{"id":162307,"date":"2026-02-12T23:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T23:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/162307\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T23:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T23:24:09","slug":"earthx-announces-speakers-and-sessions-for-earthx2026-conference-dallas-innovates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/162307\/","title":{"rendered":"EarthX Announces Speakers and\u00a0Sessions for Earthx2026 Conference \u00bb Dallas Innovates"},"content":{"rendered":"

EarthX just unveiled the speakers and programming for Earthx2026, a three-day \u201cCongress of Conferences\u201d to promote positive environmental actions. The conference is set for April 20\u201322 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Founded by businessman and environmental philanthropist Trammell Crow in 2011 to coincide with Earth Day, the event has brought together leading voices from across the environmental spectrum to explore how innovation, markets, and culture can define the next chapter of environmental leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarthx2026 is happening at a moment of real global instability, deep political polarization, and accelerating environmental pressure,\u201d Crow said in a statement. \u201cWhat makes this community different is our willingness to be honest about where past environmental strategies have fallen short or pushed people away and instead work collaboratively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now in its 15th year, this event brings together policymakers, investors, scientists, business leaders, artists, technologists, and civic leaders to move beyond polarization and toward pragmatic, scalable action that supports both human prosperity and planetary health. EarthX said that the nonpartisan summit will offer an honest environment to identify common ground solutions that align incentives\u2014not ideology\u2014and aims to set a course towards a healthy and flourishing future for the planet.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur mission at EarthX is to create a space where leaders from business, policy, conservation, and advocacy can cut through division and work toward pragmatic outcomes,\u201d said EarthX CEO\u00a0Peter Simek. \u201cThis event is about moving beyond rhetoric and building solutions that people across cultures, industries, and political lines can actually support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Congress of Conferences Speakers<\/p>\n

Earthx2026 will feature globally recognized leaders and compelling new voices, including:<\/p>\n

Bob Ballard, Oceanographer and Founder, Ocean Exploration Trust
\nXiye Bastida, Executive Director of Re-Earth Initiative
\nFelipe Calder\u00f3n, Former President of Mexico
\nKristy Drutman, Founder Browngirl Green and co-founder of Green Jobs Board
\nDr. Sylvia Earle, Founder, Mission Blue
\nIsolde Fair, Grammy Award-winning Singer-Songwriter and Performing Artist
\nLord Fatafehi Fakaf\u0101nua, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Tonga
\nPeter Fiekowsky, Founder, Foundation for Climate Restoration
\nTorrei Hart, Comedian, Actress, and Social Impact Entrepreneur
\nDanielle Holly, Executive Lead, North America, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
\nDr. Serena McCalla, Ph.D., Founder, iResearch Institute; nationally recognized science education pioneer
\nJuan Carlos Monterrey, Special Representative for Climate Change of Panam\u00e1
\nSteven Nickel, Director, Consumer Hardware Operations, Google
\nAdam Peer, Senior Director, Plastics Sustainability, American Chemistry Council
\nCharlie Schwarze, Senior Director, Keurig Dr. Pepper & Board Chair, Circular Action Alliance
\nJeff Seabright, Former Chief Sustainability Officer, Unilever North America
\nBershan Shaw, Entrepreneur, Global Speaker, and Leadership Coach
\nStormy Simon, Former CEO, Overstock.com
\nDr. John Warner, CEO, The Technology Greenhouse and the founder of \u201cgreen chemistry\u201d
\nAndrew Winston, Author of Net Positive; Thinkers50 \u201c#1 Management Thinker in the World\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

These speakers will join an additional roster of leaders, innovators, and changemakers spanning different sectors including Ed Begley Jr., actor and environmentalist; Rachelle Carson Begley, actor and environmentalist; Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, oceanographer; Mariel Hemingway actor, author, and environmentalist; Commander G. Mark Miller, Co-Founder, GMSO; Margaret Trilli, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, ImpactAssets; Richard Wiese, President, The Explorers Club; with more to be announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have visited the wonderful EarthX event in Dallas several times over the past 20 years, and I always walk away impressed with the size and scope of this, the largest Earth celebration anywhere,\u201d said actor and environmental advocate\u00a0Ed Begley Jr.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut now, it\u2019s in a position to do much more,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019ve been asked to come on board and be part of the team that will help promote common sense ways to tackle air and water pollution, and of course, climate change in ways that make financial and environmental sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Framing the Global Conversation on the Main Stage<\/p>\n

New for 2026, the EarthX Main Stage will serve as the narrative anchor of the event, showcasing the biggest ideas facing the planet and the leaders advancing real-world solutions.<\/p>\n

Per EarthX, programming will focus on five core questions shaping the future of environmental leadership:<\/p>\n

