Climate Change & You
Tread Lightly on the Earth: Climate Change & You
July 2019 Climate Change and Our Food Supply
Townhall Discussion & Green Drinks Annapolis
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Mathias Laboratory Atrium
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater
Annapolis Green and Presenting Sponsor *Hannon Armstrong invite you to the second in a year-long series of townhall-style talks on Climate Change. The talk will focus on the effect of Climate Change on our food supply.
The talk will be followed by Green Drinks Annapolis, where we will continue the conversation about this important topic over a cocktail (or soft drink) and hors d’oeuvres.
It is clear that the climate is changing rapidly. The Chesapeake is already being affected by sea level rise, severe weather and other aspects of Climate Change. But what does this mean to you? How will this affect what we eat? What do we need to know?
Expert speakers will explain how the accelerated pace of Climate Change is affecting our food supply—on land and in the Bay and oceans—in easy to understand presentations. They will address the topics of adaptation and resiliency, answer questions, and engage in a two-way discussion with the audience. The goal is to inform and leave attendees with optimism about how the right policies and practices can mitigate the impact of Climate Change on themselves, their families and their communities.
Speakers
Anna Chaney, farmer, chef and caterer- Bert Drake, Ph.D., Smithsonian scientist emeritus
- Sara Via, Ph.D., Professor, University of Maryland
- Bruce Vogt, Ecosystem Science & Synthesis Manager, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
- Moderator: Dave Buemi, Post Carbon Institute & Climate Change Reality Project
About Our Speakers
Anna Chaney – Ms. Chaney is a CPA, entrepreneur, certified in Permaculture Theory and Design, Earthkeeper as Initiated by the Shamans of the Andes in Peru, Regenerative Agriculture Farmer, Herbalist and Shamanic Energy Healer. She founded, owns, and operates a local catering and event company located at an eco-lifestyle marina resort on the Chesapeake Bay. Ms. Chaney and her family have preserved over 1500 acres in agricultural and historic preservation in Anne Arundel County and Northern Calvert County. She lives on and care-takes a 160-acre permaculture farm located in Lothian, Maryland, where she and her son grow and produce native fruits and nuts, and make herbal plant-based tinctures and syrups. Their focus is healing the soil; which feeds the plants and nourishes the people. They are also participating in the Maryland Hemp Research Program with Morgan State University and are growing hemp for value-added CBD products. Ms. Chaney has spent the last decade training and working with contemporary and traditional shamans from North and Central America. She offers healing sessions at her farm which can include Forest Bathing, energy healing, and food and supplement consultations. Her passion is aligned with Hippocrates’ insofar as her dedication to growing nutrient dense food and medicine for people: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Bert Drake, Ph.D. – Dr. Drake, a Plant Physiologist, retired as Senior Scientist from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. He led two major ecosystem projects on the impacts of rising atmospheric CO2 and climate change on the capacity of land ecosystems to assimilate carbon dioxide. The Chesapeake Bay wetland study is the longest-running experiment of its type ever undertaken, expanded in 1996 to include similar studies at the wildlife refuge at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and resulting in more than 100 publications. Dr. Drake was designated the Smithsonian 2005 Distinguished Science Lecturer for his long record of research and public outreach.
Sara Via, Ph.D. – Dr. Via is Professor and Climate Extension Specialist at the University of Maryland, College Park. When she came to Maryland in 1997 from Cornell University, her research focused on the evolutionary genetics of insect crop pests. By 2014, however, she was so worried about climate change that she changed her emphasis to climate extension. Now Dr. Via teaches Marylanders across the state about Climate Change impacts and solutions. She also conducts extensive soil health outreach. Her presentations for farmers and technical service providers emphasize the crucial role of microbes in soil health and how healthy soil increases climate resilience on farms by reducing the impacts of floods & drought. Dr. Via is currently working with the Maryland Department of Agriculture on a program to incentivize Maryland’s farmers to increase the use of science-based strategies that boost soil health and sequester carbon. This program will be part of Maryland’s 2020 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act Plan.
Bruce Vogt – Mr. Vogt is Ecosystem Science & Synthesis Manager at NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office. He oversees the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Program Office’s science portfolio including oysters, fisheries and environmental observations. Mr. Vogt works to develop science products and applications that support living resource management in the Chesapeake Bay and is the Coordinator of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team. He also chairs the Invasive Catfish Task Force and Forage Action Team, working with state and federal offices and other organizations to evaluate science needs, develop projects and deliver products to policy makers.
