The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), invites you to an interactive Roundtable discussion on Climate Change Driven Risks, Response, and Resilience. Join fire chiefs from some of the USA’s largest fire departments to discuss the current wildfire situation and what it will take to get ahead of future wildfire ignitions and the devastating impacts of intensifying storms. Aligning with Climate Week NYC during the U.N. General Assembly, FEMA Region 2 will host the Roundtable discussion including stakeholders from academia, nongovernmental organizations, U.S. and international government representatives, and fire service leaders.
This interactive Roundtable event will be held on Sept. 23 at 10:00 a.m. EST at FEMA Region 2, 53rd Floor, 1 World Trade Center, New York.
The Roundtable will build on discussions and information exchanges that occurred during the inaugural World Fire Congress (WFC) convened by FEMA/USFA in Washington, D.C., in May 2024. During the WFC, fire service leaders from 56 nations and 2 multilateral organizations heard from climate experts and firefighters on the growing threat of climate change-driven hazards in their nations. International participants also had the opportunity to speak about related challenges in their nations and provide information on potential solutions for consideration.
Throughout much of the U.S. and globally, climate change-driven hazards are becoming more destructive.
The atmosphere continues to warm, and ocean temperatures continue to rise, leading to more intense storm events. Wildfires especially are growing in size and intensity, threatening communities. The wildland urban interface is an area where human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland and fire-dependent and fire-prone vegetative fuels. When major storms or wildfires enter communities, the effects can be catastrophic, including overwhelmed firefighter response capabilities, tragic loss of life and socioeconomic devastation.
To hear and contribute more information about these critical issues and exchange ideas, please join us on Sept. 23. Though we are oceans apart, we face similar challenges, and together we can work to identify solutions.
Speakers include:
- Lori Moore-Merrell, DrPH, U.S. fire administrator, FEMA
- Victoria Salinas, deputy administrator, FEMA
- Justin Knighten, associate administrator, FEMA
- David Warrington, administrator, FEMA Region 2
- Brian Fennessy, chief, Orange County, California
- Tony Marrone, chief, Los Angeles County
- John Butler, chief, Fairfax County, Virginia