Welcome to Broward County (view video)

Bertha Henry, County Administrator, Broward County
The Hon. Barbara Sharief, Vice Mayor, Broward County

Summit Workshop:  Innovative Tools for Local Adaptation

Cities and regions have been leading the way in preparing for a changing climate. This workshop will present an array of case studies showcasing innovative tools and plans local communities across the nation are employing to adapt to climate impacts.

• Dr. Emily Young, Vice President, Environmental Initiatives, San Diego Foundation – Planning for Climate Resilience and Reducing Risk: The San) Diego Model (view video) (download presentation)
• Elle Beard, Project Manager, The RE.invest Initiative – RE.invest: Case Studies in Climate Adaptation Planning and Alternative Finance Strategies (view video) (download presentation)
• Julie Dennis, Planning Analyst, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity – Formalizing Adaptation Efforts with Adaptation Action Areas – Regional Strategies within the Florida Model (view video) (download presentation)
• Dr. Ben Strauss, Vice President for Climate Impacts and Director of the Program on Sea Level Rise, Climate Central – A New Vulnerability Assessment, Map, and Online Tool Suite for Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Risk in Florida (view video)(download presentation)
• Dr. Hans Gehrels, Sustainable Cities Market Team Manager, Deltares – Recent Advances in Flood Modeling: 3Di Water Management (view video) (download presentation)
• Question and answer session (view video)

Welcome to Broward County and Fort Lauderdale (view video)

The Hon. Kristin Jacobs, Mayor, Broward County
The Hon. Jack Seiler, Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale

Opening Keynote Speaker (view video)

Bob Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency

Coastal Resilience in the Wake of Sandy (view video)

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, “resilience” has become an urgent priority for communities up and down the East Coast. But what does “resilience” look like? Local government officials and experts from New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida will share their experiences in translating this concept into action on the ground.

• Moderator: Richard Grosso, Director, Environmental and Land Use Law Clinic, Nova Southeastern University
• Susanne Torriente, Assistant City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale (download presentation)
• Ben McFarlane, Regional Planner, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Virginia (download presentation)
• Anthony Mercantante, Administrator, Township of Middletown, New Jersey (download presentation)
• Stephen Marks, Assistant Business Administrator, City of Hoboken, New Jersey (download presentation)
• Sandeep Mehrotra, Vice President and New York City Office Manager, Hazen and Sawyer (download presentation)

Federal Leadership on Climate Action: A Look at Climate Initiatives and Collaboration Among Local, State, and Federal Officials (video link forthcoming)

The federal government has been an important partner to south Florida on climate change issues. President Obama’s June 2013 speech announcing a national Climate Action Plan heralds an even greater opportunity for the region to collaborate with federal agencies to expand clean energy, reduce emissions, plan for adaptation, and build resilience to extreme events. What can we expect from the federal government, and how can state and local stakeholders benefit from and support these efforts? Federal officials and regional leaders will share their perspectives on efforts to date, as well as opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

• Moderator: Daniel Kreeger, Executive Director, Association of Climate Change Officers
• Susan Ruffo, Deputy Associate Director for Climate Change Adaptation, White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Stan Meiburg, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4, US Environmental Protection Agency
• Josh Sawislak, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Infrastructure Resilience, US Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Tommy Strowd, Assistant Executive Director, Operations, Maintenance, and Construction Division, South Florida Water Management District (download presentation)
• Roman Gastesi, County Administrator, Monroe County, Florida (download presentation)

Coastal Communities Town Hall (radio rebroadcast available here)

Few states are as vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as Florida, but every part of the United States will be affected in some way. Local and regional efforts across the nation will require strong partnerships with the federal government to mitigate emissions and adapt to a changing climate. During the Town Hall, members of Congress and local leaders will share their views on climate issues facing the region and country and hear from local leaders and constituents on this vital topic.

• Moderator: Tom Hudson, Special Correspondent, WLRN-FM
• The Hon. Kristin Jacobs, Mayor, Broward County
• The Hon. Elijah Cummings (MD), U.S. House of Representatives
• The Hon. Lois Frankel (FL), U.S. House of Representatives
• The Hon. Patrick Murphy (FL), U.S. House of Representatives
• Bob Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency
• The Hon. Bobby Powell, Florida House of Representatives

• The Hon. Martin David Kiar, Commissioner, Broward County

The Compact Year in Review (view video)

• Steve Adams, Senior Program Director, US Climate Adaptation Program, Institute for Sustainable Communities

Real Estate, Development, and Insurance in Florida – Rough Seas or Smooth Sailing? (view video)

Climate related impacts cost the nation more than $100 billion in post disaster recovery in 2012. The vulnerability of the built environment to severe weather events and sea level rise exposes private insurers, the federal government, and individuals to financial risk. With a growing proportion of the nation’s population projected to reside in coastal areas in the coming decades, what does the future hold for the real estate, financial, and insurance markets? Experts will discuss the risks, responsibilities, and opportunities for our region.

• Moderator: Margaret Davidson, Acting Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Carl Hedde, Senior Vice President and Head of Risk Accumulation, Munich Re America
• Samantha Medlock, Policy and Partnerships Program Manager, Association of State Floodplain Managers
• Dev Motwani, President, Merrimac Ventures
• Jack Lansing, Vice President – Investments, UBS Financial

It’s (Almost) Always Sunny in Southeast Florida – Energy and Design Strategies for Our Communities (view video)

The demand for renewable and efficient energy options is growing, as new technologies are developed and the financial benefits increase. How are programs and planning efforts readying our region for a low- and no-carbon future? Government and industry experts will describe the rapidly changing landscape of sustainable energy and transportation options.

• Moderator: The Hon. Cindy Lerner, Mayor, Village of Pinecrest, Florida
• Patrick Sheehan, Director, Office of Energy, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Blaine Collison, Director, Green Power Partnership, US Environmental Protection Agency
• Armando Linares, Deputy Director, Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department, Broward County
• Buck Martinez, Director, Office of Clean Energy, Florida Power & Light Company

Keynote Speaker (view video)

• Dr. Debra Roberts, Deputy Head, Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, eThekwini Municipality (Durban, South Africa) (download presentation)

We, the People: Growing the Grassroots (view video)

Southeast Florida is the canary in the coal mine for sea level rise. While local leadership can advance progressive policy and planning initiatives, regional and national resilience will ultimately require commitment and action on the part of all individuals. How can we engage the people of our region to understand the coming impacts and to take action? (And what kind of action are we talking about?) A diverse group of community leaders will share their insights.

• Moderator: Shannon Estenoz, Director of Everglades Restoration Initiatives, US Department of the Interior
• Caroline Lewis, Founder and Executive Director, CLEO Institute
• Jan Booher, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton
• Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director, UPROSE
• Kathe Thompson, Palm Beach League of Women Voters

The Politics of Change – County Leadership and Regional Resilience (view video)

Established in 2009 at the first Climate Leadership Summit by the four counties of southeast Florida, the Compact has become a national model for effective regional action. County leaders will reflect on the successes of the Compact to date and the next steps for their counties and the region as a whole.

• Moderator: Jim Murley, Executive Director, South Florida Regional Planning Council
• The Hon. Kristin Jacobs, Mayor, Broward County
• The Hon. Steven Abrams, Mayor, Palm Beach County
• The Hon. George Neugent, Mayor, Monroe County
• Jack Osterholt, Deputy Mayor, Miami-Dade County