801: Libby Zemaitis on Climate Resilience: Connecting Communities and Driving Equitable Solutions

IN THE EPISODE

In this episode of The Impact Report, Bard Alum Cate Byrne sits down with Libby Zemaitis from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) about her work on climate resilience and social justice. Libby discusses the importance of inclusive community engagement in climate planning, strategies to address green gentrification, and the role of nature-based solutions in building resilience. She shares insights from C2ES's Climate Resilient Communities Accelerator program and highlights the value of public-private partnerships in advancing local climate initiatives. Libby also reflects on how her multidisciplinary background from Bard's environmental policy and MBA programs informs her approach to connecting diverse stakeholders in resilience efforts. This conversation offers valuable perspectives on creating equitable and effective climate adaptation strategies at the community level.

Bard’s Graduate Programs in Sustainability cultivate leaders who break through existing systems, innovating solutions to critical social, environmental and economic challenges. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class from M.S. in Environmental Policy degree at Bard CEP and the 10th graduating class from the Bard MBA in Sustainability program. The 2024 graduating MS EP, MS CSP, MEd and MBA classes brought the Bard GPS alumni community to over 500!

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Libby Zemaitis:

Libby Zemaitis is happiest when she’s connecting people, spreading new ideas, and inspiring action. She is committed to collaborative solutions and has over 15 years of experience in network building and strategic management across climate adaptation and mitigation, community resilience, and entrepreneurship. Most recently, Libby launched a new regional-capacity building program called the Climate Resilient Communities Accelerator as Senior Manager for Resilience Programs and Policy at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). The Accelerator connects diverse stakeholders around wildfire, heat, and other climate resilience strategies to build adaptive capacity on the ground and advance policy at the federal level.

Before joining C2ES, Libby worked with New York State and Cornell University to manage a regional climate resilience program, build new partnerships, and lead state policy. She also co-founded Up Homes, a design technology startup, and has consulting experience in renewable energy, marketing and trade strategy, and B2B matchmaking. Libby was in the first class of Bard College’s MBA in Sustainable Business, where she also received a MS in Climate Science & Policy. She holds a BA in Geology from Vassar College.

Cate Byrne:

Cate is a 2024 graduate from Bard’s Center for Environmental Policy, where she wrote her graduate thesis on equitable flood planning for small-scale and under-resourced communities in the Hudson Valley, solidifying her understanding of the role equity needs to play in adaptation plans. Currently, Cate is in a yearlong fellowship as an Albert Vann Legislative Fellow with the NYC Council. Through this fellowship, Cate will work directly on environmental issues and other items that matter most to her assigned borough’s constituents.

Renay Loper: 

Renay is a Clinical Faculty in Organizational Leadership for the Bard MBA in Sustainability, where she focuses on JEDI Transformation in the workplace. Previously, she was the Vice President of Program Innovation at PYXERA Global where she served on the Executive Leadership Team, led five country offices, drove the development of new business and programs, co-led the organization's work on inclusive circular cities, and advised corporate clients on their social impact strategies. Renay also led the organization’s ARC (Antiracist Collective) initiatives, which included internal and external efforts toward dismantling unjust systems. To this end, Renay created Rhetoric to Action, a series of conversations to bridge sectors toward collective action around social and racial justice.

Prior to PYXERA Global, Renay led the grassroots exchange and education grant portfolio at the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and has served in a variety of leadership roles in higher education, nonprofit, and business prior to that. Renay is an avid speaker and facilitator, has authored and edited numerous publications, including a resource journal, Student Affairs Professionals Cultivating Campus Climates Inclusive of International Students (Jossey Bass). Renay serves on the board of directors of nonprofits including Community Change, Harpswell Foundation, and Girl Rising.