Collaboration took center stage as the University of Michigan sent more than 60 students, faculty, and staff to the MI Healthy Climate Conference on April 21, with significant support from the Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action (OVPSCA).

Hosted by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the annual conference brings together climate leaders from across the state to share progress on the MI Healthy Climate Plan and advance Michigan’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. It also provides a forum to foster connections, inspire action, and mobilize resources.

The conference underscored the important role universities play in advancing statewide climate action by educating future leaders, modeling solutions, and providing expertise. At the University of Michigan, these efforts take shape through campus decarbonization initiatives and a broader commitment to integrating sustainability across research, education, and operations in alignment with the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

As part of this commitment, OVPSCA provided free registration to students from the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses through a competitive application process for those with a demonstrated interest in climate action and environmental leadership. The conference served as a platform to connect students across disciplines with environmental career pathways and deepen their engagement in campus sustainability efforts.

“The MI Healthy Climate Plan is historic and, given our shared commitments, U-M's community of researchers, students, and staff at all three campuses can actively support the State of Michigan in meeting its goals. We're delighted that our office was able to send dozens of students and staff to the conference to connect them with resources, motivate action, and equip a new generation of climate leaders to support the State’s efforts,” said Shalanda Baker, Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action. “We look forward to continuing to find ways to partner with the State to meet its historic goals on climate, sustainability, and environmental justice.”

For students, the conference offered a chance to see those partnerships and priorities in action—connecting classroom learning with practical implementation and career pathways.

Marianna Coelho Uchoa, a graduate student in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), said she “attended the conference to learn more about what stakeholders are doing to expand the MI Healthy Climate Plan in Michigan and nationwide.” Reflecting on her experience, she added, “I learned a ton about industry and building decarbonization, which are useful for my professional career as I work to advance climate and energy policies.”

That emphasis on collaboration and iterative progress aligned with the theme of this year’s conference, “Advancing Climate Action Together,” and resonated with attendees. Another SEAS graduate student, Meredith King, appreciated the conference’s focus on implementation and collaboration. “It was great to see real examples of how this plan is being carried out. I was inspired by the all-female panels I attended, which highlighted work in zoning, agriculture, and clean energy,” said King.

The University of Michigan’s strong presence at the conference reflects an ongoing partnership with the State of Michigan to advance shared climate and sustainability goals. As this work continues to evolve, the U-M community is poised to help drive progress through research, collaboration, and leadership across sectors.