Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder

Aspen Ideas: Climate Chicago Speaker Lineup Expands with More Leaders and Bold Solutions

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Ernie Moniz, Cassady Walters, Cristina Mittermeier join the growing lineup of climate and energy leaders.

Chicago, IL, June 24, 2026 — The Aspen Institute today announced a new group of speakers for Aspen Ideas: Climate 2026, taking place July 20-22 in Chicago. The leading solutions-forward climate and energy forum continues to expand its lineup of global experts, advocates, and cultural visionaries dedicated to solving today’s most critical environmental challenges. 

Centering the Midwest as a vital hub for climate and energy innovation, this latest group of leaders will join discussions spanning four key themes: Health, Infrastructure, Adaptation, and Trust. Mainstage plenaries, breakout panels, workshops, and excursions will take place at prominent Chicago venues, including the University of Chicago Rubenstein Forum, Convene at Willis Tower, and the Shedd Aquarium.  

Members of the media are invited to apply for press credentials here.

New additions to the 2026 speaker lineup include:

  • Justin Bruch, CEO & Co-Founder, Clear Frontier Agriculture Management
  • Arpit Dwivedi, CEO and Founder, Cache Energy
  • Alfred Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO, Crux
  • Cristina Mittermeier, Photographer; Co-Founder, SeaLegacy
  • Ernie Moniz, Founder & CEO, EFI Foundation
  • Kyung-Ah Park, Chief Sustainability Officer, Temasek
  • JB Pritzker, Illinois Governor
  • Gil Quiniones, President and CEO, ComEd
  • Peter Reinhardt, CEO, Charm Industrial
  • Kirk Siegler, Western Correspondent, National Desk, NPR
  • Caroline Spears, Executive Director, Climate Cabinet
  • Cassady Walters, Vice President, Power, The Rockefeller Foundation
  • Bryant Waupoose, Executive Director, Medicine Fish
  • Tom Wilson, CEO, The Allstate Corporation
  • Joel Wish, CEO, Bright Harbor

For more information on the event, program tracks, and to view the complete list of speakers, please visit: https://www.aspenideas.org/pages/aspen-ideas-climate. Additional programming and speaker announcements will be shared in the coming weeks. 

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.


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