8:15–9 a.m. | Breakfast & Registration
Varsity Hall I & II
9-10 a.m. | Opening Remarks & Keynote
Varsity Hall I & II
Katharine Wilkinson
Position title: Author, teacher, co-founder of The All We Can Save Project, and co-host of the podcast A Matter of Degrees
Katharine Wilkinson is an author, teacher, co-founder of The All We Can Save Project, and co-host of the podcast "A Matter of Degrees." Her books on climate include "All We Can Save," "The Drawdown Review," "Drawdown," and "Between God & Green." "Time" named her one of 15 “women who will save the world.”
All We Can Save: Leaderful is the Way Forward
Inclusive climate leadership is about more than fairness. A growing body of research shows it’s a critical strategy for a life-giving future. In this keynote, Wilkinson draws on her viral TED Talk, which has nearly 2 million views, and the acclaimed anthology she co-edited, All We Can Save, which features writings by women at the forefront of the climate movement. The climate crisis and its solutions are best understood with a kaleidoscopic lens, Wilkinson explains, and whatever your unique superpowers are, there’s a role for you in this diverse ecosystem of transformation.
10–10:15 a.m. | Break
10:15–11:30 a.m. | Breakout Sessions 1
1A: Climate Communication & Youth Mobilization
Marquee Theater — Youth activists, journalists, scientists, and other communicators are playing a major role in bringing the climate crisis to the forefront of policy discussions. This panel will discuss climate communication strategies and their role in tackling the climate crisis.
James Mills
Position title: Course Instructor, University of Wisconsin/Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
1B: Utilities, Regulation & Electricity
Varsity Hall III — Climate change is increasingly central to regulating electricity and other utilities. Panelists will offer views on state and local decisions on providing electricity.
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Lunch & Networking
Varsity Hall I & II. Lunch will be served starting at 11:45 a.m.
1–2:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions 2
2A: Agriculture & Negative Emissions
Marquee Theater — The agricultural sector has the potential to make important contributions to our climate. This panel will address the role of agriculture in both addressing and adapting to climate change.
Gary Besaw
Position title: Director, Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture and Food Systems and Food Distribution Department
Rebecca Webster
Position title: Assistant Professor, Department of American Indian Studies, University of Minnesota-Duluth
2B: National & International Policy
Varsity Hall III — Nearly all countries have signed the Paris Climate Agreement, and most emitters have pledged to reduce emissions to net zero by mid-century. Panelists in this session will share a variety of perspectives on implementing national climate policies.
2:15–2:30 p.m. | Break
2:30–3:45 p.m. | Breakout Sessions 3
3A: Climate Science, Risk & Resilience
Marquee Theater — The effects of climate change — heat waves, wildfires, droughts, storms, and flooding — are already being felt around the world, and expected to worsen. This panel will cover the latest science on climate impacts in Wisconsin and policy actions to prepare for them.
Daniel Vimont
Position title: Professor of Climatology in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department / Director, Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research at the University of Wisconsin - Madison
3B: State & Local Policy
Varsity Hall III — Tackling the climate crisis will require action at all levels of government. Cities and states across the U.S. are setting increasingly ambitious climate goals. Panelists will discuss the state of climate policy in Wisconsin and opportunities for the future.
3:45–4 p.m. | Break
4–5 p.m. | Closing Keynote
Varsity Hall I & II
Kathryn Huff
Position title: Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy
Kathryn (Katy) Huff serves as the Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy. Prior to her current role, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received her PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2013.
5–6 p.m. | Reception & Networking
Pavillion & Lounge, 3rd floor. Appetizers will be served.