SEEC INSTITUTE Solutions summit

On October 23, leaders from Congress, subnational government, business, academia, and civil society came together at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. for a full day devoted to climate and clean energy solutions.

The Summit underscored how Members of Congress are pushing U.S. climate progress forward through creative thinking, strong partnerships, and engagement from the local to global level. Representatives Kathy Castor, Sean Casten, Paul Tonko, Laura Friedman, Mike Levin, Andrea Salinas, Don Beyer, George Whitesides, and James Walkinshaw exemplified that leadership throughout the day’s discussions.

Our excellent lineup of speakers (listed in the agenda below) including former Governor and SEEC founder Jay Inslee, Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, and Governor J.B. Pritzker (by video brought expertise spanning policy, finance, technology, food systems, community leadership, and beyond. The Summit also featured a series of productive roundtable discussions between Members of Congress and attendees. These closed-door sessions focused on our Thriving Economy Project, identifying opportunities to accelerate clean energy deployment, expand equitable access to climate finance, strengthen U.S. engagement ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and more.

SEEC Institute extends our gratitude to all speakers, partners, and attendees who made the 2025 Summit a success. Together, we are demonstrating that solutions are already within reach - and that with collaboration and resilience, we can keep moving forward.

Summit Agenda

The 2025 Summit highlighted the policies, partnerships, and innovations driving a resilient and prosperous climate and clean energy future. It fostered collaboration among Congress, the private sector, advocacy, academia, philanthropy, and beyond through high-level conversations and roundtable deep dives.

Morning · 8:30 - 12:00

Arrivals & Breakfast

Breakfast catered by Colada Shop

Opening Video

Opening Remarks

Max Frankel
Max Frankel
Executive Director, SEEC Institute

Opening Discussion: SEEC Institute and the Next Generation of Climate Leadership

Max Frankel
Max Frankel
Executive Director, SEEC Institute
Radha Adhar
Radha Adhar
Former Special Assistant to the President for Senate Affairs
Jesse Young
Jesse Young
Former Chief of Staff, Office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
Lara Hopkins
Lara Hopkins
Chief of Staff to Rep. Kathy Castor

Lightning Talk: The Off Ramp — Profitable Growth Without Fossil Fuels

Duncan Meisel
Duncan Meisel
Executive Director, Clean Creatives

Lightning Talk: Scaling Climate Solutions

Garrett Boudinot
Garrett Boudinot
CEO, Vycarb

Discussion: The Thriving Economy Project

Eric Fins
Eric Fins
Vice President, Grove Climate Group; Lead, Thriving Economy Project
Fatima Ahmad
Fatima Ahmad
Founder and CEO, AI for Energy
Callie Eideberg
Callie Eideberg
Principal, The Vogel Group; formerly Senior Professional Staffer to Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
Satyam Khanna
Satyam Khanna
President, Khanna Economic Strategies
Samantha Medlock
Samantha Medlock
President, Climate Risk Advisors

From Kitchen to Climate Action — Chefs Leading Change

Anne McBride
Anne McBride
Vice President of Impact, James Beard Foundation
Chef Miguel Guerra
Chef Miguel Guerra
Chef/Owner, Mita
Chef Jovana Urriola
Chef Jovana Urriola
Head Chef, Colada Shop

Video Message

Governor JB Pritzker
Gov. JB Pritzker
Governor of Illinois

Discussion: Advancing Climate Justice in This Moment

Shalanda Baker
Shalanda Baker
Former Director, Office of Energy Justice and Equity; Secretarial Advisor on Equity; SEEC Institute Board Member
Janis Bowdler
Janis Bowdler
President of Solutions, Enterprise Community Partners
Jacqui Patterson
Jacqui Patterson
Executive Director, The Chisholm Legacy Project

Lunch · 12:00 - 1:00

Networking Lunch

All attendees

Afternoon · 1:00 - 5:00

Main Stage Discussion: Meeting Americans Where They Are on Climate Action

Steve McBee
Steve McBee
Chairman and CEO, Huck Capital; SEEC Institute Board Member
Kyle Baker
Kyle Baker
Head of Americas Energy Transition Investment Banking, Jefferies
Rep. Mike Levin
Rep. Mike Levin
U.S. Representative (CA-49)

Member of Congress Roundtables (1:30 - 3:30)

From Washington to Belém — Advancing Global Climate Progress at COP30

Dave Turk
Dave Turk
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy
Rep. Sean Casten
Rep. Sean Casten
U.S. Representative (IL-06)
Amb. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Amb. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Ambassador of Brazil to the United States

Fireside Chat

Jay Inslee
Jay Inslee
Former Governor of Washington; Founder, SEEC
Sam Ricketts
Sam Ricketts
Co-founder and Partner at S2 Strategies, SEEC Institute Board Member

Member of Congress Discussion: Congressional Leadership on Climate and Clean Energy

Closing Remarks

Clinton Britt
Clinton Britt
Board President, SEEC Institute

thank you to our supporters!

“We are already behind and the window to act is closing. The Solutions Summit exists to accelerate progress, not just discuss it. At this critical time, we need bold collaboration, immediate action, and a shared commitment to deliver the climate and clean energy solutions this moment demands.”

—Max Frankel, Executive Director, SEEC Institute

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