Public Health and Climate Change: Insights from the Keynote, Surili Sutaria Patel

October 4, 2020

Climate change-it's not just sea level rise and hurricanes

Live from the Social Coast Forum, Peter and Tyler sit down with the keynote speaker from the opening plenary, Surili Sutaria Patel, Director of the  Center for Climate, Health & Equity at the American Public Health Association.  From her unique vantage point, Patel documents how climate change is impacting public health today and that the coming changes will likely affect us all, regardless of race, income, age, or geography.  Some communities are more prepared; others will face the challenge of climate change less empowered and less equipped.  How do we get ready?  How do we level the playing field so communities have the chance to adjust, become climate resilient, and remain healthy?  Jump into this eye-opening discussion with the leading expert on the topic in America.  There is a lot to think about.  Another great show from ASPN!

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Peter Ravella & Tyler Buckingham

Peter and Tyler joined forces in 2015 and from the first meeting began discussing a project that would become Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network. At the time, Peter and Tyler were coastal consultants for Pete’s firm, PAR Consulting, LLC. In that role, they worked with coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, engaged in grant writing, coastal project development, shoreline erosion and land use planning, permitting, and financial planning for communities undertaking big beach restoration projects. Between and among their consulting tasks, they kept talking and kept building the idea of CNT & ASPN. In almost every arena they worked, public engagement played a central role. They spent thousands of hours talking with coastal stakeholders, like business owners, hotel operators, condo managers, watermen, property owners, enviros, surfers, and fishermen. They dived deep into the value, meaning, and responsibility for the American shoreline, segment-by-segment. Common threads emerged, themes were revealed, differences uncovered. There was a big conversation going on along the American shoreline! But, no place to have it. That's where CNT and ASPN were born.