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For climate ed I go to GLOBE.gov, climate.gov, climate.nasa.gov, serc.carleton.edu,

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City of Jacksonville hired a Resiliency Officer!

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City of Jacksonville hired a Resiliency Officer!

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https://adaptflorida.org/the-officer-julia-nesheiwat/

Also ADAPT Florida is a great news source for Environmental news in the region, with a podcast!

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Julia Nesheiwat is Florida's Chief Resilience Officer
By Brendan Rivers
Update: Julia Nesheiwat assumed the position of Florida's first-ever Chief Resilience Officer in July 2019. Her appointment was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis in August 2019. In February 2020, Nesheiwat announced she would be leaving the position of CRO to join the Trump administration as Deputy Assistant to the President working on homeland security and resilience. Chief Resilience Officer is a new position for Florida. What is it?

Listen to the full conversation with Julia Nesheiwat on the ADAPT Podcast.

This role is a coordinating role, to work with all the departments and agencies.
How did you get interested in resilience, and how will your experiences help here in Florida?
Some key areas are trying to catalyze private and federal investments, trying to obtain funding for projects, working with local officials, and trying to cut bureaucratic tape and accelerate projects.

I started off in the Army. As I was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, it was interesting to see that there wasn't running water, there were power outages, challenges with resources, and how that all tied into national security. I knew that this is something that I wanted to pursue and help make a difference.

I was also a researcher in Japan, with the Japanese government, working with companies, working with our embassy. We had a 9.0 earthquake, and then 30 minutes later this big tsunami came and devastated many villages and towns. That's what inspired my dissertation to focus on natural disasters and rising sea levels, to understand those impacts and come up with a paradigm of how we can approach this.

I also used to teach at the Naval postgraduate school. Being able to step out of the bubble and think deeply about these issues was profound, in the sense of how I could take that back to Washington and develop policies where climate change, environment, natural resources and national security were all interconnected.

When I did work in the Energy Bureau, we focused on climate change and understanding what energy technologies would help towards climate goals. With the current role, that will certainly be part of our statewide strategy, looking at energy resources.

And it's also about the interagency experience. You're working with the Department of Transportation, you're working with Economic Opportunity, you're working with Environmental Protection, you're working with Health and Education, Fish and Wildlife Conservation... I mean, all of those agencies are very important when it comes to the overall resilience and climate strategy. And that's something I was able to work on at the federal level.
Up to this point, the cost of adapting to climate change in Florida has been falling largely on local governments. What role do you see the state playing?

Photo Credit: Brendan Rivers, WJCT Public Media

What have you been working on since you were appointed in August of 2019?
That is true. We do have a lot of programs out there, especially with our Department of Environmental Protection, where we could help match funding that cities come up with. There's also quite a bit of federal funding available for resiliency. It's important that we try to harness as much as possible.

I've been traveling the state to take an inventory of the vulnerability assessments that local officials have done so we can build our plans and strategies. There are compacts between local governments - I was just in Southeast Florida for their compact's Climate Summit. The East Central Resiliency Compact just did a signing ceremony - Being able to work with all those compacts has been tremendous.
As you've been hearing from communities, what sticks out?

"Politically, everyone has come together as Floridians, really understanding we're beyond that point of what those issues are, but rather how can we come up with solutions."
- Julia Nesheiwat

There's a misconception that it's just on the coastlines that we have issues. And that's absolutely not the case. We tend to forget factors like precipitation, inland flooding, and aging infrastructure. The last four hurricanes were all Category 5, so we're dealing with stronger storms.

I think now more than ever, with the governor's leadership, you can see it doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on. Politically, everyone has come together as Floridians, really understanding we're beyond that point of what those issues are, but rather how can we come up with solutions. How can we build upon successes?
You've said you're working on a statewide resilience plan. What does that mean?
And at the same time, understanding it's too expensive to go at it alone. We really need to collaborate. It makes the job more exciting to know that you could be part of this and really help move that needle. There's so much opportunity. It's not all gloom and doom for our great state, and it really can drive our economy in a lot of ways.

With the secretaries and directors for each division and department, we're identifying infrastructure investment opportunities, prioritizing projects and listing the challenges. I want to come up with targets and goals. We'll also have an Adaptation Master Plan, which could give confidence to the market and lay a clear roadmap for the next 10, 20, 30, or 40 years.
What are some of the best practices you've come across?
Also, having a communications plan will be critical. You could be doing all this great work, but if you don't get that messaging out there, you can run in circles.

