by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
About a hundred attorneys, scientists, engineers, professors and local citizens came together to discuss one thing: how they can all work together to fight the impacts of our rising sea level.
The summit, hosted by Florida Coastal School of Law and Jacksonville University, covered an issue that has been making headlines both locally and nationally. According to the panelists, the summit’s topic — “Rising to the Challenge: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies to Combat the Impacts of Sea Level Rise” — is very relevant to Northeast Florida.
“The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the issues that are affecting us in Northeast Florida and nationally,” said Randall Abate, assistant professor at Florida Coastal and co-organizer of the event. “The focus of this year’s summit is to examine why the sea level is rising and how it relates to the growing climate change.”
In Northeast Florida, Abate said some of the major issues are beach erosion, the impacts on marine wildlife and the impact on coastal properties.
“South Ponte Vedra Beach has been hit very hard,” he said. “That area alone has involved a lot of federal, state and local responses.”
To speak specifically on beach erosion, the summit’s luncheon keynote speaker was Dr. Orrin Pilkey, James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of Geology, Earth and Ocean Sciences at Duke University. Abate is known nationwide for his expertise on beach erosion. Much of his research has focused on basic and applied coastal geology.
“Things like this (the summit) are very important in getting the point across,” said Pilkey. “It gives us an opportunity to speak to attorneys and that is what we have been needing to do.”
The closing keynote speaker, Robin Kundis Craig, professor at Florida State University College of Law, brought together the different themes from the entire day and how each panel is related. Her primary area of expertise is the Clean Water Act, but she also teaches a variety of environmental law classes.
The City of Jacksonville’s Environmental Quality Division, JEA and the North Florida Land Trust all had informational booths set up for the summit’s attendees.
Abate said they probably won’t begin planning next fall’s summit until March, but he does have an idea for a topic.
“The water transfer issue we are seeing right now,” said Abate. “Atlanta is dealing with it and South Florida is talking about taking water from the St. Johns River.”