“The Climate Economy in Southern Illinois – Creating Resilient Businesses, Jobs and Communities” took place in Carbondale on June 12, 2019. It brought together experts in energy, economic diversification and innovation to provide attendees with education and resources for community resilience in the face of climate change. Key takeaways from the event included (in no specific order and not exhaustive):

• There is a lot we have forgotten about what it means to be human.
• Disconnection from nature is a problem in our society, especially for kids.
• The money is there for new projects; people just need to ask about it.
• We need to keep this group going because it’s got a lot of expertise.
• People need education and resources about the transition in energy, the economy and society.
• People want to do better.
• Preparation and proactive policies are needed.
• Everything takes time but we have to start.
• We need to take care of people and the Earth.
• We need a new generation of farmers.
• We all need to work together
• This is just the beginning.
• We need to put people first instead of the economy/money.
• We all have a big choice ahead of us.
• We need a local focus on problem solving.
• Collaboration is key.
• We have so much to do!

Event Presentations and Videos

Innovation

Event Assets: The Climate Economy in Southern Illinois - Creating Resilient Businesses, Jobs and Communities - June 12, 2019

• Click here to read Keynote and Panelist Bios and Topics.
• Keynote: Albert Bates, Founder and President of Global Village Institute for Appropriate Technology, Chief Permaculture Officer, eCO2, for Cool Design, and Co-Author of BURN: Using Fire to Cool the Earth (carbon cascades)
  • View Albert's Slides: Putting the Carbon Back in Carbondale
  • View the Video of Albert's Keynote Presentation
• Panel Discussion:
  • View Video of the Innovation Panel Discussion
  • Albert Bates
  • Adena Rivas, Community Programs Coordinator, City of Springfield (new directions for plastics recycling)
    • Adena's Slides
  • Kelly Pearson, Shawnee National Forest (ecotourism partnerships)
    • Kelly's Slides
  • Dr. Kofi Akamani, SIU Forestry Assistant Professor (community strategies for ecosystem management)
    • Dr. Akamani's Slides
  • Dr. Paul Anderson - retired professor, inventor (carbon credits and blockchain)
    • Dr. Anderson's Slides

You can have a kickoff event in your town!

A kickoff event can happen in any town! You can take the basic template of this full-day event and do it locally. You just need a "catalyst," either an individual or organization (school or nonprofit, e.g.) to take the lead, and a main sponsor helps too. You might ask: why would I want to do that?

A kickoff brings everyone together, inspires and gets the imagination going, and provides great networking opportunities. Plus, it gets you prepared for what is to come, which we have no way of knowing for sure. Since the June 2019 event, Carbondale has spruced up its climate action plan and hired a city sustainability manager, the state of Illinois passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, and much more! There is funding available now finally for everything we got rolling back in 2019, and things are still moving in all kinds of new directions. Coincidence? Maybe, but it helps to be prepared!

We continued our local efforts with online events throughout 2000-2021 and started doing resilience fairs and weekly meetings in fall 2021. Also in 2020-2021, we set up the CLimate Economy Action Network for online education, community groups and project management, and resource exchange, which is free and open for everyone anywhere to use. It's a process! Groups have moved ahead with new businesses, projects and grant proposals. 

If you'd rather start a little smaller, you could go with a resilience fair, which is just an hour or two, and pretty much zero budget with the help of local partners. Read more.

Please contact us if you have any questions, or want any help: Amy McMorrow Hunter, 618.713.2896, amy @ the climate economy . com (no spaces).

Thanks to the Just Transition Fund for Sponsoring!

• Special thanks to all keynotes, panelists, attendees and tablers, and to Town Square Market for the fabulous food and drinks.
• City of Carbondale: Special Thanks to City of Carbondale, Sustainability Commission, for sponsoring part of our Civic Center fee.
• Prairie Rivers Network: Special thanks to Prairie Rivers Network for providing travel funds.
• Southern Illinois Community Foundation: Special thanks to SICF for acting as fiduciary.

And thanks to the remainder of our forum participants:

• University of Illinois Extension: https://extension.illinois.edu; University of Illinois Extension works with you to bring scientifically-based, locally focused tools to your community. Urbana, Illinois.
• Keep Carbondale Beautiful: www.keepcb.org; Keep Carbondale Beautiful initiates, plans, and directs cooperative efforts in litter control, recycling, community beautification, and environmental education. Carbondale, IL.
• Illinois Biochar Group AND Juntos Energy Solutions NFP: www.illinoisbiochargroup.org; IBG promotes biochar issues in Illinois and surrounding states. Juntos NFP (based in Illinois) has projects in India with cookstoves that generate carbon offsets and make charcoal. Normal, Illinois.
• StraightUp Solar: www.straightupsolar.com; StraightUp Solar is a full turnkey, BBB A+, locally owned and environmentally-conscious Certified B Corp solar installer founded in 2006. St Louis, MO.
• Faith in Place: www.faithinplace.org; Interfaith Earth care nonprofit. Harrisburg, IL.
• CarbondaleSpring.org
• Sierra Club
• AES Solar
• Albert Bates
• Dr. Paul Anderson

This was just the beginning, so stay tuned at si.theclimateeconomy.com!