Over 400 attend UMN Climate Adaptation Partnership’s resilience-focused conference in Milwaukee

The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership brought its flagship climate resilience gathering to Milwaukee in October to resounding success.

The Midwest Climate Resilience Conference is the premier forum focused specifically on climate adaptation and resilience for the Midwest and Great Lakes region.

The event brought together over 400 local, state, tribal, regional and business leaders for critical discussions around climate risks facing the region—including flooding, drought, extreme heat, and poor air quality from wildfire smoke.

“The opportunity is now to adapt to the changes we’re already seeing on the landscape and prepare for those we’re expecting in the years ahead,” said Heidi Roop, PhD, director of the Climate Adaptation Partnership, associate professor of climate science, and Extension specialist. “This event provides a vital opportunity for sharing of ideas, successes and challenges, while also forging critical connections across the region.”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Forest County Potawatomi Community Chairman Brooks Boyd addressed attendees, stressing the urgency of climate adaptation and resilience work across the Midwest.

The Climate Adaptation Partnership chose to host this year’s conference in Milwaukee because the city is a leader in adopting resilience solutions, including an ambitious stormwater management plan that helped reduce damage from historic floods this summer. Milwaukee has championed and is actively implementing 10 “big ideas” to build a more resilient and equitable future.

Alongside talks and workshops in the conference center, participants had the opportunity to tour a local dairy farm working to adopt sustainability practices and Frank Lloyd Wright-designed affordable homes that integrate nature into their design.  

“The conference was a great opportunity to bring together the spectrum of disciplines each playing a crucial part in addressing climate change: policy makers, tribal leaders, local and state government resilience leads, environmental consultants, non-profits, academia and more,” said Pat Cummens, director of government strategy and policy solutions with Esri, an Eagan-based GIS software company. “This resulted in a rich exchange of ideas, and renewed motivation to continue this important work.”

Affiliated with both University of Minnesota Extension and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership conducts climate research while also offering hands-on support to individuals and organizations across a range of backgrounds and industries in Minnesota, the Midwest region and beyond.