The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the Delaware River Basin Commission are hosting another in its series of Water Exchange Speakers May 11 on Climate Change Planning and Adaption from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

This panel discussion features three members of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change.

Our panelists, Amanda Babson of the National Park Service, Elizabeth Koniers Brown of the Delaware River Basin Commission, and Julia Rockwell of the Philadelphia Water Department, will discuss climate change planning and adaptation from the federal, regional, and municipal perspectives.

Amanda will offer a federal-level perspective of adapting to climate change, through the lens of the National Park Service’s natural and cultural assets. In addition to her experience with coastal parks, she will highlight NPS work in the freshwater space and guidance driving planning and management across the Service.

Julia will provide an overview of the Philadelphia Water Department Climate Change Adaptation Program’s approach to mainstream and operationalize climate change projections in infrastructure planning and design practices.

The Department has employed both bottom-up and top-down approaches to further climate adaptation efforts within the organization.

Bottom-up approaches focus on building staff capacity and regularly engaging with subject matter experts, while top-down, policy-driven approaches drive change and support consistent use of new information in long-standing processes and programs.

Elizabeth will highlight how the Delaware River Basin Commission incorporates climate change into its work across water quality, water availability, water equity, and water resiliency, and how engaging partnerships helps strengthen decision making at a river-basin scale.

The conversation will be moderated by Howard Neukrug, Executive Director at The Water Center and Committee Chair of the DRBC's ACCC, and will provide time for a Q&A session with audience participation.

Click Here to register and for more information.

For more information on programs, initiatives, projects, upcoming events and more, visit The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania webpage.

[Posted: May 3, 2022]

5/9/2022