High Energy, Higher Stakes: Can AI Solve More Than It Consumes?
Artificial Intelligence is shaping the world faster than most of us can keep up, but what does that mean for the climate, our resources, and our communities?
🌍 On one hand: AI is accelerating breakthroughs in clean energy, carbon capture, climate forecasting, and sustainable systems.
⚠️ On the other: AI’s appetite for energy, water, and rare minerals is straining communities and ecosystems, raising the question: will AI be net positive or net negative for the planet?
We’ll explore both sides in an engaging panel discussion + audience Q&A with a diverse group of experts:
Moderator: Shivani Chotalia – Founding Partner of the CleanAI Initiative, where she is scaling AI solutions for climate action. Shivani has a decade of experience deploying clean energy infrastructure at NRStor, spearheading Canada’s largest energy storage projects, and has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, Corporate Knights 30 Under 30, and Canada’s Clean50.
Natalie Enright Jerger – Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto and Director of the Division of Engineering Science. A globally recognized expert in sustainable computing systems, IoT, and hardware acceleration, Natalie is also a Fellow of IEEE, ACM, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, with a deep commitment to advancing diversity in tech.
Greg Judelman – Founder of ReGenAI, a regenerative AI development studio advancing tools and ventures to support ecological and societal transformation. Greg is the author of The Ecological AI Manifesto and brings expertise in systems thinking, public sector innovation, and community resilience.
Jennifer Turliuk – Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School. Jennifer has led AI for climate and energy initiatives at MIT, spoken at Davos, COP29, and New York/SF Climate Weeks, and co-founded Climate Angels. She brings a global perspective on innovation, investment, and the real-world application of AI in climate solutions.
Élise Devoie – Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Queen’s University, and a member of the Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration Program. Elise specializes in hydrology and hydrogeology in cold regions, combining modelling and fieldwork to understand climate change impacts on permafrost and northern water systems. Her work focuses on real-world solutions for communities in Canada’s North and explores how AI can support sustainable and equitable resource use.
🌿 Event Schedule
5:30 PM - Doors Open & Meet and Greet
6:15 PM - Climate North Intro
6:20 PM - Current AI Landscape Overview
6:30 PM - Panel Discussion
7:30 PM - Q&A
8:00 PM - Mingle & Connect
Toronto Climate Week 2025
We are officially part of Toronto Climate Week 2025, a citywide celebration backed by City of TO, that brings together communities, ideas, decision makers, and climate solutions. From grassroots changemakers to clean tech innovators, policy nerds to plant lovers - this week's got something for you!
We can’t wait to spend the night with you and continue building this awesome community.
🌿 The Climate North Team
📸 Notice of Filming and Photography
When you attend this event, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to this recording and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction. Please let us know at the event if you prefer to be excluded from any content.