Conference examines Central Valley’s role in state’s climate future

Stanford University’s Bill Lane Center for the American West, in partnership with the California Water Institute and the Maddy Institute at Fresno State, will host the 11th annual Eccles Family Rural West Conference at Fresno State’s Linda and Stewart Resnick Student Union on Feb. 26 and 27.

The conference is free and open to the public. This year’s conference theme is “People and Places: Resourcing California’s Climate Future in the Central Valley.” Centered in a region that is a crossroad between environmental sustainability, economic resilience and community engagement, the event will explore the Central Valley’s vital role in addressing climate change and its impact on rural communities.

In its commitment to advancing scholarly and public understanding of the past, present and future of Western North America, the Bill Lane Center and its partners are collaborating to assemble speakers, presentations and panel discussions featuring influential voices in climate science, policy and community development.

Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval will deliver the keynote address and attendees will have the opportunity to connect with academics, practitioners and policymakers shaping the future of the rural West. Key topics include the future of working lands, agriculture, energy and water resources in the context of climate action.

For program details and updates, visit the event webpage. To attend, submit an RSVP by Feb. 18. For more information, contact the California Water Institute at 559.278.7001.

(Story by Julissa Zavala)