The University of Michigan is gearing up to host its first Climate Week, a series of engaging and innovative events focused on collaboration, engagement and collective action aimed at building momentum and hope for a sustainable future.
Climate Week is Sept. 27 to Oct. 5 on the Ann Arbor campus and is led by the Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action and in close partnership with the School for Environment and Sustainability.
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The university-wide initiative will bring together U-M students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to address the urgent environmental challenges of our time, said Liesl Clark, SEAS director of sustainable climate action engagement. Its goal is to develop innovative solutions and drive meaningful climate action, demonstrating how one university, working together with its broader community, can help shape a better, healthier world for all.
“U-M’s inaugural Climate Week grew from an interest in elevating and amplifying the amazing work that is happening all over campus to create solutions for communities,” said Clark, who is co-organizing the event.
“The week — and the momentum that it represents — gathers our disparate threads and weaves them together for a stronger outcome. Climate change isn’t slowing down, and neither are we.”
More than 25 U-M units will participate in Climate Week, including the Office of Campus Sustainability, Student Life Sustainability, Michigan Medicine, Global CO2 Initiative, Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, Graham Sustainability Institute, William Davidson Institute, Arts Initiative, Campus Farm, and the Flint and Dearborn campuses.
Climate Week will officially kick off at noon Sept. 29 on Ingalls Mall, and will feature speeches from university, student and community leaders, including Shalanda Baker, inaugural vice provost for sustainability and climate action. Art performances, hands-on activities and an afternoon of service and action for the campus community are also planned.
“Climate Week is not only about events, it’s about showing climate leadership, which is more important now than ever before,” Baker said. “U-M’s long history on sustainability, climate action and environmental justice coupled with its staggering depth and breadth on climate position the university to lead during this decisive decade. I’m thrilled to see this community come together during this historic moment.”
Headlining the week will be three keynote speakers. Wawa Gatheru, founder and executive director of Black Girl Environmentalist, will present “From Intersections to Action: Creating Equitable Climate Solutions Together.” Her talk is at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 29 in the Michigan Union Pendleton Room.
Jennifer Granholm, former U.S. energy secretary and former governor of Michigan, will deliver the 23rd annual Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability on Sept. 30. The fireside chat, “Powering Tomorrow, Together: Uniting for a Clean Energy Future,” is at 5:30 p.m. in Rackham Auditorium.
The Wege Lecture is U-M’s signature sustainability talk and is hosted by SEAS and its Center for Sustainable Systems.
Diana Hernandez will deliver a keynote address about her book, “Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy,” at 9 a.m. Oct. 1 in the Michigan League Ballroom, which will be followed by a fireside chat with Tony Reames, SEAS Tishman Professor of Environmental Justice and the director of the SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic.
Events are free and open to the public, but registration is required for certain events, including the Gatheru and Granholm keynotes. Live streaming will be available for those unable to attend registered events in person.
Other Climate Week highlights include:
- Sept. 28: Harvest Fest, a celebration of U-M’s student-driven food initiatives, emphasizing sustainability, social justice and creativity.
- Sept. 28: Refugia Festival, which advocates for environmental conservation and preservation through sound.
- Sept. 30: Earthfest, which celebrates sustainability initiatives across U-M and the surrounding communities.
- Oct. 2-5: Nigamon/Tunai, an immersive art performance centered on Indigenous knowledge and the natural world.
At a time when the government is rolling back climate regulations, it’s more important than ever to stay focused on climate research and action, which is what Climate Week is about, said Jonathan Overpeck, the Samuel A. Graham Dean at SEAS.
“As a climate scientist, there’s an urgent need for action. Climate change is accelerating, and it’s supercharging disasters and hitting most harshly the poor and powerless — yet it’s solvable,” Overpeck said. “By coming together across campus and the community, we’re accelerating our collective action. There’s no doubt, this is the time to double down on our efforts to build a sustainable and equitable future for all. The moment is now.”
