As part of its ongoing work to build the capacity of practitioners and stakeholders to advance coordinated regional climate change action, the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact hosted a three-part webinar series, The Southeast Florida Regionally Unified Sea Level Rise Projection: Understanding, Applying, and Considering the Context of the Third Regional Update. 

The Compact has recently released the third update to its Unified Sea Level Rise for the Southeast Florida Region and accompanying guidance report, which are key tools intended to assist decision-makers at both the local and regional levels to plan for and make decisions about sea level rise and associated vulnerabilities based on best-available science. 

This three-part webinar series supported those who are engaged in planning for sea level rise and educating the community around future conditions and exposure to flood hazards in better understanding the projection, how it is applied in practice across Southeast Florida, and the broader context of adapting the region for anticipated sea level rise. 

AGENDA

Webinar #1 – June 18, 1PM – 3PM EST
Southeast Florida’s 2019 Unified Sea Level Projection: The Foundations  

1PM Welcome & Session Overview 
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities

1:10PM Relevance of Unified Sea Level Rise Projection for Southeast Florida
Dr. Samantha Danchuk, Broward County 

1:30PM Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Future Sea Level Rise
Dr. Robert Kopp, Rutgers University

1:50PM Methodology and Technical Overview of 2019 Projection
Dr. Jayantha Obeysekera, Florida International University
Dr. Samantha Danchuk, Broward County 

2:30PM  Utilizing the Projection Guidance
Dr. Nancy Gassman, City of Ft. Lauderdale

2:55PM Closing Remarks
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities

Webinar #2 – June 25, 10AM – 12PM EST
Applying the 2019 Southeast Florida Unified Sea Level Projection: Best Practices & Successful Implementation

10AM Welcome & Session Overview
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities

10:10AM Assessing community vulnerability to climate change: a comprehensive and collaborative approach in Southeast Palm Beach County
Katelyn Cucinotta, Palm Beach County

10:25AM Empowering homeowners and business owners in Key West: sea level rise and private property elevation
Alison Higgins, City of Key West

10:40AM Using the projection in analysis of road elevation: Monroe County case study
Rhonda Haag, Monroe County

10:55AM Institutionalizing use of SLR projections across a diversity of city planning initiatives: Miami Beach case study
Amy Knowles, City of Miami Beach
Elizabeth Wheaton, City of Miami Beach 

11:10AM Using projections to inform planning and design: Broward County’s future conditions standards and a community resilience plan
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Broward County

11:25AM Role of sea level rise projection in the Flood Protection Level of Service Program
Akintunde Owosina, South Florida Water Management District 

11:40AM Adaptive pathways: Little River Basin in Miami 
Dr. Marjolijn Haasnoot, Deltares

11:55AM Closing Remarks
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities

Webinar #3 – July 1, 10AM – 12PM EST
Southeast Florida’s 2019 Unified Sea Level Projection: Considering the Current Context

10AM Welcome & Session Overview
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities

10:10AM  Southeast Florida’s Regional Projection in the context of Florida’s emerging statewide resilience policy and legislation
Whitney Gray, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

10:30AM Panel: Communicating sea level risk and uncertainty, listening to community concerns, and co-creating solutions
Yoca Arditi-Rocha, CLEO Institute
Katie Hagemann, Miami-Dade County
Dr. Susanne Moser, Susanne Moser Research and Consulting
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities (moderator)

11:10AM Panel: Making the case for continued, equitable investments: adaptation in the pandemic economy
Dr. Frances Colón, Jasperi Consulting
Sasha Forbes, NRDC
Jim Murley, Miami-Dade County
Steve Adams, Institute for Sustainable Communities (moderator)

11:55AM Closing Remarks
Lauren Ordway, Institute for Sustainable Communities 

Speaker Bios

Participants will leave the webinars with additional information regarding:

• Methodology of how the 2019 Sea Level Rise Projection was developed, key assumptions, and updates since the 2015 Projection 
• How future sea level rise is tied to future greenhouse gas emissions 
• How to use the projection curves in your work
• How the Sea Level Rise Projection has been applied in planning, projects, policy, and design across the region
• Communicating about risk and uncertainty with communities, the critical need for engagement and co-creation of solutions with frontline communities
• Making the Case for Continued, Equitable Investments in Adaptation

Hosted by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact with implementation support from the Institute for Sustainable Communities.