Pope Francis’s upcoming visit to Philadelphia has sparked a series of conversations around the future of the city, from how we serve our most vulnerable citizens to global issues such as climate change.

In response to Pope Francis’s call for a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet,” the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is holding a forum titled “Climate Change: A New Dialogue.” The forum will bring together a range of environmental experts, advocates and community members on September 21.

The keynote speaker will be Jeffrey D. Sachs, an advisor to the Vatican on issues of climate change and sustainable development.

Also in attendance:

• Michael Oppenheimer, climate change researcher at Princeton University and science advisor to the Environmental Defense Fund
• Jacqui Patterson, director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program and coordinator and co-founder of Women of Color United
• Katherine Gajewski, head of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability
• Shannon Márquez, director of Global Public Health Initiatives at Drexel University (moderator)

The forum is free and open to the public. Registration is available here.

Image via Flickr User JCapaldi