Alachua County will host a Climate Summit at Santa Fe College Blount Center on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The summit, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 530 W. University Ave. in Gainesville, is open to the public. Due to space limitations, attendees need to register online.
The event will allow the public to provide feedback on the county’s draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) strategies and initiatives. The CAP is the county’s proactive response to the projected impact of climate change on our community.
The county looks to adopt a final plan in 2025. The plan is built around the county’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment. According to the county’s release, “The CAP’s purpose is to guide, develop, and cultivate environmentally, socially, and economically resilient strategies and equitable solutions to climate change for the whole community.”
Guest speakers at the Climate Summit will include award-winning environmental journalist and author Cynthia Barnett; retired TV20 Meteorologist Bill Quinlan; Gainesville Resiliency Office Dr. Dan Zhu; Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Director Stephen Hofstetter, and Nathan Crabbe, editor of The Invading Sea; and more.
The goals of the Climate Summit are to share research findings and resources with county residents and decision-makers and gather community feedback, which will be used to finalize the plan.
For more information, contact Hofstetter at 352-264-6811 or shofstetter@alachuacounty.us.