Coordinated by the Florida Center for Environmental Studies at
Florida Atlantic University

Sea Level Rise Summit Summary



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On June 21st and 22nd , 2012, The Florida Center for Environmental Studies hosted the “Risk and Response” Sea Level Rise Summit in Boca Raton, Florida with over 300 attendees from private and public agencies. The summit was sponsored by USGS, Florida Sea Grant, The Flora foundation, USF's Patel School for Global Sustainability, Coastal Areas Climate Change Education (CACCE), NOAA, Wells Fargo, NRDC, The Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, RenaissanceRe, The Northeast Regional Council, and The Florida Climate Institute. The purpose of the summit was three-fold:

  1. To highlight the interrelationships between sea level rise, saltwater intrusion into fresh water aquifers and water management in Florida;
  2. To share the ongoing responses and adaptation planning of agencies, institutions and civic societies to sea level rise; and
  3. To compare Florida's challenges and responses with other vulnerable localities in the US and worldwide.

The summit was opened by key note speaker Dr. Margaret Davidson, Director, NOAA Coastal Services Center and moderated by Daniel Kreeger, Executive Director, Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO). It included seven panels that focused on the complex sea level rise issues in Florida and provided examples from other coastal regions within the U.S. and internationally.

For full summary click here


During the summit, noted Climate Scientist Michael Mann will speak and host a facilitated discussion! Dr. Mann is an internationally recognized climate scientist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and accomplished author.
Post summit, he will be speaking on the FAU campus, more information below.

Wednesdy June 20th - Pre Summit Kick Off Events!

Networking Media and Poster Reception

We are pleased to announce the Summit will kick off with a Networking Media and Poster Reception! From 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Boca Raton Marriott, previous planned activities will be combined to enhance interaction between VIPs, journalists, early arriving attendees, researchers, and others and will include appetizers and drinks (beer and wine available for purchase). Please be sure to join us!

Special Screening of There Once Was an Island

There will be a special screening of award winning filmmaker Briar March's film There Once Was an Island. The screening will be held at the Living Room Theater on the FAU Boca Campus starting at 7:00 and 7:30. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the Boca Raton Marriott. This will be a free event for the public but we have reserved only two theaters and seating is limited to 46 people per theater. Please RSVP to Chris Lockhart at clockha2@fau.edu

Sea Level Rise Summit Introduction Video

Check out the first in a series of three Sea Level Rise Summit videos! The Center for Environmental Studies (CES) at Florida Atlantic University's Alana Edwards hosts the three and a half minute piece along with CES's Summit Coordinator, Mary Beth Hartman.

Filmmaker Interview - Briar March

A second short Sea Level Rise Summit video has also been released! Award winning filmmaker Briar March is interviewed by CES's Mary Beth Hartman and filmed by FAU's Manny Estrella. In this video, Ms. March makes the correlation between sea level rise issues in South Florida, the upcoming Summit, and the atoll Takuu, which is featured in her film, There Once Was an Island.

Michael Mann to Speak at FAU Boca Raton Campus

Friday, June 22 from 7-9 pm

Nobel-Prize-Winning Researcher and climate scientist Michael E. Mann will discuss his new book "The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars" , at Florida Atlantic University's Live Oak Pavilion in the Student Union. His talk is free and open to the public.

More Information




For more information contact:
Mary Beth Hartman, Conference & Outreach Coordinator
Center for Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University
mhartman@fau.edu