Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Joint Public Advisory Committee Regular Session 19-02

Community-based Approaches to Disaster Resilience Thursday, 24 October 2019 • San Juan

#ResilientNorthAmerica

San Juan Marriott, 1309 Ashford AvenueSan Juan, Puerto Rico, United States

Agenda

24 oct0bre 2019San Juan, Porto Rico

the CEC’s Virtual Library

Thursday, 24 October 2019

Program of Public Events – www.cec.org/JPACSanJuan_eng

(Atlantic Time)

8:00–9:00 Participants’ reception (Lobby)

9:00–9:10 Opening and welcoming remarks, by Louie Porta, JPAC Chair (Ballroom II-IV)

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

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

Protection Agency

Moderated Question and Answer Period with presenters, JPAC members and audience

10:00–10:30 Presentation CEC initiatives on Extreme Events by Orlando Cabrera-Rivera, Head of Unit,

Environmental Quality

Moderated Question and Answer Period with presenter, JPAC members and audience

10:30–10:45 Break

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.

10:45–12:15 Roundtable Discussion 1 – Understanding Impact: when regions are struck by disasters (Ballroom II-IV)

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

• 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)

Discussion Period with presenters, JPAC members and audience

12:15–13:15 Networking Lunch [provided] (Condado Salon)

13:15–15:00 Roundtable Discussion 2 – Hardship and Resilience: stories from affected communities (Ballroom II-IV)

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

• Verlon Jose, Former Vice Chairman, Tohono O’odham Nation

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

Discussion Period with presenters, JPAC members and audience

15:00–15:15 Break

15:15–16:00 Open Session with the Public (Participants in-person and on-line) – The Lived Experience: responding to crisis, and building perseverance (Ballroom II-IV)

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 Update on Submissions on Enforcement Matters by Robert E. Moyer, Director, Submissions on

Enforcement Matters and Legal Unit (Ballroom II-IV)

17:30–17:50 Report from the National and Governmental Advisory Committee Representatives

17:50–18:00 Closing remarks, by Louie Porta, JPAC Chair

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