Nov. 7, 2019
There’s still time to register for Climate 2020: Seven Generations for Arizona, the first solutions-focused statewide climate summit for all Arizonans to be hosted at NAU Friday and Saturday Nov. 15-16. A free performance by hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and screening of “Ice on Fire”at the Orpheum TheaterNov. 15 is free to all, and tickets are available now at locations around campus and Flagstaff.
With partnership from Arizona State University, University of Arizona and communities throughout the state, Climate 2020: Seven Generations for Arizona is a two-day event that will bring together youth, community leaders, decisionmakers and researchers to discuss Arizona’s vulnerabilities to the climate crisis and consider how the state can respond. Featuring a youth town hall and climate action forum led by high school leaders from throughout Arizona, the summit features more than 40 speakers on a broad range of issues including climate and health, rural resilience, community action, water and wildfire response and management. The keynote sessions on Nov. 15 will be livestreamed on Twitter, Instagram and NAU-TV.
Bruce Hungate, director of the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (Ecoss) at NAU, which is one of the sponsors of the summit, spoke about the importance of addressing these issues in Arizona.
“We know that the changes happening globally affect Arizona, and we’re observing them everywhere: under the microscope, on our farms and in our front yards,” said Hungate, who is chair of the McAllister Initiative on Community, Culture, and Environment. “It’s time for a new kind of conversation, one that brings all of our voices to bear on the big question: What do we want to do now?”
The summit aims to transform the conversation about climate in Arizona, moving beyond drought contingency plans and into a comprehensive and future-oriented framework of creative and science-driven decision-making. Summit partners include Ecoss, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, the Center for Health Equity Research, the Biology Department, Green Fund, Student Activities Council, the Sustainability Program of Flagstaff and a corps of more than 50 NAU volunteers.
Summit registration is $10 for university students, faculty and staff. To learn more or to register, visit https://climate2020arizona.nau.edu/