Adapting to Accelerating Climate Disruption

In this insightful Climate Emergency Forum COP29 press conference, host Herb Simmens leads a discussion on “Adapting to Accelerating Climate Disruption” with experts John Liu and Paul Beckwith.

This video was recorded on November 21st, 2024, and published on December 18th, 2024, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

The conversation explores the critical importance of adaptation in the face of rapid climate change, emphasizing the need for both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

John Liu, a renowned ecologist and filmmaker, shares his experiences with ecosystem restoration, highlighting the power of nature-based solutions in adapting to and mitigating climate change. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and working with biotic systems, explaining how restoring ecological functions can lead to significant improvements in climate resilience.

Paul Beckwith, a climate system scientist, discusses the challenges of adapting to increasingly extreme weather events and the accelerating rate of climate change. He stresses the need for innovative approaches to adaptation, from community-based fire management to rethinking urban development in vulnerable areas.

The panel delves into various aspects of climate adaptation, including the role of international climate negotiations, the concept of continuous re-adaptation, and the intersection of adaptation with biodiversity conservation. The speakers offer valuable insights on how individuals and communities can contribute to climate resilience, emphasizing the urgency of action and the potential for positive change through ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions.

Links:

• Healthy Planet Action Coalition

• Welcome to the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Movement

• Canada on Fire (CEF Video)

• Janine Benyus (wikipedia)

• The Looming Threat of Climate Tipping Points (CEF Video)

• UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience

• Design with Nature

Guest Panelist:

• John D. Liu - is a journalist, filmmaker, ecologist and Ecosystem Ambassador for the Commonland Foundation, whose work has helped to show that it is possible to restore natural ecological systems. He is the founder of the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Movement that has, together with many partners, created 80 Ecosystem Restoration Camps throughout the world.

Regular Panelists:

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Acknowledgement:

We’d like to acknowledge The International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) who helped us to attend COP29.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions