Workshop Summary

Sirata Beach Resort, St. Petersburg Beach, Florida
April 19-21, 2010

 

The Gulf of Mexico Climate Outreach Workshop was a first step in establishing a Community of Practice of extension, outreach and education professionals who share a common interest in increasing climate literacy and community resiliency to climate-related impacts. The focus of this workshop was on sea-level rise. The workshop was attended by 75 practitioners representing agencies that conduct extension and outreach education in the Gulf of Mexico, local planners, Sea Grant program Directors from the Gulf region, and expert speakers. The workshop addressed the following objectives:

 

  • Bring together organizations from around the Gulf of Mexico that are or will be conducting extension, outreach and education on sea level rise.
  • Discuss current awareness, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge levels related to climate change and sea level rise in Gulf of Mexico communities, and in particular amongst local officials.
  • Learn from community leaders around the Gulf of Mexico who are taking steps to understand and plan for sea level rise impacts.
  • Provide scientific information on sea level rise rates and impacts, as well as information on legal issues.
  • Explore how Community-Based Social Marketing techniques might inform and enhance sea level rise extension, outreach and education
  • Share existing tools, and identify additional information and tools needed to support effective extension, outreach and education on sea level rise.
  • Begin to craft a strategy for Gulf-wide sea level rise and climate change outreach, including discussing different organizations’ capacities and niches, and identifying opportunities to collaborate.
  • Identify strategies to continue the dialog, share information, and collaborate on climate change extension, outreach and education, including both online and face-to-face venue.

 

Workshop Agenda (77KB)
Workshop Summary (43KB)


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