2022 Southwest Florida Climate Summit to be held April 7 and 8
A free public virtual event to share knowledge, showcase climate action, engage leadership, and mobilize the collaboration needed to build more resilient communities.
Southwest Florida: The Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) is excited to host the 2022 Southwest Florida Climate Summit. This public event will be held on April 7th and 8 from 9 am to 4:30 pm, with both virtual and in-person participation options. The Summit will feature experts with interactive audience question and answer sessions, to exchange ideas on expanding the region’s capacity to respond to climate challenges and to build climate resilience in our communities.
The 2021 Southwest Florida Climate Summit will cover topics including the Regional Climate Changes, Water, Wetland, Land and Wildlife Impacts and efforts to build their resiliency, Climate Impacts to Communities including Food, Health and Culture, and Building More Resilient Communities including Florida Communities Leading the Way and Local Resiliency Initiatives. Presenters from US Environmental Protection Agency, US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, South Florida Water Management District, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Archbold Biological Station, as well as from academic institutions such as Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, West Virginia University, Florida Gulf Coast Water School, and more will be sharing their expertise and answering questions from the audience. Additionally, there will be addresses from Climate leaders such as Senator Marco Rubio, US Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz, Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services Nikki Fried, and Florida’s Chief Resiliency Officer Dr. Wesley Brooks.
“With continued sea level rise, severity and frequency of severe storms and wildfires, and other climatic changes occurring here in Southwest Florida,” says Jennifer Hecker, Executive Director of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership, “it is imperative that we accelerate our efforts to build more resilient communities. The Climate Summit is intended to convene climate professionals and the public to advance collective climate work in our region.”
The event is sponsored by WGCU Public Media. Online registration is required in advance, free for virtual attendees and $25 for both days to attend in-person (free for students). For registration and additional information, please visit chnep.org/2022-climate-summit.
