Challenged by increasing temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, sea level rise, as well as intense and frequent weather events, how will large urban centers like New York City, as well as smaller communities, adapt to climate change vulnerabilities? Efforts to limit climate change are no longer enough - we need to develop a response that pairs climate mitigation with adaptation... [read more]

Challenged by increasing temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, sea level rise, as well as intense and frequent weather events, how will large urban centers like New York City, as well as smaller communities, adapt to climate change vulnerabilities? Efforts to limit climate change are no longer enough - we need to develop a response that pairs climate mitigation with adaptation strategies.

Climate effects may result in coastal erosion and associated damage to ports, roads, and other coastal infrastructure, flooding, salinity intrusion into water supplies, and inadequacy of existing infrastructure to handle these changes. Cities around the world will have to invest in costly infrastructure as well as develop public health and natural disaster response strategies. How do we predict the effects of climate change on a local level? How do we identify vulnerabilities and ways to adapt?

Join the SPN panel of experts to review the current state of climate change research and preparation in NYC and other urban centers. We will explore the issues of infrastructure, environmental and economic changes, and discuss tools to develop adaptation strategies and recommendations on how to achieve an effective climate resilience program.

Moderator: David Kooris, Vice President and Director, CT. and Hudson Valley, Regional Plan Association

Panelists: Michael Marrella, Director of Waterfront and Open Space Planning at New York City Department of City Planning ; Chris Zeppie, Director of Environmental Policy, Programs and Compliance, Port Authority of New York, New Jersey; Jake Baker, Associate, Energy Efficiency Finance, Deutsche Asset Management; Malcolm Bowman, Professor of Physical Oceanography and Distinguished Service Professor Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook