Former President Barack Obama is slated to give the keynote address at the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Atlanta on Nov. 20.
The 44th president's appearance at the largest annual event for green building professionals coincides with the fifth Democratic presidential debate for 2020 which is taking place in Atlanta. Hosted by The Washington Post and MSNBC, the debate — also on Nov. 20 — is being held at media mogul Tyler Perry's new $250 million studio complex.
“USGBC is deeply honored that President Obama has accepted our invitation to speak at Greenbuild 2019,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC in a statement. “President Obama is a global leader and a longtime friend of the green building community.”
Ramanujam said he expects the 44th president to share his ideas, passion and vision with the growing global green building family.
During his time in office, Obama championed the fight against climate change and helped negotiate the landmark Paris climate accord, which required countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. President Donald Trump announced last week that the United States is withdrawing from the agreement. Trump has criticized the plan as being “one-sided” and a “bad deal” for the country.
The issue of climate change has become a major focus of the 2020 campaign with the Democratic candidates offering up plans to end fossil fuel production on federal lands.
>> READ| Democratic presidential debate on Nov. 20 headed for Tyler Perry’s studio complex
Obama joins an esteemed roster of previous Greenbuild keynote speakers including Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and climate activist Al Gore.
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