Georgina Grenon Visits USC as Inaugural Climate Diplomat-in-Residence

In April 2026, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, in collaboration with the USC Center for Climate Journalism and Communication, welcomed Georgina Grenon as its inaugural Climate Diplomat-in-Residence. The appointment was made possible through the generous support of CPD Board Member Markos Kounalakis. 

Grenon, ex-director of sustainability for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and current senior advisor and NED, brought to campus a rare blend of technical expertise and global leadership in sustainable large-scale events. Her visit came at a pivotal moment, as Los Angeles looks ahead to hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and seeks to build on Paris’s model as the most sustainable Olympics to date.

Grenon’s residency was structured as both a public-facing and deeply collaborative engagement, designed to connect theory with practice. Central to her visit was a flagship public conversation on climate diplomacy, including how cities, institutions, and global events can drive environmental progress. She joined with USC Chief Sustainability Officer Mick Dalrymple in a discussion moderated by Allison Agsten, director of USC Annenberg’s Center for Climate Journalism and Communication.

Around this anchor event, Grenon participated in a series of smaller convenings, including a sustainability-focused breakfast with Los Angeles policymakers, university leaders, and industry practitioners. These discussions brought together voices from across sectors—ranging from city government to infrastructure and energy—underscoring USC’s role as a hub for interdisciplinary climate dialogue.

Equally important was Grenon’s direct engagement with students. Through a series of one-on-one office hours, she met with USC students working on sustainability-related initiatives, offering tailored guidance on projects spanning policy, communications, and technological innovation. She also participated in interviews with student journalists, ensuring that her insights reached a broader academic audience. These exchanges reflected the residency’s core aim: to translate high-level climate strategy into actionable pathways for the next generation of leaders.

Throughout her time at USC, Grenon emphasized the urgency—and opportunity—of integrating sustainability into global events, urban planning, and organizations in general aiming for a more sustainable transformation. Drawing on her experience in Paris, she highlighted practical measures such as infrastructure transformation, stakeholder coordination, and long-term environmental legacy planning. Her visit not only reinforced the importance of climate diplomacy in the lead-up to LA28, but also positioned USC as a convening force in shaping how cities respond to the climate crisis.

View more photos from Georgina's visit on our Flickr Page.