Trainings & Events

Offering support to all Sustainable CT registered communities with Brownfields, the UConn Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) program offers no-cost technical assistance to New England municipalities on an ongoing basis. Join UConn TAB for their Spring & Summer Webinar series. Links to register for the webinars, as well as more information, will be updated continuously.
 

Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (CEEJAC) was established in Executive Order 21-3 to provide guidance to the Commissioner of CT's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) on issues related to the state's historic and current environmental injustice and inequities across the state. The Council convenes quarterly to hear updates from subcommittees and discuss key projects. All Quarterly Meetings are open to the public. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
 

This informative day will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking, a catered lunch, and exhibitors. Attendees will benefit from a variety of themed breakout sessions, providing education on composting related to the basics, home, farm, municipal, schools, and medium to large scale operations. The event will highlight how composting can benefit local communities, businesses, the environment, and improve climate resiliency.
 

The Connecticut Urban Forest Network will join us to discuss their work as a collaborative, multi-year grant funded project supported by The Nature Conservancy, which runs through 2028. Through a series of interconnected urban forestry initiatives, they intend to connect communities, local governments, and professionals engaged in urban forestry and related fields, to accelerate shared learning, foster an expanded network of volunteers, supporters, and advocates, and to amplify the diverse work being led by communities. By deepening an urban forest network in Connecticut, more trees will be planted and stewarded, ultimately mitigating extreme heat and improving human health.

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join the Connecticut Water Planning Council's Outreach and Education Workgroup on Friday, March 20 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM for a virtual webinar on Watersheds 101 in Connecticut. Streams and rivers drain an area of land often referred to as a watershed. Staff from CT DEEP will provide an overview of watersheds in Connecticut and review some of the ways watersheds are used in water management.
 

The bird is the word. The early bird, that is. Now’s your chance to score discounted registration rates to the 42nd annual Connecticut Land Conservation Conference, the largest gathering of land conservation professionals and allies in the state. Early bird registration ends February 23. Check out the workshop schedule and register today.
 

 Join Live Green CT to learn about Home Energy Solutions and heat pump installations. Hear how they can save you money and keep your home warmer this winter!
 

The Sustainable West Hartford Commission is excited to present a Climate Change talk featuring Dr. Charles E. Button, Professor of Geography & Sustainability, Central Connecticut State University in Rm 400 of Town Hall on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 6:30 PM. There is also a virtual option for this event. You can watch the WHCi livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/live/Yp-xKC9CHJs

This presentation will cover:

• The current scientific state of climate change
• Practical actions individuals can take
• Steps municipalities can implement to build resilience
• Q&A

Presenter: Ashley Benítez, CT GIS Office

Host: UConn CLEAR

The Connecticut GIS Parcel Data Creation Guidance and Specifications (“Parcel Guidance”) is a technical framework developed by the GIS Advisory Council’s Parcel Data Creation Working Group in collaboration with the Connecticut GIS Office. This guidance establishes consistent methods and quality standards for creating, maintaining, and updating parcel GIS data, ensuring uniformity and interoperability across the state.

In this webinar, we will provide an overview of the Parcel Guidance, explain its purpose, and discuss why it is critical for municipalities, data creators, and GIS professionals. While not a formal parcel standard, this guidance offers practical recommendations for digitizing and managing parcel data effectively. Attendees will gain insight into best practices, technical specifications, and the benefits of adopting a consistent approach to parcel data creation.
 

The Edwin Way Teale Lecture Series —"Nature and the Environment" — honors the legacy of a prominent American naturalist, photographer, and writer who helped bridge the gap between the conservation and ecological movements of the 20th century.

All lectures are free, open to the public, and unless otherwise noted held at 4 p.m. in the Konover Auditorium at the Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn’s main campus in Storrs. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the Teale lectures in person in Konover Auditorium. However, those who cannot do so may watch each lecture as it occurs using this live streaming link.

