Attendees listen to the opening keynote address
Thank you to everyone who attended MVCEF’s 10th Annual Statewide Environmental Summit, which took place on Saturday, January 28th at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Attended by over 100 activists, students, advocates, state employees and educators, the Summit was a great success.
This year’s Summit tackled the question:
“Is the environmental movement still relevant in Missouri?”
All presenters – from DNR Director Sara Parker Pauley, to our break-out session presenters, to our closing panelists, concluded that YES, the environmental movement is critically important. But they acknowledged that we’ve lost political and organizational power, at least for the moment. And while we face a difficult political and economic environment, is it up to us as citizens to work together, create a common message, and widen our tent to strengthen the voice of Missouri’s conservation community.
Closing panelists discuss "Is the environmental movement still relevant in Missouri?"
Summit attendees also learned about specific environmental issues and challenges facing Missouri at various break-out sessions. Topics included:
- Building green: good for our environment, our economy, and our children
- Nuclear and coal – are they worth the risk?
- Planting the seeds for a healthier food policy
- Protecting our water resources, from stream to watershed
- The journey towards smart energy policy
- Sustainable land stewardship, from parks to prairies
- Widening the tent: building a more inclusive environmental movement
