Commissioner Vana Joins Panel Discussion on Climate Change

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Commissioner Vana attended the first Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit held at the Broward Convention Center on Oct. 23, 2009.  Palm Beach County is working with its neighbors in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to collaborate on a strategy to address regional concerns on climate change.  In attendance were elected officials, policy makers, federal and state legislators, regional transportation, planning and water management authorities and members of the regional Climate Change/Green Task Forces representing the four counties.  The day-long event provided an opportunity to join forces in discussing and developing a regional strategy to address climate change.  The featured speakers addressed climate change policy, mitigation needs and adaptation strategies.

Keynote speakers included U.S. Department of Housing and Development Special Advisor Jim Lopez who spoke on “Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Climate Change Adaptation Through Urban Planning;” Retired Brigadier General Joseph Barnes who spoke about "National Security Issues re: Energy and Climate;" Senior Vice President Mark Way with Swiss Re Group and Lauren Toretta, McKinsey and Company who discussed "The Economics of Climate Adaptation."

Commissioner Vana took part in the morning panel discussion that highlighted local policy commitments and priorities and the specific challenges and needs identified through the task forces.  In the afternoon, panel discussion focused on technical aspects of specific climate change mitigation and adaptation issues.  She also joined the final session that covered the value of a regional climate change strategy for Southeast Florida and some key elements to encourage collaboration.

The summit concluded with commissioners from four counties signing the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.  Palm Beach County Commissioner Shelley Vana, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs and Monroe County Mayor George Neugent will be presenting the compact to their respective commissions in the fall.  The regional compact contains for major points:  engagement in a regional planning process, cooperation on state energy and climate policy positions, cooperation on federal energy and climate policy positions and commitment to ongoing cooperation via annual summits.  All four counties have initiated climate change task forces to develop strategies on green county operations, reduce carbon emissions and begin planning for increasing rates of sea level rise associated with global climate change.