Upcoming Lectures:

February 26: “How Can Individuals, Organizations, and Nations Make Better Sustainability Decisions?” - Tom Dietz (University Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Environmental Science & Policy, & Animal Studies, Michigan State University)

March 26: “Women, Water, Violence and Wellbeing In The Face of Climate Change” - Susan J. Elliott (Professor & University Research Chair in Health Geography, University of Waterloo, Canada)

April 2nd: “Back to the Wall, Face to the Sun: The Climate Crisis and the Renewable Answer” - Bill McKibben (Middlebury College; Founder of 350.org and of Third Act)
 

​Join Connecticut's Urban Forest Network for the Urban and Community Peer Learning Exchange for the Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) Region! This will be an opportunity to:

• ​Share urban and community forestry successes and challenges
• ​Advance transformative urban forestry project ideas
• ​Build connections
• ​Learn about innovative funding models

​This event, supported by The Nature Conservancy, MetroCOG, and partners, is an interactive opportunity to advance urban and community forestry initiatives for the health and well-being of Connecticut residents.

​See the agenda below for more information.

• ​Optional morning refreshments (8:30-9:00)
• ​Introduction to the Peer Learning Exchanges and Urban Forest Network Project - TNC (9:00-9:15)
• ​Brief introductory presentation from support groups/technical experts (9:15-9:45)
• ​Lightning round presentations from municipal and community leaders on how they are approaching management of their urban forest. What's working, what's not (9:45-10:45)
• ​Break (10:45-11:00)
  • ​Project development breakout session (11:00-12:00)
  • ​Facilitated small group discussions to workshop project ideas. 
  • ​Explore possible funding opportunities, including those suitable and eligible for SustainableCT matching grant program.
• ​Breakout group report out and identification of synergies and shared approaches (12:00-12:30)
• ​Lunch (12:30-1:00)
• ​Optional site walk/planting (1:00-2:00)

​For your consideration:

• ​What are the successes and challenges you encounter related to urban forestry in your community?
• ​Is there an opportunity to deepen your engagement in urban forestry?

​Location to be determined within the MetroCOG area.
 

Please join the Long Island Sound Partnership and the CT Sea Grant Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) team at the 3rd Annual Long Island Funding Workshop! The event is free and lunch will be provided.

Registration will be required by March 26th

Attendees will hear from program officers representing various local, state, and regional funding organizations and be able to engage in discussions with funders to explore project ideas and ways to improve funding applications. Attendees will also hear from a panel of successful awardees about their experiences and strategies. The workshop is intended for municipal officials and staff, nonprofits, community organizations, and other interested groups in the Long Island Sound region.

Draft Agenda:

• Lightning Talk Presentations from Funders – local, state, federal, and Long Island Sound-focused funding opportunities
• Lunch (provided)
• Successful Awardees Panel – Hear from communities that have been successful in applying to these grant opportunities
• Roundtable Discussions – Participants encouraged to interact with funders and panelists

Featured Funding Opportunities:

• Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
• Congressionally Directed Spending 
• CT Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team (CTBILT) & CT Fed Funds Team
• CT DECD Community Investment Fund
• CT DECD Office of Brownfield Remediation & Development
• CT DEEP CERCLA 128(a) Brownfield Grant Program
• CT DEEP Climate Resilience Fund
• CT DEEP Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program
• CT DEEP Recreational Trails
• CT DEEP Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants
• CT DEEP Urban Green & Community Gardens Grant Program
• CT Federal Funding Planning Team
• CT Land Conservation Council
• Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund
• Long Island Sound Futures Fund
• Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund
• New England Environmental Finance Center
• UConn Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB)

Email [email protected] with questions.

Explore sea level rise & climate change with national experts as they examine the human and ecological challenges our coastlines face.

The Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment at Connecticut College is proud to be hosting the 2026 Lear-Conant Environmental Symposium, Sea Level Rise: Measurement, Understanding, Adaptation.

Over the coming decades sea level rise, accelerated by climate change, will pose major challenges to densely populated coastal regions, including ecological and human impacts on coastal Connecticut and the Long Island Sound region. Relative sea level – the height of the sea level relative to land at a particular place – is a complex phenomenon affected by many variables, including water temperature, global sea level rise caused by melting ice, sedimentation, coastal infrastructure, and land subsidence.

