BROWARD
COUNTY, FL -
Broward County will host a Resilience Finance Convening on March 25-27, 2025,
in collaboration with the Resilient Cities Network, bringing together global
city leaders, finance experts and private sector partners to explore strategies
for bringing large-scale capital to local resilience solutions. This event will
focus on capital planning, risk reduction, and finance strategies enabling
resilience investments and supporting communities in their efforts to better
prepare for and respond to climate challenges.
The
convening will welcome resilience leaders from cities across the United States
and around the globe in collaborative exploration of opportunities for
portfolio-based capital planning involving complex systems, and the overall
scaling of resilience finance needed to support longer-term strategies. This
event will provide an opportunity to highlight the resilience efforts in
Broward County and southeast Florida while learning of the progress being made
by diverse communities, domestic and abroad.
As
the county works to finalize a resilience plan focused on reducing flood risk
and losses, with strategies that deliver co-benefits of flood insurance
affordability, preservation of property values, and economic productivity,
collaboration with the Resilient Cities Network provides an opportunity to
learn from those with similar resilience challenges and to gain insight as to
innovations in projects and finance being deployed outside our region. The
convening provides an opportunity for deep collaboration as global local
partners working to collectively accelerate resilience plans and investments
and to deliver positive economic outcomes by way of risk reduction, avoided
losses, and capitalizing on new opportunities.
"As
climate risks intensify, Broward County recognizes that strong partnerships and
diverse finance strategies will be key to building a resilient future, "said
Broward County, Mayor Beam Furr. "This knowledge exchange is an opportunity to
learn from one another, build new partnerships, share successes, and accelerate
solutions to ensure our communities have the resources needed for a stronger,
more resilient future."
"City
resilience is a costly endeavor but, not nearly as costly as ignoring risks and
dealing with the consequences. We see that cities that focus on investment in
the systems that provide essential services to their citizens are better off
when crisis hits. They are prepared and can adapt to the shocks and stresses
that they inevitably face. Our Network and member cities understand the
critical role of lining up the finance that will keep their systems running and
their communities safe." said Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of
Resilient Cities Network. "Opportunities for cities to come together and
share expertise are essential for driving investment in city resilience."
Broward
County joined the Resilient Cities Network as the 101st member in December
2023, a milestone announced during COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The
County's resiliency efforts are led by Dr. Jennifer Jurado, who serves as Chief
Resilience Officer and Deputy Director of the Resilient Environment Department.
The department plays a key role in strengthening community resilience through a
wide range of environmental, planning, housing and regulatory and
community-focused initiatives.
The
Resilient Cities Network is the world's leading urban resilience network,
bringing together global knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to
empower its members in building safe and equitable cities. Its unique city-led
approach ensures that cities drive the agenda to benefit the communities they
serve. With over 100 member cities worldwide, the network supports
on-the-ground projects and facilitates connections between local leaders to
advance climate resilience, circular economies, and equity-driven solutions.
March 24, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Jurado, PH.D.
Deputy Director/Chief Resilience Officer
Resilient Environment Department
(954) 519-1464
(954) 520-1086 (c)
jjurado@broward.org