Tribal Nations are disproportionately impacted by climate change, including extreme weather, and have also been leaders in implementing climate change solutions. The CO2 Foundation is supporting a conference which will enable Tribal Nations in Wisconsin to connect with resources and each other in order to increase their capacity to address and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

There are twelve Tribal Nations in Wisconsin, and each one is at a different stage of adapting to and mitigating climate change. At the Climate Fast Forward conference in 2022, hosted by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, a working group called Traditional Perspectives on the Environment identified that Tribal Nations in Wisconsin are seeking opportunities to learn from and collaborate with each other.

Many Tribal Nations staff members are seeking to connect with climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts by other Tribal Nations in Wisconsin, as well as technical resources and funding available to Tribal Nations. This conference will give Tribal Nations staff the opportunity to learn from each other, find opportunities to collaborate and work together to advance climate change action within their governments and across the area now known as Wisconsin.

The Climate Adaptation Conference for Tribal Nations in Wisconsin is a collaborative effort co-hosted by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters (the Academy), the Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WTCAC), and Sustainable Development Institute at the College of Menominee Nation (SDI).

The CO2 Foundation is looking forward to supporting the 12 Tribal Nations of Wisconsin to tackle the pressing issue of climate change, while fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and resource optimization. The relationship-based approach to organizing and executing this conference offers a model on how to strategically connect and collaborate across diverse governments.