November 13, 14 & 15 2024 – Climate Fast Forward Conference

A statewide climate change action conference in Wisconsin that covers a wide range of climate change impacts and solutions. Visitors will be able to:

• attend skills-based workshops,
• participate in collaborative spaces,
• hear from engaging plenary speakers,
• engage with interactive art displays.

Held in Rothschild, Wisconsin, Climate Fast Forward 2024 will bring together changemakers, including seasoned professionals, new voices, and diverse audiences representative of the Wisconsin people who are and will continue to be most impacted by the effects of climate change. This conference features workshops, plenary sessions, keynote speakers, and ample time for connecting with fellow attendees. Learn more about the conference by viewing the agenda and purchase a ticket below. If you wish to purchase a virtual ticket, you can learn more and buy one here.

Be sure to watch our Member Steven Schrage’s presentation.  Steve is the Sustainability and Resiliency Manager for the City of Appleton, where he leads the city’s conservation and climate initiatives. With over 25 years of experience in engineering, project management, energy management, and sustainability, Steven is a recognized expert in his field. In his role with the City of Appleton, Steven drives efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and build community resilience against climate change. His extensive background and leadership in sustainability make him a sought-after speaker, dedicated to advancing best practices and innovative solutions for energy efficiency and climate action. Steve is spear heading the exciting new all hydrogen bus fleet for the City of Appleton. He helped to secure 38 million dollars in grants to implement this project and will be producing green hydrogen on site to fuel the buses. This initiative will be a model for the rest of the state!

Agenda:

Wednesday November 13 (5:30- 7:30PM)

• Pre-Conference Evening Reception at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.
• Please note this event requires separate registration. Tickets are limited and cost $10. Click here to register!

Thursday, November 14 (Starting at 10:00 AM)

• Opening Plenary with Keynote
• Lunch and Networking (12-1:15pm) A lunchtime panel will be held by leaders from three diverse Wisconsin municipalities who are driving climate action in their communities. These dedicated municipal leaders are leading efforts to adapt to climate challenges, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and implement sustainable practices tailored to the unique needs of their towns, cities, and villages. Gain insights into how these communities are building resilience and setting examples for climate action at the local level.
• Afternoon Workshop Sessions
  • Capacity Building for Communities: Leveraging FEMA and State Grants to Increase Resilience
  • Climate Action Mapping Project (CAMP), Climate Action Now
  • Climate Action Planning 101
  • Climate Change Advocacy 101
  • Climate, watersheds, and coasts: optimizing healthy Wisconsin waters
  • Computing for Marketing Sustainable Soil Health
  • Connecting Climate and Local Transportation
  • Construction is HOW Big of a Climate Action Opportunity?! How your community can tackle the “other” building decarbonization–embodied (upfront) carbon
  • Crafting Impactful Climate Change Communications
  • Empowering Clean Energy Futures: Collaborative Workshop on Financing Solutions with the Green Innovation Fund
  • Empowering Communities: Democratizing Investment in Renewable Energy through Cooperatives
  • Grant Writing Strategies and Tips
  • How to Build Sustainability at a Grassroots Level and Beyond
  • How to Navigate -and Be Effective at- the PSC
  • Natural Climate Solutions
  • Relationships 101: Ethical Engagement with Tribal Nations in Wisconsin
  • Systems Thinking Made Simple
  • Exploring Community Adaptation, Resilience, and Storytelling with the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts
• Evening Reception with Light Appetizers

Friday, November 15^th  (Ending at 5:30 PM)

• Breakfast and Networking
• Plenary Session with Two Panels:

#1 (8:30-9:15 AM) As we navigate an era where the impacts of climate change are disrupting life as we know it, individuals across Wisconsin are leading the charge to better understand and address those impacts and prepare for an uncertain future. Featuring insights from members of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), this diverse panel of experts will share the latest information available on climate trends, current impacts, and what Wisconsinites can expect to see under different climate change scenarios. For more information on WICCI, visit WICCI’s website.

# 2 (8:30-9:15 AM) We all recognize the limits of incremental progress, but transformation doesn’t just happen; we make it happen. What strategic seeds are we planting now that will support transformational climate solutions in the decade ahead, and how will we get there from here? We’ve challenged this panel to share their visionary goals for big changes, and to tell the story of how we will get there, including key steps along the way and benchmarks for progress. Will there be heroes, plot twists, happy endings?

• Collaborative Space Session I
• Lunch and Networking
• Collaborative Space Session II
• Closing Plenary with Keynote
• Post-Conference Networking Reception

Visit the Climate Fast Forward Website for more information