ICLEI USA Selects 12 Accomplished International Experts to Lead Its Climate Adaptation Advisory Committee - Most Impressive Gathering of Leading Global Adaptation Experts Will Bolster Local Government’s Efforts to Confront Climate Change

Contact: Guillermo Meneses/ICLEI USA
Guillermo.meneses@iclei.org
(202) 445-1570

Boston, MA (October 15, 2010) – ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, the leading local government association addressing climate change and sustainability, recently selected 12 renowned international experts to participate on its Climate Adaptation Experts Advisory Committee. The new committee, whose strength comes from its broad range of expertise, will provide direction and guidance to ICLEI’s Climate Resilient Communities™ Program (CRC) and will enhance the program’s ability and mission to help local governments become more resilient to climate change.

The Climate Adaptation Experts Advisory Committee represents one of the most impressive gatherings of leading adaptation experts from the international community. Committee members include the following:

• JoAnn Carmin, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Lynne Carter, Ph.D., Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program, Louisiana State University
• Kirstin Dow, Ph.D., University of South Carolina
• Paul Epstein, M.D., Harvard University
• Paul Kirshen, Ph.D., Battelle Memorial Institute
• Paty Romero Lankao, Ph.D., National Center for Atmospheric Research
• Susanne C. Moser, Ph.D., Susanne Moser Research and Consulting, University of California-Santa Cruz
• Craig Nicolson, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• Lindene E. Patton, J.D., Zurich Financial Services
• Cynthia Rosenzweig, Ph.D., Columbia University
• Matthias Ruth, Ph.D., University System of Maryland
• David Schimel, Ph.D., National Ecological Observatory Network

 
The Climate Adaptation Experts Advisory Committee includes members from a number of disciplines including engineering, public policy, sociology, urban planning, medicine and finance.  Collectively, the group has authored over three hundred papers on subjects related to climate change adaptation; been involved in local climate change adaptation initiatives; informed regional climate change impact reports; and been recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report.

“Helping communities prepare for the impacts of climate change is a critical part of our mission and we are honored to count on the expertise of such an incredible gathering of leading international experts to help us guide ICLEI USA’s Climate Resilient Communities™ Program (CRC),” said Martin Chávez, ICLEI USA Executive Director and three-term mayor of Albuquerque, NM. “Our members will no doubt benefit and learn from the valuable expertise amassed by members of the Adaptation Experts Advisory Committee and we look forward to working with them to move the adaptation pendulum forward.”

“We are privileged to have some of the most renowned international authorities on climate change and adaptation form part of our Climate Adaptation Advisory Committee,” said Mayor Patrick Hays, City of North Little Rock, AR, President and Chair of the Board of Directors, ICLEI USA.  “Thanks to their incredible work and contributions, ICLEI USA continues to strengthen its mission to lead the way in local climate change adaptation planning and implementation among communities large and small.”

Background

The new Committee, with its wealth of knowledge, will provide input on critical issues related to ICLEI’s Climate Resilient Communities™ Program (CRC), helping to guide the program’s structure and priorities and will use their expertise to inform the development and enhancement of important adaptation tools and critical resources for local governments.  More information on ICLEI USA’s Climate Resilient Communities Program can be found at:

http://www.icleiusa.org/programs/climate/Climate_Adaptation

More information on the work of the advisory committee, as well as individual bios of each committee member can found at:
http://www.icleiusa.org/programs/climate/Climate_Adaptation/climate-adaptation-experts-advisory-committee

For more information on ICLEI USA, go to: www.icleiusa.org

About ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA

With more than 600 members nationwide, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is the leading local government association addressing climate change and sustainability.  As a non-profit membership organization, ICLEI USA provides the expertise, technical support, training and innovative tools to help local governments advance their climate mitigation, climate adaptation, energy and sustainability goals.
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