Some of the technologies that are out there, whether it's pump valves or drainage systems. I was just in London with a delegation from the Southeast U.S. We listened to a lot of British companies who are working on their sewer systems. My thought was to bring some of that back to the state of Florida.
Jacksonville might be the only major city in Florida that doesn't have a chief resilience officer. Do you think it's important for local governments to have them?
Promoting the development of mangroves is key. Stronger sand dunes. Addressing beach erosion. Protecting our sea marshes. These are all part of this " living shoreline " concept, which could be just as effective a climate solution as a traditional sea wall. That's something I'm trying to push throughout the state when working with developers and planners.

I think it's helpful to have a coordinator, whether you call them a chief resilience officer or sustainability director. It certainly helps if there is a point person working on these issues.

But the key is communities working together. That really makes a difference, based on what I've seen. We also have to work with the private sector, NGOs and academia. I'm seeing such a tremendous willingness from all 67 counties on understanding the issue and wanting to move forward.
Jacksonville has more shoreline than any other community because of the St. Johns River and its tributaries, plus the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Would you encourage leaders to create some office or position to focus on sea-level rise?

Photo Credit: Brendan Rivers, WJCT Public Media

I think it would be helpful. Jacksonville certainly is vulnerable, whether it's because of the next hurricane, rising sea levels, or flooding issues. But at the same time I would defer to the local officials on what they think would be best.
But the Jacksonville City Council almost pulled out of The Northeast Florida Regional Council this year (a decision it's expected to reconsider).
Having traveled the state, I will say some cities are more active than others. I like to point to the regional planning councils. I think that, more than anything, has been tremendous.
Jacksonville doesn't have a Climate Action Plan. Is that something you're encouraging cities to develop?
It's just too expensive to go at it alone, and there are a lot of best practices out there. Having that regional collaborative effort is going to certainly be instrumental, especially for Northeast Florida.
You've said the most vulnerable and underserved people in the state are going to be the most severely impacted by climate change. What is the state doing to help?
I think it's important that every city have a Community Action Plan, a resiliency plan, whether it's to prepare for the next hurricane or to look at rising sea levels - and not just cities but also local businesses.
National Flood Insurance Program premiums are scheduled to rise significantly in 2021 and rates will only continue to rise, along with sea levels. Should the state be doing something to keep flood insurance premiums down?
It's such an important issue from a socioeconomic standpoint. We're working with the Department of Economic Opportunity. The governor was instrumental in getting more mitigation funding to help with affordable housing. We're working very closely with municipalities on how we can help distribute that.

We could encourage more robust private firms to come in to help with insurance. But I really would rather advocate that if we take more resilient actions, that will lower the risk and lead to generally lower costs. That's what's most important.
A lot of communities are updating building codes and where they allow development. Does the state need to change its building codes to account for future sea-level rise?

Photo Credit: Brendan Rivers, WJCT Public Media

When we're talking about building resilience to climate change, how does reducing fossil fuel emissions tie in? Is that part of the conversation?
It's all still under review.
Is the state doing anything to encourage changes in energy consumption?
We need to look towards cleaner solutions, and there's great technology innovation out there to help with that.
Do you think local governments also have a responsibility to look into emissions reductions?
Oh, yes. As I've been traveling, I've noticed energy has been part of those local and regional plans. I'm working with our energy office here and with our environmental protection department. It's certainly part of the strategy.
This Q&A has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.
I think everyone has a responsibility.

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Julia Nesheiwat is Florida's Chief Resilience Officer Update: Julia Nesheiwat assumed the position of Florida's first-ever Chief Resilience Officer in July 2019. Her appointment was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis in August 2019. In February 2020, Nesheiwat announced she would be leaving the position of CRO to join the Trump administration as Deputy Assistant to the President working on homeland security and resilience.

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Valley Voice: We can get the nation to 90% clean energy by 2035. Here's how.

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Last fall, over 30 of us became the first cohort of the University of California Climate Steward program at UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. I joined the group in order to get up to date on climate change mitigation, which I had studied and taught 15 years ago.

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Ecological restoration and community building in OR

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Beyond Burger/ Impossible Meat making it to major fast food chains 

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Beyond Burger/ Impossible Meat making it to major fast food chains 

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the 30 X 30 Initiative launched in CA and hopefully, nationally

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the 30 X 30 Initiative launched in CA and hopefully, nationally

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California Coastal Commission, State of California

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California Coastal Commission, State of California

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Hi From Ann Brown, Tri-Valley Citizens' Climate Education, located in Livermore, CA

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Hi From Ann Brown, Tri-Valley Citizens' Climate Education, located in Livermore, CA

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Cassidy Villeneuve, SciComm

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Bio char and ag education toward carbon sequestration

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Bio char and ag education toward carbon sequestration

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Super inspired by the youth climate action movement. Lots of young people locally, nationally, and internationally shaking up/waking up decision makers.