This Lear-Conant Symposium will bring together dynamic researchers across varied disciplines and fields. Each of the speakers will discuss topics that consider the complexities of sea level, how we measure it, understand it, and what it means for human and ecological communities. This symposium builds on the strong tradition at Connecticut College of coastal salt marsh ecology and research on the impacts of sea level changes on tidal wetlands. The symposium will also provide an opportunity to discuss and explore what it means to care for places and communities that will be affected by sea level rise.

In conjunction with the symposium, the Goodwin-Niering Center will be hosting a small Coastal-Climate Exposition that will feature local community groups, NGO's, student groups and more. Space is limited, but if you're interested in exhibition tabling information, please contact the center at [email protected], subject line: SLR Expo.

Agenda's for both days are below. We will continuously update the event page and the symposium website with details and relevant news.
 

Join Connecticut's Urban Forest Network for the Urban and Community Forestry Peer Learning Exchange for the South Central Regional Councils of Government (SCRCOG) Region! This will be an opportunity to:

• ​Share urban and community forestry successes and challenges
• ​Advance transformative urban forestry project ideas
• ​Build connections
• ​Learn about innovative funding models

​This event, supported by The Nature Conservancy, SCRCOG, and partners, is an interactive opportunity to advance urban and community forestry initiatives for the health and well-being of Connecticut residents!

​See the agenda below for more information.

• ​Optional morning refreshments (8:30-9:00)
• ​Introduction to the Peer Learning Exchanges and Urban Forest Network Project - TNC (9:00-9:15)
• ​Brief introductory presentation from support groups/technical experts (9:15-9:45)
• ​Lightning round presentations from municipal and community leaders on how they are approaching management of their urban forest. What's working, what's not (9:45-10:45)
• ​Break (10:45-11:00)
• ​Project development breakout session (11:00-12:00)
  • ​Facilitated small group discussions to workshop project ideas.
  • ​Explore possible funding opportunities, including those suitable and eligible for SustainableCT matching grant program.
• ​Breakout group report out and identification of synergies and shared approaches (12:00-12:30)
• ​Lunch (12:30-1:00)
• ​Optional site walk/planting (1:00-2:00)

​For your consideration:

• ​What are the successes and challenges you encounter related to urban forestry in your community?
• ​Is there an opportunity to deepen your engagement in urban forestry?

​Location to be determined within the SCRCOG area.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

The Connecticut River Museum will host the third annual Connecticut River Valley Environmental Summit at Wesleyan University on May 2, 2026. Guided by the theme of “Stewardship in Action,” Environmental leaders will present sessions on pressing issues affecting the Connecticut River watershed, engaging an audience that includes scientists, policymakers, academics, cultural institutions, and more. This event serves as a platform for watershed professionals and community stakeholders to learn from their peers, forge new connections, and explore opportunities for collaboration and coalition building to keep Connecticut's waterways healthy and safe for future generations.
 

The 2026 Sustainable CT Virtual Equity Training Series is a free, practical, action-focused learning experience designed to help municipal leaders move from equity concepts to confident application in real time. Attendance at all three sessions is required.

Participants will work with scenario-based coaching and peer learning, using real challenges from their communities such as budgeting tradeoffs, policy revisions, resident engagement tension, and team dynamics. Anyone is welcome to register and participate.

Session One runs 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on May 6. Sessions Two and Three run from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, on May 20 and June 3. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live, interactive training and will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will actively participate in three different workshops:

May 6 - Equity in Action – From Principles to Practice: Clarify shared commitments and apply an equity lens to current municipal practices to identify practical opportunities for change.

May 20 - Building Trust and Cross-Town Coalitions: Go deeper on trust-building, communication, and collaboration across departments and communities. Includes guided small-group breakouts to problem-solve shared challenges and navigate politically sensitive moments.

June 3 - Measuring What Matters and Sustaining Momentum: Define meaningful equity measures, track progress, and build strategies to sustain the work through leadership transitions, shifting priorities, and budget cycles.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.