Your guide to the 2026 MI Healthy Climate Conference

The fourth annual MI Healthy Climate Conference will take place on April 21 in Detroit, bringing together over 800 climate leaders, municipal officials, tribal representatives, researchers, business executives, and community organizers at Huntington Place. Led by Alessandra Carreon, Michigan's chief climate officer, this conference marks the final one under Governor Whitmer's leadership, with a theme of "Advancing Climate Action Together" focusing on implementing climate goals. The conference's central question is how Michigan can translate ambitious climate plans, including nation-leading laws passed in 2023, into real-world results, especially given recent challenges. Environmental advocates have raised concerns that data center tax incentives could potentially undermine the state's renewable energy targets, highlighting a broader tension between economic development and environmental commitments that remains unresolved. Attendees will include representatives from Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield's office, Walker-Miller Energy Services, Ford Motor Company, DTE Energy, the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority, and various state departments, universities, and environmental groups. Sessions will cover health, affordability, environmental justice, renewable energy, industrial decarbonization, and resilient infrastructure. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical executive, will discuss climate and public health, while Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome and Dr. Tony Reames from the University of Michigan will speak on environmental justice and energy affordability, respectively. The event aims to foster direct engagement between stakeholders to drive tangible change in Michigan's climate future.