Local Youth to Convene Around Climate Action
November 06, 2023
Ariana Vruwink, 608-267-8823
County Executive, County Executive
The Dane County Youth Environmental Committee, in partnership with the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate, United Nations Association of Dane County, and 10001ways.com, will host the third annual youth climate conference, titled “Find Your Voice: Take Back Your Future” on Saturday November 11, 2023 at Madison College Truax Campus. The event is free and open to high school students from across Dane County and beyond—preregistration is encouraged.
“Climate change is a big issue for young people. Today’s high school students will be in their 40s in 2050; these youth understand the urgency of climate action because climate change jeopardizes their future plans. The youth climate conference is a terrific event because it empowers young people to be the change,” said County Executive Joe Parisi. “I look forward to seeing the creative ideas that come from this conference.”
The November conference will bring together students from 21 different high schools, including three outside of Dane County. The students will participate in sessions to learn more about communicating on climate change, influencing change within their schools and communities, educational and career opportunities in the environmental field, and the intersection of climate and social justice at both the global and local levels.
“The conference is an incredible opportunity for high schoolers to feel empowered as climate activists, by educating themselves about climate change, making connections with other passionate students in order to take collective action, sharing and enabling projects in their own green teams, and learning how to use their strength as youth,” said Xanthe Saalmann, a conference organizer and member of the Dane County Youth Environmental Committee.
The daylong conference—which includes lunch—is open to all Dane County High school students at no cost, however, preregistration on the conference website is encouraged. Walk-in youth registrations will be accepted as space allows.
The free event is possible thanks to conference sponsors including:
- Madison Gas & Electric
- UNA-USA Dane County
- Alliant Energy
- Wisconsin Creation Care Ambassadors
- Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change
- Wisconsin Energy Institute at UW Madison
- Healthy Climate Wisconsin
- 350 Wisconsin as well as numerous individual donors.
For more information about the event, including the full agenda and the link to register, visit https://www.theconnectiondane.org/2023-conference.