Thursday, March 6, 2025
at The Wild Center
The Adirondack Climate Conference on March 6, 2025 at The Wild Center, in partnership with Paul Smith’s College and the Adirondack Research Consortium and presented by ADK Solar, will bring together community members, regional leaders, innovative problem-solvers, and students to address climate challenges and opportunities in Northern New York. Share and hear stories of resilience, preparedness, and adaptation in local communities. The goal of the conference is to develop an inclusive network of stakeholders to make the North Country a better place to live, work, and play. Join the conversation to help strengthen local infrastructure, protect our biodiversity, and foster sustainable businesses and workforce.
The Adirondack Climate Conference is presented by
Plenary Recordings
Plenary Session 1: Climate Change: Where We Live
- Amanda Stevens - Senior Project Manager, NYSERDA
- Dr. Curt Stager - Author & Professor of Natural Sciences, Paul Smith's College
Plenary Session 2: Getting to "Our" Solution
- Tony David - Division Director, Akwesasne St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Environmental Program
- Alexandra Jacobs-Wilke - Mayor, Village of Potsdam
Plenary Session 3: New York Climate Initiatives
- Kisha Santiago-Martinez - Deputy Secretary of State, NYS Department of State
- Maureen Leddy - Director, Office of Climate Change, NYS DEC
- Suzanna Randall - Chief Resiliency Officer, NYS DEC
Plenary Session 4: North Country Rural Resilience Road Map
- Jen Kretser - Director of Climate Initiatives, The Wild Center
- Sunita Halasz - Project Coordinator, ACORN
- Zoe Smith - VP Strategic Initiatives, Paul Smith's College
Plenary Session 5: Where Do We Go From Here? - A Media Panel
- David Sommerstein (Moderator) - News Director, North Country Public Radio
- Bridget Shirvell - Freelance Journalist, Author of Parenting in a Climate Crisis
- Mike Lynch - Climate Reporter, Adirondack Explorer
- Catherine Wheeler - St. Lawrence Valley Reporter, North Country Public Radio
Key Features of the Conference
Join the ACORN network: This conference will highlight the outcomes of the Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resilience Network (ACORN), a collaborative initiative of Paul Smith’s College, The Wild Center and the Adirondack Research Consortium, aimed at enhancing climate resilience through community engagement, scientific research, and adaptive strategies. Learn how to get more involved with the ACORN network.
Hear from Regional Leaders: Local leaders, community members, policymakers, and scientists will share opportunities for addressing extreme weather and enhancing community resilience. Contribute to Solutions: The event will feature panels, workshops, and discussions with experts from across the region, including science, engineering, health, economic development, clean energy technology, and workforce development.
Collaborate: The conference will enable participants to form collaborations across the North Country, from government agencies to local organizations, businesses, students, and engaged community members.
Expected Outcomes
The Adirondack Climate Conference aims to:
Catalyze Action: Inspire local communities, organizations, and governments to implement the findings and recommendations of the ACORN project.
Strengthen Partnerships: Build stronger partnerships between communities, state and local government, organizations, scientists, and businesses, to work together on climate adaptation and mitigation.
Advance Change: Provide a platform for regional leaders to advocate for initiatives that prioritize climate resilience and sustainability.
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Network Partner
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in sponsoring this year's conference, please contact Sara Paula, Development Coordinator, at spaula@wildcenter.org. Alternatively, go to ADK Climate Conference Sponsorship to sign up for sponsorship online.
Please note: Sponsorships submitted after Friday, February 21, 2025 cannot be guaranteed inclusion of logos on conference materials. Please reach out to Sara Paula at spaula@wildcenter.org with any questions.
Become a sponsorPlease note: Sponsorships submitted after Friday, February 21, 2025 cannot be guaranteed inclusion of logos on conference materials. Please reach out to Sara Paula at spaula@wildcenter.org with any questions.
ACORN is a collaboration of Paul Smith’s College, The Wild Center, and the Adirondack Research Consortium with funding from NYSERDA and the Adirondack Foundation. The ACORN rural resilience network includes local communities, organizations, schools and colleges, and engaged individuals across the 14-county region of Northern New York State.
ACORN’s mission is to work together to identify community-driven solutions that ensure our rural region is proactive in responding to the changing climate. We identify shared projects with the goal of bringing state, federal, and foundation funding to the region to make solutions accessible to everyone.
Funding for the Adirondack Climate Outreach & Resilience Network (ACORN) by:
