State-wide climate summit coming in November

October 26, 2017

A first-of-its kind statewide summit November 16-17 will bring together Idahoans for an interactive two-day conversation, "Safeguarding Idaho’s Economy in a Changing Climate - Our Water, Our Land, Our Health, Our Future." Idaho business and community leaders from diverse sectors, including Idaho Power, HP, the American Lung Association, Sierra Club and Monsanto, will work side-by-side with conference participants using facilitated Human Centered Design brainstorming sessions to gain insights, learn about new business practices, build collaborations and discover solutions that make sense for Idaho’s communities, economy, lands and waters. “The idea is to recruit everyone to the table and have real conversations about real solutions - small and large, individual and collaborative - we all share the same opportunities and challenges,” said David New, Society for American Foresters, Idaho Chapter. The statewide summit will be held at Boise State University, Idaho State University (ISU),the Henry’s Fork Watershed Council in Ashton, Idaho, and at the University of Idaho (UI), from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, November 16, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, November 17, with a reception on Thursday evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Boise State University Stueckle Sky Center. Morning keynote and panel discussions will be live in Boise from the Boise State Student Union Building and streamed online for participants to view at the ISU Pond Student Union Building in Pocatello, the Henry’s Fork Foundation Office in Ashton and the UI Commons building in Moscow. Afternoon facilitated workshops will be held at all three venues. Idaho’s current economy depends on reliable sources of clean water, resilient landscapes and communities, and a healthy workforce. Yet changes, such as increased wildfire and drought, pose risks to Idaho industries from agriculture and manufacturing to outdoor recreation and healthcare. “Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause serious health problems. We see a need to talk about plans for protecting the health of our most vulnerable citizens with others in health care, with employers, and with the community," says Heather Kimmel, Executive Director, American Lung Association in Idaho. Keynote speaker Kate Gordon will present "From Risk to Return: Challenges and Opportunities for Idaho in Adapting to a Changing Climate," framing U.S. and Idaho economic risks and opportunities. “Idaho’s economy, health and lifestyles are closely tied to the health of our lands and waters,” said Bas Hargrove, senior policy representative at The Nature Conservancy. “The challenges of a changing climate impact us all. But together we are finding ways to tackle these challenges and find a path forward.” Register for Safeguarding Idaho’s Economy in a Changing Climate at www.idahoclimatesummit.com. Any business, school, organization or individual wanting to participate can do so by streaming the event in real time from www.idahoclimatesummit.com. Entities that wish to lead their own design thinking workshops can sign up for a training from Warm Springs Consulting on the “Facilitate” tab of www.idahoclimatesummit.com. Statewide workshop results will be shared in a post-summit action report to be distributed in early 2018.