News Release

FWC reschedules climate change summit

August 19, 2008
Contact: Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130;
Gabriella Ferraro, 772-215-9459

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has rescheduled the summit, “Florida’s Wildlife: On the front line of climate change,” to Oct. 1-3 at the Rosen PLAZA in Orlando.

The summit, originally scheduled for this week but postponed because of the approaching tropical storm, will highlight the challenges facing wildlife managers, governments, industry leaders and the public in the next 50 years amid the realities of climate change.

This summit is the first of its kind in the country where experts will address difficult questions about the increasing pace of climate change.

One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Jean Brennan, a climate change scientist with Defenders of Wildlife, was a member of the U.S. Delegation at international negotiations under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. She served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and shares the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 for her contribution to IPCC. Brennan acknowledges that Florida’s wildlife and habitats are in a sensitive position when it comes to the effects of climate change.

“Florida is extremely vulnerable with its low elevation,” Brennan said. “And it’s the hardest hit with extreme weather such as hurricanes.”

Another 2007 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient, Dr. Virginia R. Van Sickle-Burkett from the United States Geological Survey (USGS,) will present the key points from a report she is presenting to Congress later in the fall on climate change. Dr. Thomas Crisman, from the University of South Florida, will speak about the vast differences in Florida’s climate zones and suggest that any discussion of climate change in Florida must use a variety of models.  Dr. Thomas Eason will present the FWC’s report “Wildlife 2060: What’s at stake for Florida?” FWC leaders will offer workshops on various topics.

Registered participants for the postponed summit will have their registration and hotel reservations automatically transferred to the new dates. The registration fee is $195, which includes two breakfasts, two lunches and a reception. The registration form is available at www.ces.fau.edu/floc/ or by contacting Doreen DiCarlo at the Center for Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University, 561-799-8553 or 561-626-1404 (fax).