America at 250: Can Nature Still Be Our Common Ground?\u00a0At a moment of deep polarization, can land, water, and wildlife once again serve as a unifying national project\u2014or has environmentalism become too politicized to repair?
\nInnovation, Capital, and Corporate Leadership: Who Actually Drives Environmental Change Now?\u00a0If government sets the rules but markets move the world, how are companies, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of energy, conservation, and resilience\u2014and where are they falling short?
\nNature Under Pressure: How Do We Manage Land and Oceans in a Resource-Hungry World?\u00a0What frameworks allow conservation, restoration, and responsible extraction to coexist\u2014without pretending tradeoffs don\u2019t exist?
\nHealth, Culture, and Connection: Why Environmentalism Lost People\u2014and How to Win Them Back\u00a0discusses the question, \u201cHas environmentalism failed by becoming abstract and moralizing\u2014and can a renewed focus on human health, beauty, place, and lived experience rebuild broad public support?\u201d
\nDesigning for Nature and Life: What Comes After Sustainability?\u00a0If \u201csustainability\u201d is no longer ambitious\u2014or honest\u2014enough, what does a life-centered model of growth look like in practice across cities, infrastructure, food systems, and industry?<\/p>\n

Congress of Conferences in the EarthX ecosystem<\/p>\n

Earthx2026 includes more than 20 summits, stages, and forums, each designed to address a critical dimension of environmental leadership. Together, these conferences form a single ecosystem designed to foster collaboration across sectors, geographies, and ideologies.<\/p>\n

According to EarthX, here are the conferences running during the event:<\/p>\n

The Family Office Summit\u00a0is a peer-to-peer convening for high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and family office principals with more than $100 million in assets or net worth from the U.S., Latin America, and around the world. Designed as a confidential forum for principals and decision-makers, the summit focuses on long-term capital stewardship, intergenerational leadership, impact investing, and navigating geopolitical, environmental, and market volatility through pragmatic, values-aligned strategies.
\nThe 2026 E-Capital Summit\u00a0convenes, inspires, and catalyzes action from thousands of the country\u2019s and world\u2019s leading investors, family offices\/foundations, innovators, startups, established companies, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovation ecosystem leaders including incubators\/accelerators\/federal labs with the goal of driving substantial, positive impact on investments, businesses, people, and our planet.
\nEarthxEnergy: Texas & the Next Nuclear Era Convened by the EarthX Institute,\u00a0this new research-driven initiative brings together leading scientists, policymakers, investors, and technologists to examine how Texas\u2019s track record in energy leadership can inform the next phase of nuclear deployment. Through focused discussions, the convening will translate Texas\u2019s experience into a practical policy framework to accelerate advanced nuclear development, modernize the grid, streamline permitting, and position nuclear energy as a cornerstone of America\u2019s clean-power future amid rising AI demand and grid stress.
\nCircle America Summit: Advancing a Circular Economy and Culture convenes leaders across policy, business, and culture to examine how a circular economy can better honor nature, protect human health, and reduce waste at scale. Through practical case studies and solution-driven conversations, the program explores innovations in reuse, recycling, and materials management, alongside the policies and market forces shaping their impact. The summit will also catalyze new partnerships and launch Circle America, a national effort to educate, engage, and mobilize the public around building a truly circular culture.
\nThe Nature Summit\u00a0is an invitation-only, exclusive convening of government leaders, family offices, philanthropists, and corporate visionaries shaping the future of the blue and green economy. Designed to unlock sustainable investment opportunities, the summit aligns public, private, and philanthropic capital around nature-based solutions that enhance resilience, restore ecosystems, and drive long-term prosperity through high-impact collaboration.
\nBlue Finance Convening and Workshop\u00a0is where the Marine Technology Society convenes marine scientists, technologists, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to explore how innovation and technology are advancing ocean health, resilience, and sustainable economic activity. The summit highlights cutting-edge marine technology, ocean observation, blue economy solutions, and cross-sector partnerships critical to protecting and restoring the world\u2019s oceans.
\nSport as a Force for Sustainability, presented by the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, examines how the world\u2019s most influential cultural platform\u2014sport\u2014can drive environmental leadership at scale. Featuring leaders from sports organizations, teams, and host cities, the summit explores sustainability in mega-events, infrastructure, fan engagement, and climate leadership, demonstrating how competition and culture can accelerate and craft a sustainable future for the world stage.
\nThe Monarch Corridor:\u00a0Trade, Infrastructure, and Environmental Resilience in North America\u00a0convenes business leaders, policymakers, and investors to examine the future of cross-border trade, supply chains, and sustainable growth between Mexico and Texas. The summit, hosted in partnership with Asociacion de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM), focuses on nearshoring, energy, infrastructure, workforce development, and bilateral partnerships critical to economic resilience and environmental progress in North America.
\nIsland Resilience Forum\u00a0brings together government leaders, development institutions, investors, and climate practitioners from island and coastal nations to address the urgent challenges of climate vulnerability. The forum focuses on adaptation finance, resilience planning, and scalable solutions that protect communities, ecosystems, and economies on the front lines of climate change.
\nTexas Symposium on Climate and Energy Transition\u00a0convenes legal, corporate, and financial leaders to examine the legal and regulatory frameworks shaping climate and energy transition projects. Through expert-led sessions, the program, organized by the Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas,\u00a0explores dispute resolution, private capital deployment, community engagement, and the evolving role of legal professionals in enabling low-carbon technology, infrastructure, and project success.
\nClimate Restoration Summit\u00a0challenges conventional climate thinking by focusing not only on reducing emissions, but on restoring a safe and stable climate. Centered on the science, policy, and scalability of atmospheric carbon removal, the summit, organized by the Foundation for Climate Restoration, explores how nature-based and engineered solutions can reduce legacy CO\u2082 and create a future where both humanity and ecosystems can thrive.
\nCitizens in the Arena: Leadership for Land and Energy, presented by The Roosevelt Initiative. Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s call to those \u201cin the arena\u201d, this inaugural convening examines the intersection of conservation, markets, and policy through the lens of civic responsibility and engagement. The summit challenges leaders to move beyond rhetoric and engage directly in the work of environmental stewardship, democratic leadership, and pragmatic problem-solving at a pivotal geopolitical moment.
\nNorth Texas Day\u00a0convenes leading regional environmental organizations, NGOs, government agencies, policymakers, and advocates to take stock of the year\u2019s work on the ground. Through workshops, panels, and collaborative sessions, the conference sets priorities and strengthens partnerships to advance the North Texas environmental agenda for the year ahead.
\n9th Annual North Texas Climate Symposium\u00a0serves as a platform for sharing the latest research, innovations, and strategies in climate action and sustainability focusing on how these critical issues affect the Dallas community, local businesses, and overall quality of life of city residents. Hosted by the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability, this year\u2019s symposium theme is \u201cClimate Resilience,\u201d focusing on the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to support mitigation and adaptation efforts.
\nThe Solutions Stage\u00a0is a fast-paced, public-facing platform showcasing tangible, real-world solutions emerging across the EarthX ecosystem. Featuring rapid-fire talks from innovators, businesses, governments, NGOs, and academics, the stage highlights actionable ideas, scalable models, and on-the-ground progress driving measurable environmental impact.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Throughout the three days, EarthX will also offer curated side meetings, small group conversations, hands-on workshops, and designated meetup spaces created to encourage meaningful exchange around shared interests and real-world challenges. In-app tools allow participants to create or join meetups, whether planned in advance or formed organically on site.<\/p>\n

