Beyond the Blueprint: Climate Action Planning Across Practice Scales - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

Recorded On: 09/17/2026

Climate action planning looks different in a five-person studio than in a global practice—and that matters. This session brings together firms and organizations of varying sizes to explore how scale, capacity, and culture shape climate action plans, offering practical insights attendees can adapt to their own practice realities.

Learning objectives:

Distinguish how climate action plans differ across small firms, large firms, and professional organizations, and why tailored pathways, rather than a single template, are essential for meaningful impact.
Evaluate how different practice types define scope and ambition within climate action planning, including decisions around focus areas and organizational capacity.
Identify common barriers to climate action planning, including resources, staffing, data, and accountability, as well as strategies used at multiple scales to overcome them.
Apply collaboration, accountability structures, and strategic partnerships—both internal and external—to embed climate action into firm culture and project delivery, even when firms hold limited scope.

Chelsea Gieryic, ASLA, AICP, SITES AP

Associate

Livable Cities Studio

Chelsea is an Associate, AICP-certified planner, and landscape designer at Livable Cities Studio, where she focuses on community-driven, climate-resilient planning and design. She is active in external organizations, serving as the Deputy Director of Marketing & Communications for the WxLA organization and serving as President on the executive board for the ASLA Colorado/Wyoming Chapter. She brings strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to advancing resilient outcomes for communities. Chelsea earned dual master degrees in Landscape Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver in 2021.

Jonah Susskind, ASLA

Director of Climate Strategy

SWA

Jonah Susskind is Director of Climate Strategy at SWA, an international landscape architecture, urban planning, and design firm. In addition to leading decarbonization efforts across the firm’s global portfolio, Jonah directs applied research related to wildfire risk mitigation, coastal resilience, and climate adaptation. He has held research and teaching appointments at MIT and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He holds a master's degree in landscape architecture from the GSD and a BFA in critical visual studies from Pratt Institute.

Aida M. Curtis, FASLA, PLA, AIA

President

Curtis + Rogers Design Studio, Inc.

Aida M. Curtis is a nationally recognized landscape architect with over 40 years of experience advancing climate-responsive design and resilient infrastructure. As Founder and Principal of Curtis + Rogers Design Studio, a leading Hispanic- and woman-owned firm in South Florida, she delivers nature-based solutions that address sea-level rise, extreme heat, and coastal vulnerability while promoting social equity. Aida chairs the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee, advising leadership on policies and strategies elevating biodiversity, and climate adaptation across the profession. She serves on the Board of the Landscape Architecture Foundation, championing research, advocacy, and the next generation of climate leaders.