West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum will host a forum on climate adaptation capacity on Monday, February 11 at The Rapid Central Station.

Featured speaker Beth Gibbons, Executive Director of the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP), will discuss how ASAP brings adaptation best practices into the broader urban conversation. ASAP connects and supports climate adaptation professionals and works to promote innovation and standardization in the field, ensuring that adaptation and resilience work is equitable, ethical, and effective. Gibbons will discuss the urgency for action in the Great Lakes area and opportunities for Michigan to leverage climate resiliency for social justice and transformative change.

She will highlight anticipated local impacts, conditions, and opportunities, highlighting how the climate adaptation field is providing a roadmap for action. She further share examples from the Great Lakes and nationally highlighting how climate adaptation planning and action is being used to manage risk and protect the health of people and the environment — How to prepare for a climate opportunity future.

Beth has over a decade of experience in sustainable development and climate adaptation, and has nonprofit management and governance experience and is highly skilled in climate communications, research and outreach, collaborative project management, and stakeholder management. Previously, Beth was Director of the University of Michigan Climate Center and managed NOAA’s Great Lakes Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center. She also worked for the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute as a research specialist, helping develop and implement the Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities.

Lunch is $17 for members if paid online, $22 for non-members if paid online.

Registration is now closed.  Walk-ins will be accepted.

Agenda

11:30 – 12:00 pm  Registration and Networking

12:00 – 12:30 pm  Lunch

12:30 -1:30  pm  Program