JUPITER, FLORIDA — Florida Climate WeekSM, a free virtual forum scheduled for April 19-23, will bring together organizations and individuals driving action on climate change, including WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy.
The event is being developed and hosted by the nonprofit VoLo Foundation to spotlight the myriad climate challenges facing Florida’s communities and the solutions being implemented to combat them. More than 40 curated sessions organized by topic and region comprise a comprehensive agenda.
For more information or to register for the event, visit www.floridaclimateweek.org.
Adding to the sweeping range of topics, WSP and the Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) will showcase their collaborative work leveraging a nature-based strategy to build coastal resilience along Apalachicola Bay. Rick Harter, WSP coastal restoration specialist; and Josh Adams, ARPC environmental planning manager, will illustrate how the “living shoreline” solution—establishing an intertidal marsh along with the introduction of oyster reefs—will protect waterfront highway infrastructure and restore ecological function of coastal habitat.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this important event, increasing awareness about solutions to the impacts of climate change on our coasts,” Harter said. “The ideas being put forth tell a compelling story about the creativity of our community and the scalability of their solutions. Our presentation focuses on one such solution that provides multiple benefits—coastal protection, ecological restoration, human health—and is easily replicable across our state and beyond.”
Other sessions planned for the week include Tracking Progress on Clean Energy Solutions, hosted by Southern Alliance for Clean Energy; Design for Sustainability & Circularity, hosted by AMLY Sustainability; Florida’s Future with Storms, Tides and Sea Level Rise with oceanographer John Englander; Urban Agriculture to Combat Climate Change, hosted by Ideas For Us; and Climate Gentrification in Miami-Dade and Broward County, hosted by Our Climate.
In addition to support from event sponsors, British Consulate-General Miami, the City of Orlando, Florida News Network and The Invading Sea, various Florida cities have declared the week of April 19 as Florida Climate week, including Clearwater, Fort Lauderdale, Deltona, Orlando, Palm Bay and West Palm Beach.
“The moment to turn the conversation into action is now, and that is what Florida Climate Week is all about,” said Thais Lopez Vogel, co-founder of VoLo Foundation. We have teamed up with a group of respected organizations to provide valuable and trustworthy data and information that will empower participants to take action and mitigate the impact of climate change in our communities.”
About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 10,000 employees in 170 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
About VoLo Foundation
VoLo Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health. VoLo Foundation believes that developing and sharing knowledge through facts and data accelerates positive global change. Through original research and analysis, and in collaboration with philanthropic and academic partners, VoLo aims to enrich the lives of individuals, strengthen communities, and educate future generations. The organization tracks its progress using a variety of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and it supports programs that generate measurable, meaningful, and sustainable results.
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