AN HISTORIC SUMMIT The New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program this year provided essential support to the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy’s (ECOP) Program Action Teams (PATs), including the Climate PAT, which held a groundbreaking event in 2024. Amidst the intensifying threat of climate change, Cooperative Extension professionals from across the United States gathered in Tucson, Arizona, for a Climate Action Convening, supported by NTAE and additional funding from United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Iowa State University Extension. They reflected on the question “How can we leverage Extension’s expertise to effectively combat climate change?”
‘A Remarkable Program’ There is nothing quite like the NTAE initiative in the Cooperative Extension System. And through it, the Foundation is able to play a critical role in supporting and promoting the work of the thousands of Extension professionals around the country.
The Convening led to the following outcomes: • Network building: Climate-focused Extension leaders strengthened their connections and collaboration. • A Climate Action Plan: Participants developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan, outlining innovative solutions tailored to address the climate crisis. • Model development: Four climate change models were created to tackle specific challenges and expand Extension’s impact. • Communications strategy: A plan was devised to raise awareness about the Climate Action Plan and to forge partnerships. The Climate Action Plan, rooted in the National Climate Change Roadmap, integrates climate action with Extension’s existing priorities, such as broadband
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This is a remarkable program. It transforms ideas into realities and elevates the professional skills of team members beyond their imaginations.
—Dr. Fred Schlutt, retired Extension director and NTAE Catalyst
access, economic development, food systems, and health equity. By leveraging Extension’s embedded network within communities, these models aim to deliver equitable, measurable, and lasting climate solutions. Learn more about the Convening. Read the Climate Action Plan. See page12 for more about how NTAE funding supports ECOP’s PATs.
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2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE
EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK
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