You’re Invited: Green Cities Accord’s Urban Tree Summit
You’re invited to Green Cities Accord’s annual event on September 17 as we launch our first ever Urban Tree Summit – an evening dedicated to learning how trees cool our neighborhoods, clean our air, and strengthen our communities.
Hosted at The Trailhead in historic Theodore Wirth Park, you’ll enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks, and a beautiful late summer evening surrounded by the urban forest as we come together to champion trees as vital infrastructure for a climate resilient future.
This year, our annual gathering is reimagined to focus on the actions needed to preserve and grow our urban forest. The evening will include a panel discussion bringing together local leaders to discuss why trees are essential urban infrastructure and how we can invest in them to grow a cooler, healthier, and more climate resilient Twin Cities. We’ll also share updates on our Urban Forest Fund and Urban Tree Carbon Offset Program, our two programs bringing new funding to plant and maintain thousands of new trees across the Twin Cities.
With special thanks to our event sponsors: Bond&Devick Wealth Partners · Minnesota Vikings · Minneapolis Foundation · Project Hive Pet Company · Cordia Energy · PNC Bank · SRF Consulting Group · Winslow Capital · Nuveen · Barr Engineering · CenterPoint Energy · Sunrise Banks
Announcing Our Fourth Urban Tree Carbon Offset Project in Partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Green Cities Accord is excited to announce our fourth urban tree carbon offset project in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). The success of our initial pilot project in 2022 paved the way for Green Cities Accord and the MPRB to pursue annual urban tree carbon offset projects, and the approval of this 4th project reflects our joint commitment to expand the protection of newly planted trees and generate new funding to plant and maintain additional trees across Minneapolis.
The funds from the sale of the carbon offsets sales have bolstered the MPRB’s forestry budget, ensuring the continuity of tree planting and maintenance efforts. In 2025, the MPRB purchased and planted 1,000 new trees with funding provided by carbon offset sales, a 15% increase in the annual number of trees planted by the MPRB.
Celebrating the 2025 MN Cup Division Winners
MN Cup is Minnesota’s premier statewide startup competition, run through the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Since its launch in 2005, it has grown into the largest statewide entrepreneurship contest in the nation, attracting innovative founders from every corner of Minnesota. In 2025, MN Cup received 1,297 applications, and 90 companies — including Green Cities Accord — were selected as semifinalists. Across nine divisions, each division winner earns $25,000, with all competing for a $50,000 grand prize, and roughly $400,000 in seed funding available overall.
Although Green Cities Accord did not advance past the semifinal round, we gained invaluable experience. The six-month competition significantly refined how we communicate about our business model and capabilities. Our team specifically enhanced its ability to target potential partners and customers, clearly articulate the problems we solve, the value we deliver, and our competitive advantage for future success.
The MN Cup Grand Finale is on Monday, October 6, where the 2025 Grand Prize Winner will be announced live.
Partner Spotlight: Minnesota Vikings
As the new NFL season kicks off, we’re celebrating the Minnesota Vikings continued partnership with Green Cities Accord. Earlier this year, the Vikings contributed $10,000 to Green Cities Accord’s Urban Forest Fund—supporting tree planting, maintenance, and habitat restoration in Theodore Wirth Park through our partners at The Loppet Foundation.
Vikings volunteers also rolled up their sleeves to help remove invasive buckthorn from the park, joined by Vikings Legends Scott Studwell and Rickey Young. Their efforts made a direct impact on improving the health of Theodore Wirth Park’s urban forest.
We’re grateful for the Vikings continued partnership in building a greener, healthier future for our communities.
2024 Annual Report Highlights
Green Cities Accord has released its 2024 Annual Report, and we’re proud to share the impact numbers from the past year. Together with our partners and supporters, we’re building a stronger, more resilient urban forest across the Twin Cities.
Last year, we enrolled and protected 18,261 newly planted trees in our carbon offset program—trees that over the next 25 years will capture 57,736 metric tons of CO₂, intercept over 111,000 m³ of rainfall, and deliver millions of dollars in energy savings and public health benefits each year once mature.
We were issued 4,388 carbon offsets, sold 3,609, and reinvested $114,700 directly back into urban tree planting through funds generated from the sale of carbon offsets and donations made through our Urban Forest Fund.
