Climate Fast Forward
press release: Monday, October 17, Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center • Madison
Climate Fast Forward 2022 gives everyone in Wisconsin the chance to be a part of the solution to the climate emergency. Participants will take stock of the progress Wisconsin has made towards mitigating and adapting to climate change since the 2019 conference, and will confront the challenges we still face in accelerating transformational change.
The 2022 conference brings 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 in our state. Conference attendees will work collaboratively in facilitated tracks to confront roadblocks and identify immediate and long-term actions that will move Wisconsin forward in combating climate change.
Conference participants will learn about the transformative work of leading climate experts, build connections through networking sessions and collaborative tracks, work closely with multidisciplinary artists to communicate messages about the climate emergency, and contribute their voices and opinions to an action plan that will accelerate transformational change.
Highlights of the conference:
- Plenary talks featuring state- and nationwide experts and leaders in clean energy and climate fields
- Networking sessions geared towards youth, non-profits, private industry, and other interest groups and fields
- Special programming by and for Tribal Nations leaders in environmental action
- Five facilitated tracks designed to spur action on the climate emergency
- Integration of artists, poets, and journalists
Introducing the Keynote Speakers!
Matt Dannenberg is the Tribal Liaison for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy. Dannenberg started his career at Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters and has also served as Communications and Legislative Director at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Dannenberg is a proud member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Jonathan Foley is a leading climate scientist, sustainability expert, educator, and public speaker. He is also executive director of Project Drawdown — the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. His work focuses on finding solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems, and natural resources we all depend on. Foley’s work has led him to become a trusted advisor to governments, foundations, non-profits, and business leaders around the world. He and his colleagues have made contributions to our understanding of climate change, the global food system, and the sustainability of the world’s resources. He earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Enjoy special musical entertainment the night before the conference... Friction Quartet in Concert
Sunday, October 16 • 4:30-6:00 p.m., Promenade Hall • Overture Center • Madison
Join us for an afternoon with the chamber music ensemble Friction Quartet as they explore the global climate crisis through sound. Friction’s most recent album, Rising, raises the question, “How long will Earth be habitable for our kids?” A love letter to our fragile planet, Rising refers to the increasing sea levels and temperatures that threaten to consume our human settlements and the wilderness around us. It is also a rallying cry to mobilize our community against this catastrophe. Climate Fast Forward registrants have access to $20 Friction Quartet tickets (regular price $35). See your registration confirmation email for the discount code.
Monday, October 17
All Day: Exhibition hall booths; food sovereignty demonstrations; artist- and poet-in-residence projects
7-8am: Registration and breakfast
8-9:45am: Welcome by Wisconsin Academy Executive Director Erika Monroe-Kane and former Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland; Reading by Poet-in-Residence Alexandria Delcourt; Keynote Address by Matt Dannenberg; pening Plenary Session
9:45-10am: Break
10-12pm: Facilitated Track Sessions I
12-1:30pm: Lunch & networking
1:30-3:30pm: Facilitated Track Sessions II
3:30-3:50pm: Break
3:50-4:30pm: Keynote Address by Dr. Jonathan Foley; Closing Plenary Session
4:30-5pm: Closing remarks by Wisconsin Academy Executive Director Erika Monroe-Kane and former Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland; Reading by Poet-in-Residence Alexandria Delcourt
5-6:30pm: Reception