Photo Credit Erin Williams Photography
April is typically a busy month for sustainability, climate initiatives, and professionals, with Earth Day celebrated on April 22, the Spring King Tides occurring between April 26-29, and the pervading themes of spring and renewal stemming from Easter and blooming foliage. Growing Climate Solutions is excited to see the fruits of several initiatives started in the past months. Growing Climate Solutions is the southwest partner for the Volo Foundation’s Florida Climate Week, held virtually between April 19-24. Our April SWFL Climate Compass speaker presentation will be featured as part of the Climate Week programming, and we will be hosting a SWFL Climate Ambassador Training on Tuesday, April 20th as well. On May 6th, Dr. Puszkin-Chevlin will be a presenting panelist for the 2021 Southwest Florida Climate Summit organized by the Coastland Heartland National Estuary Program.
We are also excited to announce that Growing Climate Solutions has partnered with Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School to help facilitate the establishment of the SWFL Regional Resiliency Compact. The initiative, which Professor Mike Savarese has spearheaded since 2019 has received support from eleven local city and county jurisdictions. Collier County and the city of Ft. Myers are still assessing participation, and Bonita Springs declined last year but may reconsider in the future. The Compact, nonetheless, will move forward with an organizational (virtual) meeting planned for late April. It is hoped that as participating jurisdictions produce tangible results and longer-term funding is secured for the initiative, the outstanding jurisdictions will choose to engage. Dr. Puszkin-Chevlin will work with Dr. Savarese in facilitating this meeting and some of the group’s initial activities.
Growing Climate Solutions is delighted to welcome Bridget Washburn as a new Communication Associate. Bridget, who successfully ran the Conservation Collier outreach effort during the summer and fall of 2020, will help Dr. Puszkin-Chevlin coordinate partner meetings, prepare and distribute the newsletter and announcements, and manage project initiatives. Another set of capable hands are needed as Growing Climate Solutions moves ahead with the Robbie’s Trees planting project, the Girl Scout Climate Patch, and support of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action’s speaker series on Health and Climate impacts.
Finally, back in February, Growing Climate Solutions launched the SWFL Climate Compass Speaker Series with a presentation by Executive Director of RepublicEN.org Bob Inglis (listen here). In March, Jon White presented the Nexus between Climate, Oceans and Security. Don’t miss the last in the series, Professor Benjamin Keys on April 21. The next series is planned for 4Q 2021.