PRESSRELEASE EcoAdapt,anonprofitorganization P.O.Box11195,BainbridgeIsland,Washington98110 Mediacontact:AlexScore,[email protected],305‐509‐2535 Workingmembersofthemediaareinvitedtoattendallsessionswithno‐ costregistrationandapressconferenceWednesdayMay13,7:30‐8:00am intheConductorRoom.PleasereporttotheNationalAdaptationForum registrationdeskattheSt.LouisUnionStationHotel,1820MarketStreet, St.Louis,MO63103tosecureyourcredentials. FORIMMEDIATERELEASE GrassRootsClimateAdaptationCommunityGathersAgaintoShareandPromoteClimate AdaptationActions SaintLouis,May12,2015—Thesecondbi‐annualNationalAdaptationForumishappeninginSt. Louis,MissourionMay12‐14,2015topromoteenhancedresiliencetoclimatechange. Individualsrepresentingnonprofits,governmentatalllevels,andindustry,recognizingthatclimate changedemandsplanningandaction,createdtheNationalAdaptationForumandhostedthefirst eventin2013.Thebi‐annualNationalAdaptationForumenhancesourNation’sresilienceby providingaplacewhereparticipantscanlearnaboutpracticalapproachestoclimateadaptation; sharetheirknowledge;anddevelopanetworkofcolleaguesforongoingengagement. Participantsandsponsorswillleverageadiversityofbackgroundsandexperiencestoaccomplish theseoutcomes.Participantswilladdresstopicsrangingfromagricultureandfoodsecuritytowater resourcesviatownhallplenarysessions,trainings,workinggroups,andhands‐onpracticewith emergingtools.Morethan800adaptationprofessionalsareparticipatingfromeverystateinthe UnitedStates,oneterritory,threeCanadianprovinces,andfivecountries.Theseregistrants represent37percentgovernment,30percentnon‐profit,15percentuniversityresearch/teaching, 10percentstudent,8percentcorporate.Sponsorsfromallsectorsandfromaroundtheworldare supportingtheeventwithfinancialsupportandwithbooths.Morethan39organizations,including theKresgeFoundationandtheMacArthurFoundation,aresponsoringthisyear’sevent. “Ourcommunityisexcitedaboutthisoccasionforrealconversationsaboutrealactions.Turningthe latestbestpracticesandscienceintoactionwillenhanceresilienceasweadapttoclimatechange. Climatechangeiseverybody’sproblemandthisistheoccasionforeverybodytodosomethingabout it,”saidLaraHansen,Ph.D.,ChiefScientistandExecutiveDirectorofEcoAdapt,thenonprofit organizationhostingtheevent. AboutEcoAdapt.Climatechangeisreal.Itisnotaproblemofthefuture,it’saproblemofnow.The disruptionsitiscausingrequirethatwechangethewayweconsiderplanningandmanagementin ordertoensurethefutureofnaturalandbuiltsystems.Inordertoprotecttheseareasfromthe unavoidableeffectsofclimatechange,EcoAdaptprovidessupport,training,andassistancetomake planningandmanagementlessvulnerableandmoreclimatesavvy.Overthepast200years,great strideshavebeenmadeintheworldofmanagementandnowallofthatisatriskbecauseofclimate change.EcoAdaptisworkingtoensurethesuccessofthesepasteffortsbydeliveringaframeworkfor climateadaptation.Wehelpgovernments,organizations,andindividualsfigureouthowtodowhat theydoeffectively,eveninthefaceofclimatechange. ###