Dave P. Buemi, Moderator – Mr. Buemi is Managing Director of Prescient Energy Consulting and is Post Carbon Institute & Climate Reality Project commissioned. The Post Carbon Institute is focused on providing communities with solutions to meet the Climate Change challenge at the local level. His work over the last 22 years in solar and renewable energy globally provides a unique perspective on the challenge of energy as the main driver of climate change.
Anna Chaney, Dr. Bert Drake, Dr. Sara Via, Bruce Vogt, Dave Buemi
Green Drinks hor’s d’oeuvres provided by Herrington-on-the-Bay
Pre-discussion nibbles at 5:30
Hemp balls with organic peanut butter and local honey
White bean hummus topped with house made Curtido
Green Drinks appetizers at 7:30
Beet and Arugula skewer with Chevre goat cheese and balsamic glaze
Asian style Chicken Bone broth shots with fresh ginger and lemongrass
Chicken Satay in Belgian Endive cups with Thai peppers and sweet basil
Invasive Blue Catfish (Preparation & presentation will be a surprise!)
Sweet Potato Pudding with Pepita crunch and candied nuts
Beer, wine, and soft drinks will be available. Cash bar.
The “Tread Lightly” series began in March 2019 with “Climate 101,” a talk that covered basic information about Climate Change and its effect on public health. See below.
Future topics in the series may include:
- Climate Change as a National Security Issue
- Climate Change and the Economy
- What Our State, County, and City Governments are Doing to Address Climate Change
*We are grateful to series Presenting Sponsor Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI), which focuses on making investments in climate change solutions by providing capital to the leading companies in the energy efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainable infrastructure markets. Hannon Armstrong is only New York Stock Exchange listed company headquartered in Annapolis, and is the first U.S. public company solely dedicated to investments that reduce carbon emissions or increase resilience to climate change.
Support for the July talk also is provided by our host, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center SERC, along with the Chesapeake Conservancy and the Climate Stewards of Greater Annapolis.
March 2019 Climate Change 101
Townhall Discussion
Climate Change 101: What Does It Mean to Me?
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
7 – 9 p.m.
Annapolis Maritime Museum
723 Second Street, Annapolis
It is clear that the climate is changing rapidly. The Chesapeake is already being affected by sea level rise, severe weather and other aspects of Climate Change. But what does this mean to the average person? What, exactly are the international agreements all about? Can the science be explained in a common-sense manner? How will this affect my health? Is there anything we, our communities, and our local governments can do to be resilient in the face of a changing climate?
Annapolis Green and Presenting Sponsor Hannon Armstrong are offering a year-long series of talks entitled “Tread Lightly on the Earth” to address these essential questions and other related issues. The first talk, “Climate Change 101: What Does it Mean to Me?” was held on Wednesday, March 27, at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, a fitting location as it feels the effect of sea level rise on a daily basis.
Expert speakers explained the accelerated pace of Climate Change in simple language, addressed the topics of adaptation and resiliency, answered questions, and engaged in a two-way discussion with the audience. The goal was to inform and leave attendees with optimism about steps they can take at home and at work to mitigate the impact of Climate Change on themselves, their families and their communities.
Speakers
Astrid Caldas, PhD, a senior climate scientist with the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Her research focuses on Climate Change adaptation with practical policy implications for ecosystems, the economy, and society. She also works on policy related to Climate Change, climate and environmental justice, and climate communication.
Ron Kaltenbaugh, MS, network engineer for a Fortune 500 company. He is President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington DC (EVADC), Chair of the Frederick County Sustainability Commission, and is a graduate of the Climate Reality Corps founded by Al Gore. He has given presentations on Climate Change to a variety of audiences more than 20 times.
Elvia Thompson, MPA, Co-founder and President of Annapolis Green, and a well-known speaker on environmental issues. Retired from federal government service, she has served on the boards of several local environmental organizations, is a Master Watershed Steward and a graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel and the Climate Reality Leadership Corps.
Charlotte Wallace, MS, RN, Community Health Nurse and Sustainability Coordinator at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Her passion for pediatrics and the environment has led her to initiate and chair the environmental health program at AAMC. She is an active member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, the only national organization of nurses working together on environmental issues.
Dave Buemi, Moderator, has been commissioned by the Post Carbon Institute which is focused on providing communities with solutions to meet the climate change challenge at the local level. His work over the last 22 years in solar and renewable energy globally provides a unique perspective on the challenge of energy as the main driver of climate change.
Astrid Caldas, Ron Kaltenbaugh, Elvia Thompson, Charlotte Wallace, Dave Buemi
Support for the March talk was provided by our host, the Annapolis Maritime Museum, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center SERC, along with the Chesapeake Conservancy and the Climate Stewards of Greater Annapolis.