EarthX is intentionally paced to create shared moments and rituals, from hosted lunches and evening networking hours to banquets, keynote moments, and awards celebrations that bring the full community together. EarthX said that these moments are not side events, they are at the center of how EarthX builds connection, trust, and momentum.<\/p>\n

Learn more and get tickets here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss what\u2019s next. Subscribe\u00a0to\u00a0Dallas\u00a0Innovates.<\/p>\n

Track Dallas-Fort Worth\u2019s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\tR E A D\u00a0\u00a0 N E X T\t<\/p>\n

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EarthX said that under Hunt’s leadership, Dallas-based Hunt Energy has become “a model for how legacy energy players can continue to evolve, innovate, diversify and lead in the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.”<\/p>\n

\t\"nominate<\/a><\/p>\n

D CEO and Dallas Innovates have expanded The Innovation Awards 2026 with more individual and company categories this year. Now is your chance to be part of the region\u2019s defining recognition for innovators.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

This year’s semifinals will feature three-minute lightning pitches on April 23 on the E-Capital Summit Investment Forum Stage, with audience members voting live to determine which three to four companies will advance to the finals on April 24 on The TV Stage at Earthx2025.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The EarthX E-Capital Summit aims to foster meaningful connections, catalyzing investments, and industry innovation in environmental sustainability, conservation, and cleantech across various verticals\u2014from energy to water to the built environment.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The leadership changes, effective Jan. 1, also include a new global chief operating officer for CBRE\u2019s Advisory Services segment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EarthX just unveiled the speakers and programming for Earthx2026, a three-day \u201cCongress of Conferences\u201d to promote positive environmental…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162308,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[102,104,103,66429,66430,66431,66432,63695],"class_list":["post-162307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news","tag-earthx","tag-earthx-2026","tag-earthx-congress-of-conferences","tag-peter-simek","tag-trammell-crow"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}