How to Sustainably Cool a Warming World

As Earth’s temperature rises due to the effects of climate change, cooling the air in our lived environments is increasingly crucial. It’s not just about comfort, it’s about health, productivity, and survival. Dependence on conventional air conditioning systems presents a paradox – while it offers immediate heat relief for those who have it, it contributes to global warming through high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. So, how do we meet the growing demand for cooling – here in L.A. and around the world – in a manner that is sustainable, energy-efficient, and accessible to all? And how can we reduce the cooling demand through smarter design, behavior change, and innovative technologies?

Bring your questions for this live discussion as we explore these questions and delve into the latest research on sustainable cooling solutions with:

-Tony Atti ’00, Ph.D in Chemistry, alumnus of USC Dornsife Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and CEO of Phononic, which is working to reinvent cooling.

-John P. Wilson, director of USC Spatial Sciences Institute, professor of architecture, civil & environmental engineering, computer science, population and public health sciences, sociology and spatial sciences, project lead of the USC Urban Trees

Initiative Moderated by: Alex Cohen, host of Spectrum News 1’s Inside the Issues with Alex Cohen