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Event

Community-based Approaches to Disaster Resilience

San Juan Marriott Hotel 1309 Ashford Avenue San Juan, 00907 Puerto Rico
United States

October 24, 2019

Public

Faced with the reality of climate variability and the rise in extreme weather events  across the continent, building local resilience has become a shared priority for communities and all levels of government in Canada, Mexico and the United States. This is especially important for remote and coastal communities that are uniquely vulnerable to such natural disasters as floods, wildfires, droughts and hurricanes by virtue of their location or socio-economic conditions.

This public forum will feature the lived experiences of people from cities, remote coastal communities, and Indigenous nations who have faced climate emergencies and will capture their efforts toward building disaster resilience. The forum will highlight the nexus between environmental sustainability and citizen-led efforts in responding to the impacts of climate emergencies. Such events cause urgent human and environmental problems that require sound planning and effective, timely action.

To explore opportunities for trilateral cooperation on disaster resilience through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and its activities, community representatives from urban, rural, and remote areas in North America will share their experiences and knowledge with the attendees.

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Recorded Webcast

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Louie Porta, JPAC Chair
Opening and welcoming remarks

Richard Morgan, CEC Executive Director
Introductory remarks

Antonio Pavia, Deputy Director
Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3) of Puerto Rico

Carmen Guerrero, Director
Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, US Environmental Protection Agency

Orlando Cabrera-Rivera, Head of Unit, Environmental Quality
Presentation of CEC initiatives on Extreme Events

Natasha Vázquez Pérez, Director of Federal Programs
Municipality of Cayey

Leslie Maas Cortés, Director
Hurricane Response Hub Technical Assistance Center for Puerto Rico (PR-HRHTAC)

Juan Javier Rivera, Leader of Special Projects
Community Foundation of Puerto Rico (Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico)

Carmen Villanueva, Community Leader
PRODEV (Puerto Rico por el Derecho a una Vivienda Digna)

Miles G. Richardson, Director
National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development, University of Victoria

Carmen Hernández, Co-Founder and Administrative Director
Isla Urbana

Verlon Jose, Former Vice Chairman
Tohono O’odham Nation

Dean Jacobs, Consultation Manager
External Projects Program, Walpole Island First Nation

Open Session with the Public (Participants in-person and on-line)
The Lived Experience: responding to crisis, and building perseverance

Open discussion on opportunities for environmental trilateral cooperation

Robert E. Moyer, Director, Submissions on Enforcement Matters and Legal Unit
Update on Submissions on Enforcement Matters

Report from the National and Governmental Advisory Committee Representatives

Louie Porta, JPAC Chair
Closing remarks

Agenda

(Atlantic Time)

8:00–9:00
(Lobby)

Participants’ reception

9:00–9:10
(Ballroom II-IV)

Opening and welcoming remarks, by Louie Porta, JPAC Chair

9:10–9:15

Introductory remarks by Richard Morgan, CEC Executive Director

9:15–10:00

Keynote Presentations

Antonio Pavia
Deputy Director,
Central Office for Recovery,
Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3) of Puerto Rico
Download Presentation

Carmen Guerrero
Director,
Caribbean Environmental Protection Division,
US Environmental Protection Agency
Download Presentation

10:00–10:30

Presentation of CEC initiatives on Extreme  Events

Orlando Cabrera-Rivera
Head of Unit, Environmental Quality
Download Presentation

10:30–10:45

Break

10:45–12:15
(Ballroom II-IV)

Roundtable Discussion 1 – Understanding Impact: when regions are struck by disasters

The goal of this session is to understand what happens when places are impacted by extreme weather events –  discuss the range of environmental and societal effects, consider lessons learned in affected areas, and reflect on solutions that build long-term resilience and promote enhanced environmental cooperation.

Moderator: Felicia Marcus, JPAC member 

Natasha Vázquez Pérez
Director of Federal Programs,
Municipality of Cayey
Download Presentation

Leslie Maas Cortés
Director,
Hurricane Response Hub Technical Assistance Center
for Puerto Rico (PR-HRHTAC)

Juan Javier Rivera
Leader of Special Projects,
Community Foundation of Puerto Rico (Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico)

Carmen Villanueva
Community Leader,
PRODEV (Puerto Rico por el Derecho a una Vivienda Digna)
Download Presentation

12:15–13:15
(Condado Salon)

Networking Lunch [provided]

13:15–15:00
(Ballroom II-IV)

Roundtable Discussion 2 – Hardship and Resilience: stories from affected communities

The goal of this session is to feature stories from North American communities that explore the interconnection between human resilience and environmental sustainability.

Moderator: Paola Hernández Villalvazo, JPAC member

Miles G. Richardson
Director,
National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development,
University of Victoria

Carmen Hernández
Co-Founder and Administrative Director,
Isla Urbana
Download Presentation

Verlon Jose
Former Vice Chairman,
Tohono O’odham Nation
Download Presentation

Dean Jacobs
Consultation Manager,
External Projects Program,
Walpole Island First Nation
Download Presentation

15:00–15:15

Break

15:15–16:00
(Ballroom II-IV)

Open Session with the Public  (Participants in-person and on-line) – The Lived Experience: responding to crisis, and building perseverance

The goal of this moderated session is to give the public the direct opportunity to share their experiences with extreme weather events and directly inform the Joint Public Advisory Committee’s advice on Community-based Approaches to Disaster Resilience. This thoughtful dialogue on real-world, community-driven solutions will significantly contribute to environmental cooperation and sustainability measures between Canada, Mexico and the United States.

16:00–16:45

Open discussion on opportunities for environmental trilateral cooperation

16:45–17:00

Break

17:00–17:30
(Ballroom II-IV)

Update on Submissions on Enforcement Matters

Robert E. Moyer
Director,
Submissions on Enforcement Matters and Legal Unit
Download Presentation

17:30–17:50

Report from the National and Governmental Advisory Committee Representatives

17:50–18:00

Closing remarks, by Louie Porta, JPAC Chair

Contact

Marcela Orozco
Head of Unit, Advisory Groups and Private Sector Engagement
(514) 350-4305