Adapting our cities to sea level rise: navigating the murky undercurrents
LISTEN TO PODCAST OF THIS EVENT
Please note that we've edited out the artistic work "A lightness of being" as it didn't translate well to a podcast!
DOWNLOAD SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS:
Parris CoastalResilience NYC (PDF, 30.16MB)
Sharon Pope - What to do as Sea Levels Rise (PDF, 4.55MB)
With recent research suggesting that global warming could raise sea levels by up to 2.5 metres by 2100 if emissions remain at current levels, the imperative to adapt our coastal zones is increasingly urgent.
New York is disproportionately exposed and vulnerable to climate change impacts, as evidenced by Hurricane Sandy.Adam Parris, an international expert on coastal adaptation, will discuss recent global sea level rise projections and policy responses, behavioural shifts and long term adaptation actions that can help build resilience. He’ll outline how New York is recovering from the hurricane and embarking on a social, ecological and technological transformation.
Sharon Pope, Manager of Integrated Planning at Lake Macquarie City Council, will discuss sea level rise in Australia and how the Council have developed and implemented their adaptation plan.
This will be followed by audience Q&A.
DRINKS AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED AFTER THE EVENT, SPONSORED BY THE US EMBASSY.
The public lecture will be preceded by A lightness of being, the first in a series of works to be presented by artists working with the Climate Change Institute on climate change. The short work traverses the underworlds of rising sea levels, Greek philosophy and finally Catharsis. It's a collaboration between ANU Visiting Fellow, Ngaio Fitzpatrick, and Dr Alexander Hunter of the ANU School of Music.
About the speakers
Adam Parris is Executive Director, Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, New York City, a partnership between governmental, research, and community organizations aimed at improving resilience in the region’s coastal waters. He has been involved in integrating sea level rise information into the coastal planning efforts of a number of US Federal agencies, as well as the states of California, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. His extensive previous experience includes directing a program connecting science to climate adaptation and preparedness decisions in different regions across the US.
Sharon Pope is Manager of Integrated Planning at Lake Macquarie City Council. The Council has just won the Planning Institute of Australia National Award for Planning Excellence for its local sea level rise adaptation plan.
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