has featured the annual Trailblazer Awards Gala, which awards leaders who have made a positive impact on people and the environment.

Verdical Group founder and CEO, Drew Shula, created the Net Zero Conference in 2014. In its first year, the conference had approximately 100 attendees. As of 2023, the conference has grown to more than 1,500 attendees from 53 countries and 45 U.S. states.

The Net Zero Conference has previously been held at the LEED Gold certified Los Angeles Convention Center, but will be held at the LEED certified Anaheim Convention Center in 2024. The event has been featured in media publications such as Metropolis, Canary Media, and Forbes and has been used as a platform for major announcements by USGBC and the World Green Building Council.

Notable Net Zero Conference keynote speakers 
2023

 Wawa Gatheru, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist

2022

 Lakisha Ann Woods, CEO, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
 Kate Williams, CEO, 1% for the Planet
 William Bridge, CEO, Global Green

2021

 Jedidiah Jenkins, New York Times Best Selling Author
 Dr. Kimberly Miner, Earth & Climate Scientist, NASA
 Marcius Extavour, VP Energy & Climate, XPRIZE
 Caroline Choi, SVP Corporate Affairs, Southern California Edison
 Ashley Orgain, Chief Impact Officer (CIO), Seventh Generation

2020

 Winona LaDuke, Executive Director, Honor the Earth and two-time Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate 
 Jamie Margolin, Co-Founder, Zero Hour
 Zanagee Artis,  Co-Founder, Zero Hour
 George Bandy Jr, Head of Worldwide Circular Economy, Amazon
 Jason Pugh, President, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) & Principal, Gensler

2019

 Edward Mazria, Founder & CEO, Architecture 2030 / The 2030 Challenge
 Amanda Sturgeon, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI)
 Terry Tamminen, CEO, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

2018

 Jason McLennan, Founder, Living Building Challenge
 Mahesh Ramanujam, CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

2017

 Dr. Chris Luebkeman, Fellow, Director for Global Foresight, Research and Innovation, Arup
 R Rex Parris, Mayor, City of Lancaster California 
2016

 Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO, Thirst Project

Notable Trailblazer Award Winners 
2023

 Sara Neff, Head of Sustainability, Lendlease Americas
 Indigo Teiwes, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Helen of Troy (parent company of brands: OXO, Hydro Flask, Osprey)

2022

 Darcy Shiber-Knowles, Director of Operational Sustainability & Innovation, Dr. Bronner’s
 Andrew Bohenko, Sustainability Coordinator, Mercedes-Benz Stadium 
 Lindsay Baker, CEO, International Living Future Institute (ILFI) / Living Building Challenge

2021

 Xavier Roussel, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Dole Food Company
 Ellen Jackowski, Chief Impact Officer (CIO) & Head of Sustainable Impact, HP
 Nicole Whiteman, CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

2020

 Denis Hayes, Chairman & President, Bullitt Foundation, and Founder of Earth Day
 Janine Benyus, Co-Founder, Biomimicry Institute
 Rick Fedrizzi, Co-Founder & former CEO U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Chairman & CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) / WELL Building Standard
 Jason F. McLennan, Founder, Living Building Challenge
 Elizabeth Heider, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Skanska 
 Gabrielle Bullock, Director of Global Diversity & Principal, Perkins&Will
 Wanda Dalla Costa, Founder, Indigenous Design Collaborative

2019

 Steven M. Hilton, Chairman, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
 Nancy Sutley, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
 Lauren Sparandara, Sustainability Partner, Google
 Will Vicent, Deputy Director of Building Standards, California Energy Commission
 Lauren Faber O'Connor, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

References

Conferences
Annual events
Recurring events established in 2014