The Midwest Climate Collaborative envisions a carbon neutral, climate resilient, interconnected Midwest region.

Our Mission

To facilitate the development of a coherent Midwestern response to the climate crisis through acceleration of climate action, knowledge generation, and leader development led by a cross-sector collaboration of key organizations throughout the Midwest.

Our Staff

Director – Heather B. Navarro

Administrative Assistant – Nicole Angeli

Program/Operations Manager – Kevin Hahn

MCC Intern – Jordyn Ederer (WU)

MCC Communications Intern – Erin Prein (WU)

MCC Summit Intern – Grace Gasaway (IUPUI)

Climate Research Agenda Grad Student Assistant – Tobeya Ibitayo

Midwest Climate Summit Event Planner – Marcia McIntyre

Steering Committee

Gabriel Filippelli, Chancellor’s Professor Director of the Center for Urban Health
Executive Director, Environmental Resilience Institute
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

Amber Greaney, Livable Cities Solution Manager
KERAMIDA, Inc.

Greg Kozak, Director of Sustainability
Northwestern University

Missy Nergard, Director of Sustainability
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Elysia Russell, Director of Sustainability
City of St. Louis, MO

Tyler Strom, Managing Director
Illinois Agri-Food Alliance

Phil Valko, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Sustainability
Washington University in St. Louis

High Level Goals

Accelerate Climate Solutions

Shape Public Understanding and Policy

Leverage the Power of Science & Research

Develop Climate Leaders

Develop an Effective Collaborative

The vision, mission, and goals for the collaborative were shaped by meaningful interaction of over 20 major Midwest institutions and organizations through extensive engagement beginning in March 2020 and progressing through the Fall 2020 Midwest Climate Summit Think Tank Series. Following the Think Tank Series, the partners held a series of reflection and strategy meetings to craft objectives and strategies for the Midwest Climate Collaborative, which launched on January 28, 2022.

Activities

Current Primary Projects

Annual Overarching Structure

  • Midwest-wide Climate Research Agenda
  • Asset Map and Interactive Database of Midwestern Climate Work
  • Climate Ambassadors Program
  • Educator Community of Practice
  • Student-focused Midwest Climate and Sustainability Conference
  • Climate Commitments
  • Annual In-Person Network Meeting Alongside Annual Midwest Climate Summit with Rotating Location
  • Topical and Regional Interest Working Groups/Pop-up Events
  • Monthly/Quarterly Virtual Relationship Building Meetings
  • Regularly Scheduled Steering Committee Meetings

MCC Launch Founding Members – January 26, 2023

MCC Members

Academy of Science – St. Louis
American Lung Association
City of Brentwood, MO
Building Energy Exchange Kansas City
Building Energy Exchange St. Louis
Capital Area Regional Planning Commission
Carleton College
City of Carbondale, IL
City of Carmel, Indiana
Case Western Reserve University
City of Clayton, MO
Clean Air Task Force
Climate Central
Climate Action KC
City of Columbus, Ohio
Clean Air Task Force
Delta Institute
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Earth Charter, Indiana
Employment Connection
EnergyCare
City of Evanston, Illinois
Foundation for Regeneration
KERAMIDA ENVIRONMENTAL, Inc.
Illinois Agri-Food Alliance
Indiana University
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
City of Indianapolis, IN
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Iowa State University
Kanas City Zoo & Aquarium
City of Kansas City, Missouri
Lincoln University
Loyola University of Chicago
Mississippi River Network
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Gateway Green Building Council
Missouri Historical Society
MOST Policy Initiative
M-RETS
City of Naperville, IL
National Great Rivers Research and Education Center
The Nature Conservancy in Illinois
The Nature Conservancy, Nebraska Program
Northland College
Northwestern University
Principia College
Renew Missouri
City of St. Louis, Missouri
Saint Louis Science Center
Saint Louis Zoo
Sierra Club, Hoosier Chapter
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The Ohio State University
The Resilient Activist
University of Chicago
University of Michigan
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Urban Harvest STL
Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability
Urban Land Institute – St. Louis
Village of Northbrook, IL
Washington University in St. Louis