Climate Fast Forward is a statewide climate change action conference taking place in Madison, WI on Monday, October 17, 8am to 5pm. This conference takes a unique approach to addressing the climate emergency. Participants will participate in an accelerated process designed to involve all conference attendees in creating an action plan on climate change.
The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) presents a unique opportunity to use this conference to bring together changemakers from across Wisconsin around the funding and programming opportunities presented by this legislation.
“Climate Fast Forward will seek input and commitments from conference attendees on how our state can move forward with climate change action,” said Erika Monroe-Kane, Wisconsin Academy Executive Director. “The new funds available through the IRA will accelerate climate change solutions and help new strategies gain traction.”
Climate Fast Forward organizers reconfigured the conference’s opening plenary speaker panel to focus on the opportunities these federal programs present for Wisconsin, as well as how these opportunities can be leveraged for further action at the grassroots level. federal and state.
Panel moderator: Maria Redmond, Director, Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy
Panel speakers: Rachel Bouressa, Board Member, Wisconsin Farmers Union
Joe Pater, Director, Office of Energy Innovation
Kevin Kane, Chief Economist, Green Homeowners United
Deneine Powell, FUSE Executive Fellow in the City of Milwaukee
Daniel Wiggins, Vice-Chairperson, Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association
“This is an incredible time to work on climate and clean energy solutions,” said Maria Redmond. “I look forward to discussing with key leaders across Wisconsin how increased funding support and new federal programs can best lead to positive outcomes for Wisconsinites.”
After the panel, conference participants will be divided into working sessions guided by subject matter experts and professional facilitators. The conference’s facilitated sessions centered on five themes: Climate Justice & Community Resilience; Green Jobs and the New Economy; Natural and Worked Landscapes; The Built World; and the session led by Indigenous Traditional Perspectives on the Environment.
“When you co-create ideas with the community, the momentum for action grows,” said Climate Fast Forward lead facilitator Darin Harris. Harris is the co-founder of the organizational and leadership development company Living Giving Enterprises.
“Climate Fast Forward is not a sit-and-get conference,” Harris said. “It’s about participants being immersed in creative conversations that culminate in specific actions. It’s about people engaging in a creative and collaborative experience to make a difference in changing the climate.
Climate Fast Forward will bring people from across Wisconsin to organize around these new federal opportunities. The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has focused on environmental issues for more than 20 years. A non-partisan convener, the Academy deals with topics that are Wisconsin’s priorities and have the power to improve life in the state.
The Wisconsin Academy creates opportunities for people to connect, learn, and collaborate to improve life in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Academy showcases contemporary Wisconsin art in the James Watrous Gallery, explores science and culture in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, and explores pathways to a sustainable future through the Climate and Energy Initiative. Academic programs and public lectures provide opportunities to learn and explore, while making connections with curious and creative people across Wisconsin. The Academy recognizes excellence through its annual Fiction & Poetry Awards and Fellows Awards for leadership in and across disciplines. We also support the Wisconsin Poet Laureate and many other efforts that help the Academy create a better world by connecting people and ideas in Wisconsin.