Social Equity in LEED: Distraction? or the Essence of Green?

THIS WEBINAR REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

A Free LEEDuser Coffee Talk occurred on Tuesday – September 19 – 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. Eastern (10:00–10:45 a.m. Pacific)

Point: Green building is all about the environment—not social justice.

Counterpoint: The green building movement must ensure that the benefits of sustainability reach the people who need them most.

These arguments pretty well sum up the responses we received when we published this call to action on DEI penned by Mohammad Abbasi and Hala Alfalih of WSP, BuildingGreen’s LEEDuser partner.

Want to hear more? Care to share what you think?

Then join Mohammad and Hala for a live LEEDuser Coffee Talk to hear their ideas on diversity, equity, and inclusion—and then share your own.

Mohammad and Hala will discuss questions like:

• Nature or society? While some perceive green building as primarily addressing environmental issues such as carbon reduction and ecosystem preservation, others recognize its deep-rooted connection to social justice.
• Luxury or necessity? While some may consider social justice an optional addition to existing systems, others have emphasized its fundamental importance. There are also questions about more explicitly addressing social issues through sustainability standards like LEED.
• Politics or common sense? Critics are accusing USGBC of “mission drift” and undue politicization, while others argue that addressing social justice issues within the built environment is an organic extension of sustainable practices. Can sustainability reach everyone without explicitly accounting for impacts on occupants and communities? And can a pursuit of social justice truly be separated from political discourse?

We’re looking forward to an authentic, compelling, and civil conversation about the future of LEED and of green building more generally. This is a FREE event that’s open to the public, and seating is limited, so sign up today!