Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will be hosting the national launch of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability’s Climate Adaptation Program: Climate Resilient Communities™, the country’s first comprehensive program to assist local governments with preparing for climate change, on Thursday, November 18th, 2010, at 4:00 p.m., in the Chase Board Room of the DeVos Convention Center, located at 303 Monroe, NW in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids will be one of the first local governments in the nation to use ICLEI’s advanced tools and resources to accelerate its preparedness in the face of unavoidable, local climate change impacts—including more frequent and severe heat waves, excessive rain events that threaten the integrity of the Great Lakes, declining harvest yields, and changes in temperature and precipitation patterns that threaten people, ecosystems, and the Grand Rapids economy. ICLEI’s resources include a new beta-tool, ADAPT: the Adaptation Database and Planning Tool, which will be locally introduced for the first time, and a member networking platform so that local communities across the country can share their lessons and experience related to building resilience towards climate change.
“Grand Rapids is delighted to be hosting the national launch of ICLEI’s Climate Resilient Communities program and is looking forward to utilizing the new ADAPT tool to advance local sustainability planning,” said Grand Rapids Mayor George K. Heartwell. “Our partnership with ICLEI has been instrumental in helping Grand Rapids move forward in building a sustainable, livable community.”
As a national leader on environmental issues, Grand Rapids has been leading the charge on climate adaptation and climate mitigation for years. Grand Rapids’ leadership and innovation on sustainability—from community revitalization and smart growth to the integration of economic and environmental sustainability—has made Grand Rapids a leader in the local sustainability arena both domestically and internationally.
As the leading national and international organization committed to advancing local sustainability and climate protection, ICLEI has been actively working for over 20 years to ensure that local communities have the tools, information, resources, training, and networking opportunities they need to advance their climate and sustainability goals.
“Over the last few years, ICLEI has realized that one of the underserved areas in which local governments need assistance is around building resilience toward existing and future climate change impacts,” said Martin Chavez, Executive Director of ICLEI USA. “Recognizing this need, ICLEI has been working with local governments across the country to develop the Climate Resilient Communities™ program, and we are delighted to finally be able to unveil this program to our national membership.”
Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids, named after late comedian Gilda Radner, will be offering the country's first community-wide festival focused on humor in Grand Rapids come this Spring. As part of the 10-day celebration, legendary comedian, director and actor Bill Cosby will bring all of his iconic expertise to DeVos Performance Hall! Cosby will take the stage on March 13.
