The majority of the world’s population lives in urban areas, which invariably raises concern regarding the usage of resources and the resulting environmental effects. Recognizing these issues, Washington University’s Office of Sustainability is hosting its first annual conference: Sustainable Cities. The conference, which started on Thursday and extends through Saturday, November 3, will end with a talk, reception and book signing by Anna Lappé, author, educator, sustainable food advocate and a founding principal of the Small Planet Institute. She also just so happens to be the daughter of Frances Moore Lappé who authored Diet for a Small Planet, which many consider the bible for sustainable eaters. She will be speaking on how sustainable farming plays a large part in helping to solve the global warming crisis. Her lecture will take place at 2:30 p.m. in room 300 of the Laboratory Sciences building on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. Other notable speakers include LEED-accredited architect Joyce S. Lee, St. Louis City Director of Sustainability Catherine Werner and Pulitzer-winning journalist Paul Salopek. To register for the event or to learn more, click here.
This article appears in November 2012.