THRIVE Project is incredibly grateful to Valérie Itey, Lisset Gomez, and Emily Larsen for their inspirational presentations during the July 2025 Thrivability Matters Webinar. This webinar focused on THRIVE Project’s July theme – Infrastructure: Thrivable Living. Our presenters captivated us as they shared their extensive knowledge regarding this theme, discussing the infrastructure that powers our everyday lives, and how they can not only reduce their impacts on the planet and ecosystems around them, but also empower those who rely on them to thrive.
Here are the highlights from our webinar!
About the June 2025 Speakers
Valérie Itey is the CEO of Clic Recycle®, leading initiatives in sustainability and the circular economy.
With a background in digital advertising and a deep understanding of the technology sector, she combines her expertise to drive innovative solutions for climate mitigation.
Valérie is also inspired by biomimicry, art, and music, reflecting a holistic approach to environmental challenges.
Lisset Gomez is an environmental engineer with expertise in solid waste management, having served as a national supervisor at OEFA, Peru’s environmental enforcement agency.
She is the co-founder of BCG Soluciones, and a member of the College of Engineers of Peru.
She supports sustainability and community empowerment through international nonprofit work.
Emily Larsen is a keen wildlife enthusiast with extensive knowledge across nature and a range of animals.
Currently completing her PhD in wildlife ecology, with the hopes of working in species conservation, her background focuses heavily on creating species distribution models and identifying the impact of climate change on them.
Summary of the JUly 2025 Webinar
As an organisation, THRIVE Project endeavours to guide humanity towards a more thrivable future. We had the privilege of hosting these speakers as guest presenters for our webinar.
Valérie Itey –
“Regenerative Solutions for a Resilient Future by Clic Recycle”
In a compelling presentation, Valérie Itey discussed the need for regenerative climate adaptation as climate change accelerates, bringing droughts, flooding, and ecosystem degradation.
Adaptation involves strengthening natural and human systems to face environmental stress. This involves restoring soils, conserving water, protecting coastlines, and reducing our reliance on fossil-based materials. However, true adaptation goes beyond materials—it requires inclusive, local action and technology.
She also discussed the efforts of her company, Clic Recycle, and how they contribute by transforming organic waste into bio-based alternatives that support these efforts in agriculture, ports, and urban areas. By working with people and communities across sectors, from farmers to port workers, climate adaptation efforts can benefit both people and the planet.
Lisset Gomez –
“Solid Waste Infrastructure and Sustainability: The Case of Peru”
The second speaker, Lisset Gomez, explored the urgent need for solid waste infrastructure in Latin America, with a specific focus on Peru. Drawing from national diagnostic data and environmental governance tools, it highlights how the lack of proper infrastructure results in widespread informal dumping sites—locally known as botaderos—which degrade land, pollute water sources, and emit harmful greenhouse gases.
The presentation emphasised that addressing these challenges is not only a matter of public health and environmental preservation but also of sustainable development. Investing in formal waste disposal infrastructure, such as sanitary landfills, transfer stations, and treatment facilities, directly supports carbon footprint reduction efforts by discouraging the open burning of waste and reducing methane emissions from uncontrolled sites.
In particular, it focused on the importance of maintaining an updated national inventory of areas degraded by solid waste. This can enable greater visibility, prioritisation of efforts, and multisector collaboration by guiding targeted interventions and fostering accountability.
Through the case of Peru, she reflected on how infrastructure and data-driven approaches can create thrivable communities and industries, fostering innovation, resilience, and environmental justice in waste management systems across the Global South.
Emily Larsen –
“Green Spaces: The Secret to Flourishing Cities?”
Following our first two compelling speakers, Emily Larsen highlighted the value of green spaces in the development of cities. This not only benefits people and communities, but provides spaces within urban areas for a variety of plants and animals.
As a result, there are numerous benefits to green spaces, most notably improvements to physical and mental well-being, and the protection and propagation of endangered species. She also discussed several examples of green spaces in practice.
Moving Forward from Julyb2025
The July 2025 Thrivability Matters Webinar showcased insights from Valérie Itey, Lisset Gomez, and Emily Larsen. If you missed the live event or the Q&A session, you can view the recordings on our YouTube channel.
If you’re interested in joining us after the July 2025 Thrivability Matters Webinar, there are plenty of ways to get involved. You can follow us on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Additionally, you could subscribe to our YouTube, listen to our podcasts, join our workshops, sign up for our newsletter, stay up to date with our articles, attend our free webinars, or even join us as a volunteer to make an even greater impact on the world.
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