On January 24 and 25, 2024, the workshop “Recognizing the Effects of Climate Change: Let’s Take Action Now!” was held, co-designed by the Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network (CCAN) and the Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration (NMEAD) at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. More than 250 people participated in this event, and had the opportunity to share with our panelists and speakers that included:

• Allison Crimmins, Director of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House
• Samantha Medlock, Assistant Administrator of FEMA’s Office of Resilience Strategy
• Victoria Salinas, FEMA Resilience Expert
• Chelsea Combest-Friedman from NOAA CAP/RISA
• Ernesto Rodríguez, NOAA-National Weather Service-San Juan
• Ernesto Morales, NOAA-National Weather Service-San Juan
• Ernesto Diaz, MSEM Tetra Tech
• Orlando Olivera, FEMA Puerto Rico
• Ada Monzon, Meteorologist, President of the Board of Directors of the EcoExploratorio Science Museum of PR (Hurricanes and education)
• Soledad Gaztambide-Arandes, Director of PPL Programs, Foundation for Puerto Rico
• Alberto Mercado Vargas, Deputy Secretary of the DRNA
• Wanda I. Crespo Acevedo, NOAA-CAP/RISA
• Haydee Quiñones Berberena, President, Certified Risk Management Group LLC
• Leslie Cortes, Puerto Rico Science Trust
• Lourdes Pérez-Medina, PPL Foundation for Puerto Rico
• Ana Patricia Ortiz, PhD, MPH, University of Puerto Rico-Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Nino Correa Filomeno, Commissioner of the Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration (NMEAD)

The participants represented a wide diversity of sectors: 13 universities (Puerto Rico and the United States), 7 communities, 44 government agencies, 65 municipalities, 20 nonprofit organizations, and 2 from the private sector.

Thanks to the diversity of participants, the workshop was enriched with experiences, knowledge, and perspectives that fostered respectful dialogues on climate adaptation in Puerto Rico. These conversations contributed to the success of the event, which is expected to help strengthen decision-making and the implementation of more effective policies on adaptation and climate mitigation. Additionally, community participation in identifying risks, formulating strategies, and adaptation solutions was encouraged, being essential to collaborate across sectors and groups for inclusive and resilient planning.

You can access the presentations and related documents here:

Day 1 (1/24/2024)

Day 2 (1/25/2024)