MN Environmental Congress

Let’s connect nonprofits, cities, counties community groups & regions to plan the 2024 MN Environmental Congress with the MN EQB! to keep up our momentum across the state to co-implement our MN Climate Action Framework with regions, counties, cities, nonprofits and community-based partners. Send your ideas & suggestions, for our proposal to the EQB, and how you can help to Sean Gosiewski RCC 612 250-0389 sean@rccmn.co

Possible Agenda Ideas – MN EQB 2024 Environmental Congress – send your ideas to Sean Gosiewski RCC sean@rccmn.co

• Focus – Implementing our Minnesota Climate Action Framework
  • Re-engaging diverse stakeholders & topic-based and regional networks as partners with state agencies in co-implementing our MN Climate Action Framework
• When – Mid-year 2024, Half Day or full day event (possible follow-up virtual topic work group sessions)
• Location/Co-Hosts – Main Event in the Metro with three or more regional/remote locations.
  • Metro Event – could be Co-hosted by the Met Council, interested Metro Counties, and the six inter-agency climate goal teams and their nonprofit & utility/business partners.
  • Regional Conference Sites – could be hosted by interested Regional Development Commissions, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships CERTs Regions – with staff from state agencies based in each region.

• Format – primarily in person (with virtual option for overflow & the COVID cautious.) Careful planning is needed to facilitate effective large and small group participation in Hybrid events.
• Plenary speakers/presentations live streamed from a central location –
  • Governor’s welcome, intro and reminder of the role of the EQB
  • How is MN doing? – update MPCA Climate Report Card for state Compare MN with other high performing states (and related adaptation, economic and demographic trends.)
  • Progress updates, opportunities for action & partnership invitations from the six inter-agency climate goal teams – Clean Energy &  Efficient Buildings, Clean Transportation, Climate-Smart Natural and Working Lands, Resilient Communities, Healthy Lives and Communities and Clean Economy
  • Supporting local implementation – update from MPCA and Met Council on their IRA EPA Carbon Pollution Reduction Work Plans and process for local units of government applying together or independently for EPA CPRP implementation grants. 

• Topic Break Outs – facilitated by the six inter-agency climate goal teams – reviewingopportunities & brainstorming gaps, next steps for collaborative implementation. Regional events would have the same small group topics facilitated by local resource people –
  • Clean Energy & Efficient Buildings,
  • Clean Transportation,
  • Climate-Smart Natural and Working Lands,  
  • Resilient Communities, 
  • Healthy Lives and Communities and
  • Clean Economy
• Regional Conversations – reviewing opportunities & brainstorming gaps, next steps for collaborative implementation.