Due to extreme cold weather, this seminar has been changed from in-person to a virtual seminar. Upon registering, participants will receive the zoom link.
In 2024 (as of November 1), there have been 24 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect United States. In 2023, the most recent year for worldwide data, there were at least 63-billion-dollar weather disasters around the world. There is no denying that the costs of a changing climate are high and growing higher. Recent reports provide a roadmap for how much it will cost to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. As spending changes (for instance from gas powered cars to electric cars, or from fossil fuel generated energy to renewable energy), companies will adapt or perish. In some instances, consumers will lead the way and in other instances, the government will provide leadership. What is consistent is that the money that will be spent as part of the transition will go to businesses. Some businesses will prosper (the future Teslas) and some will disappear. For investors, this represents an exciting opportunity.
Join Tom for a discussion about the societal and individual costs of a changing climate and a look at the economic potential of developing solutions that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, replace stuff with information and improve the production of food.
Tom retired from the UW in 2019 after playing a lead role in the development of sustainability curriculum and infrastructure. He taught the first class on sustainability at UW in 1994 and has received numerous teaching awards. He served on the UW task force that created the Office of Sustainability, and was a Fulbright Scholar to Latvia (where he taught classes on sustainability). In 2008, he founded the WI Sustainable Business Council, and served as the Executive Director until his retirement in 2018. In addition, he founded and oversees Wisconsin Microfinance; a non-profit that raises money for microloans in the developing world. He currently teaches a course through PLATO on Money Skills for Retirees and speaks frequently on socially responsible investing and microfinance. He holds a law degree from George Washington University, a Masters in Public Administration from UW, and, prior to law school, was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines.
Tom Eggert has emeritus status at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he developed classes in sustainability and systems thinking. He taught the first class on sustainability at UW in 1994 and has received numerous teaching awards. He served on the UW task force that created the Office of Sustainability, he was a Fulbright Scholar to Latvia (where he taught classes on sustainability) and he was one of the co-developers of the School of Business’ certificate in Business, Environment & Social Responsibility. In 2008, he founded the WI Sustainable Business Council and served as the Executive Director until his retirement in 2018. In addition, he founded and oversees Wisconsin Microfinance; a non-profit that raises money for microloans.
If you have preliminary questions for the speakers, please email them in advance to program coordinator and speaker Tom Eggert at tleggert@wisc.edu by Tuesday, January 14.
NOTE: This in-person session will be recorded and posted on the UWRA website.
Parking:
Click here for a printable map of Oakwood Community Grounds for Parking and Room location.
Food Pantry Contributions:
Checks payable to UW-Foundation, with "Open Seat" on the memo line may be mailed to UWRA, 21 North Park Street, Room 7205, Madison, WI 53715-1218.
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 17
Registration:
Advance registration is required. You are encouraged to register online. To register by phone or email, call the Association office. If you or your guest registered for this seminar but cannot attend, please cancel your registration online, or email/call the UWRA office.
UW-Madison Retirement Association
21 N Park St, Room 7205
Madison WI 53715-1218
608-262-0641
retireassn@mailplus.wisc.edu
