BLUE CARBON

Blue Carbon
Tangled Bank Studios
Monday October 21, 2024

Rising sea levels are an URGENT issue, and blue carbon is an awesome solution. Sea levels along the Virginia coast and Chesapeake Bay are rising at a rate 3X the global average. Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic 600-mile path of destruction, from Perry, Florida to Asheville, North Carolina, highlights the urgent need for blue carbon and wetland restoration. Come experience a remarkable journey that reveals a hidden weapon in the fight against climate change.This film sheds light on the critical role blue carbon ecosystems play in mitigating climate change and protecting communities from future disasters. Travel from the vibrant streets of the USA to stunning landscapes across Senegal, Vietnam, France, Colombia, and Brazil as the film uncovers the science behind Blue Carbon —the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon through wetlands, salt marshes, seagrasses, and mangroves.

Blue Carbon inspires action, revealing how the resilience of people and ecosystems can pave the way for a sustainable future. Prepare to be moved and motivated to help protect our communities.

OUR AWESOME PANEL:

• PAT MEGONIGAL is a Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD, with a BS and MS from Old Dominion University and a PhD from Duke University. An expert in greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and forests, he serves as Director of Research at SERC, Lead Investigator of the Global Change Research Wetland, and Chief Scientist of the DOE-funded COMPASS program. An elected Fellow of multiple scientific organizations, he has authored over 190 peer-reviewed publications. Pat’s passion for nature began in his childhood in Fairfax County, where he enjoyed camping and fishing.
• HILARY STEVENS is the coastal resilience senior manager at Restore America’s Estuaries. She oversees the Blue Carbon and Living Shorelines programs. She is a geologist and environmental scientist with extensive experience in coastal resource management. Hilary has worked on coastal issues and climate change adaptation around the US and globally, with an emphasis on using best-available science to address community needs and improve resource management. She has a particular affinity for island communities, stemming from her time working in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. She holds a master’s from Yale University and a B.S. from Wesleyan University.
• JOHN MORRILL is the Fairfax County Director of the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), leading climate mitigation and resilience efforts since late 2020, addressing both the causes and the effects of climate change. Previously, he spent 20 years at Arlington County managing energy policy and was awarded a U.S. EPA Climate Protection Award in 2008. His career began with 17 years at ACEEE in Washington, D.C., where he held various roles and coauthored two books on energy efficiency. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Clark University and a master’s in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia.

EVENT SPONSORS: Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3, Network NOVA, Climate & Clean Energy Working Group (CCEWG).

BOOK SEATS NOW before they’re sold out!