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Multiple stories about increased time outdoors, especially for children.

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Multiple stories about increased time outdoors, especially for children.

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https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet

Love this podcast's newsletters especially re: calls to action

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Climate change. We know. It can feel too overwhelming. But what if there was a show about climate change that left you feeling... energized? One so filled with possibility that you actually wanted to listen? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and a crew of climate nerds, as we bring you smart, inspiring stories about the mess we're in and how we can get ourselves out of it.

Check out our Calls to Action archive here for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

How to Save a Planet is reported and produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Waldholz, Anna Ladd, Daniel Ackerman, and Hannah Chinn. Our intern is Nicole Welch. Our supervising producers are Katelyn Bogucki and Lauren Silverman. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard with original music from Peter Leonard and Emma Munger.

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La Via Campesina.

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Hi! Jamie Lynn -Community Engagement supervisor on education team from Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

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Hi! Jamie Lynn -Community Engagement supervisor on education team from Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

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Tree replanting and river/riparian zone restoration post wildfire up here in Oregon

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Learning that the climate will stabilize within a couple of decades after we really reach net zero.

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Climate Action: PBI--Polar Bears International. Monarch Joint Venture.

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Climate Action: PBI--Polar Bears International. Monarch Joint Venture.

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Regeneracion- Home | Regeneration (regenerationpajarovalley.org)

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Jessica Strick- Exploratorium exhibit developer

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Jessica Strick- Exploratorium exhibit developer

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Julia Megna, Sonoma Ecology Center- Research, Restoration, Education, youth club Earthlings focusing on climate.

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Julia Megna, Sonoma Ecology Center- Research, Restoration, Education, youth club Earthlings focusing on climate.

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UC California Naturalist Program, UC Climate Stewards Initiative

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UC California Naturalist Program, UC Climate Stewards Initiative

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UC ANR Statewide Program

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Zach Pine, Socially Engaged Environmental Artist

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Zach Pine, Socially Engaged Environmental Artist

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https://www.zpcreatewithnature.com/ .

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Zach Pine: Socially Engaged Environmental Artist

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Connecting people to nature and each other, inspiring collective creativity and environmental action

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Monica Curiel, from the Chino Basin Water Conservation District on traditional Tongva land. Not a favorite headline, but that struck me was about Mt Shasta and it's snowpack, or lack there of.

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Monica Curiel, from the Chino Basin Water Conservation District on traditional Tongva land. Not a favorite headline, but that struck me was about Mt Shasta and it's snowpack, or lack there of.

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Rep. Stanton (AZ) co-sponsoring the Arctic Refuge Protection act

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Rep. Stanton (AZ) co-sponsoring the Arctic Refuge Protection act

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BJ Allen - Director of Equity & Director of Student Services at Outward Bound California

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Golden Gate National Recreation Area, SF

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Golden Gate National Recreation Area, SF

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Rebuilding Coral Reefs in the Virgin Islands --

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Stories of resilience in ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass

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Stories of resilience in ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass

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Katy Papoulias (she/her) in Public Programs - happy to be here!

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Eugene, Oregon- University of Oregon, Kalapuya Ilihi land

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Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Watsonville CA, Ohlone Land

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Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Watsonville CA, Ohlone Land

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Martha Arciniega

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Kids/young adults and their amazing CC advocacy

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Kids/young adults and their amazing CC advocacy

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North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, NC; Kidzone nature play space. Favorite climate news story: COVID shut-downs are resulting in cleaner air!

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North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, NC; Kidzone nature play space. Favorite climate news story: COVID shut-downs are resulting in cleaner air!

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Conservation Society of Calirofia, Oakland Zoo

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Conservation Society of Calirofia, Oakland Zoo

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Jelly fish in canals in Italy during lock down

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UC California Naturalist & Climate Stewards
Long Beach CA Kizh/Tongva land

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Noelle Fletcher, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Watsonville CA

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Noelle Fletcher, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Watsonville CA

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Dir of Education and Outreach Pacific Grove museum of Natural History

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Holly Hewes, Lindsay Wildlife Experience

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Holly Hewes, Lindsay Wildlife Experience

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Estuary & Ocean Science Center (SF State), Tiburon, California

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Estuary & Ocean Science Center (SF State), Tiburon, California

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Jen West, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Rhode Island

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Jen West, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Rhode Island

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The Marine Mammal Center, San Francisco Bay Area

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The Marine Mammal Center, San Francisco Bay Area

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Community activists get major pipelines shut down (Dakota Access, Keystone XL, Atlantic Coastline Pipeline)

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Community activists get major pipelines shut down (Dakota Access, Keystone XL, Atlantic Coastline Pipeline)