Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is about to host the first national summit focused on catalyzing the industry of natural infrastructure restoration.
There, the company will convene leaders from the engineering, construction and financial sectors, as well as thought leaders from academia, non-government organizations and government officials to engage in a discussion on the need for and the benefits of restoring degraded natural infrastructure – such as estuaries, coastal landscapes and wetlands – as well as the opportunities it offers with respect to the global sustainable development goals.
“ Our deep relationships with a wide range of infrastructure businesses – from traditional construction to sustainable building to agriculture to energy and transportation – put us in a unique position to give this sustainability topic the focus it deserves, ” said Karl Weiss, vice president with responsibility for Caterpillar’s Earthmoving Division.
The Summit will focus on establishing both the science and business cases for restoring natural infrastructure, a critical component of the recently adopted United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
Recognizing the benefits of healthy natural infrastructure – including improved storm resiliency for cities and regions, increased land productivity for a growing population and a productive carbon capture and storage option – participants will identify actions that both public and private sector organizations can take to preserve and restore natural infrastructure with the goal of expediting growth of this important emerging global industry.
The Summit will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.