Coastal Quest
www.coastal-quest.org
Contact: Scott Shatto
EMAIL: scott.shatto@coastalquest.wpengine.com
Oakland, CA., February 23, 2021 –
Climate change is threatening California’s vibrant coastal communities and unique coastal habitats. Climate change has the potential to upend the state’s economies and further entrench challenges around equity and access. California’s iconic beaches, rare birds, public lands, infrastructure and public and private assets will be adversely affected by rising sea levels. The good news is that California is leading the way in developing solutions to build resilience in the face of these grave threats to the state’s precious coastal communities, economy, infrastructure, and ecosystems. State and local government, civil society, academia, communities, and the private sector are co-creating solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Coastal Quest, in collaboration with University of California at Irvine, invites you to attend the 6th annual Coastal Resilience Conference, Implementing and Scaling Resilient Solutions in Coastal California. This free, two-day virtual event is a venue for participants to learn about coastal resilience needs, priorities, and strategies employed across California and the nation from some of the leading policy makers, scientists, and local government leaders working on the forefront of solving these issues. This conference is also timely as, according to Mark Gold, the Deputy Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency and Executive Director of the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC), “”The OPC’s investment in coastal climate adaptation projects and planning will help catalyze continuing efforts to make all of California’s coast resilient to sea-level rise in the decades ahead. This free virtual conference will be a great opportunity for local government and community leaders to learn about the latest policy and guidance and how others are solving issues and safeguarding coastal ecosystems and communities in face of climate change.”
Building equitable and just solutions is a key goal of this conference. Effie Turnbull-Sanders, Environmental Justice Commissioner at the California Coastal Commission, will lead a session titled, Ensuring Equity and Environmental Justice in Resiliency. She says, “Using an environmental justice lens to develop solutions to address the threats caused by climate change is no longer optional. The organizers of this event have brought together a diverse group of thought leaders with an intention to ensure our solutions are just and equitable for all residents of California.” Coastal Quest’s Executive Director, Dr. Tegan Hoffmann echoes Ms. Turnbull-Sanders statement, “We are really excited to host this conference in collaboration with the University of California Irvine. Californians are well aware of the effects of climate change in our great state, as we witness increased fires, hotter temperatures, and extended drought conditions. This conference gives each of us an opportunity to understand and learn about best practices and actions that are being taken in coastal areas and communities to build resilience to these threats and challenges.”
The conference speakers, including Nuin-Tara Key, the Deputy Director, Climate in the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Chris Ward, California State Assembly Member, Christina Snider, Tribal Advisor to the Governor of California & Executive Secretary of the Native American Heritage Commission, Jennifer Jurado, Director and Chief Resilience Officer, Broward County, and Liz Williams Russell, Climate Justice Program Director, Foundation of Louisiana , among others, will engage participants in critical discussions about the state’s priorities and future goals, best practices to prepare and scale solutions, approaches to ensure equity in policy, planning, and implementation, and much more.
Dr. Gary Griggs, Distinguished Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz, says, “All of California’s coastal communities are vulnerable to rising sea levels and local communities and state government agencies tasked with creating plans to adapt and reduce risks for these communities should work together. In fact, communities should be leading many of these efforts, so this conference is a great example of a collaborative forum for all interested parties to come together, learn, and plan for what is coming.”
Dr. Charles Lester, the Director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Center in the Marine Science Institute at University of California Santa Barbara, agrees, “No single discipline, sector, level of government, organization, or person is going to solve the existential challenge presented by climate change. Conferences like this are a perfect opportunity to share our diverse perspectives and experiences, learn from each other, and continue to figure out how to work better together towards resilience on the California coast.”
Implementing and Scaling Resilient Solutions in Coastal California Conference will take place March 2-3, 2021 from 9:00am to 12:30pm PST. To register for this free conference, and for a full agenda, please visit the conference landing webpage HERE.
Coastal Quest would like to thank the conference sponsors UCI Law, UCI Center for Land, Environment and Natural Resources (CLEANR) and the UCI Newkirk Center for Science & Society, UCI Media.
About Coastal Quest
Coastal Quest is a 501(c) 3 non-profit working collaboratively with partners to build resilient coastal communities. Healthy coasts support diverse and rich habitats that provide great
economic and cultural value including shoreline protection, recreation, and abundant natural resources.
To learn more, visit Coastal Quest’s website – www.coastal-quest.org and follow us on Linkedin. To start a conversation, contact info@coastalquest.wpengine.com
About University of California at Irvine (UCI)
In 1965, the University of California, Irvine was founded with a mission to catalyze the community and enhance lives through rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and dedicated public service. Today, we draw on the unyielding spirit of our pioneering faculty, staff and students who arrived on campus with a dream to inspire change and generate new ideas. We believe that true progress is made when different perspectives come together to advance our understanding of the world around us. And we enlighten our communities and point the way to a better future. At UCI, we shine brighter. This conference fulfills one of UCI’s Key Strategic Pillars – Making Regional and Global Connections That Enhance Our Mission and Serve the People – designed to build on UCI’s strengths to make our university even better.
Keywords
Coastal resilience, climate change, sea level rise, community, ocean, climate adaptation
