Program

Building Small Island Resilience to Global Climate Change:
An International Symposium
September 20-23, 2016
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

(PROGRAM: PDF VERSION)

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Tuesday, September 20, 2016 – 6:30–9:00 PM

6:30–
9:00 PM
Registration – Rodd Charlottetown Hotel Lobby
7:00–
9:00 PM
Welcome Reception – Rodd Charlottetown Hotel

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – 8:00 AM–9:00 PM – Rodd Charlottetown Hotel

8:00 AM Registration – Rodd Charlottetown Hotel Lobby
9:00 AM Welcome Remarks – MC: Dr. Adam Fenech

•    Mi’kmaq Welcome Song, Star Child Eliza Knockwood, Abegweit

•    Hon. Robert J. Mitchell, Minister of Communities, Land and Environment

•   Mr. Steve Olmstead, Insurance Bureau of Canada

•    Dr. Robert Gilmour, VP Academic and Research, UPEI

•    Dr. James Randall, Chair of the Executive Committee, Institute of Island Studies and UNESCO Co-Chair

9:30 AM Opening Address – Introduction by Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino

•    Hon. H Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island

9:50 AM Short Break
10:00 AM Keynote Address I  – Introduction by Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino

•    Towards a Carbon-Neutral Canada – Acting on Climate Change: Solutions from Canadian Scholars – Dr. Catherine Potvin, Canada Research Chair on Climate Change Mitigation and Tropical Forests: Science for Empowerment, McGill University

10:30 AM Discussion
11:00 AM Questions  / Facilitated Discussion, led by Drs. Jim Randall, Adam Fenech & Laurie Brinklow
What do we hope to achieve at this symposium? How can you contribute to achieving these symposium goals? 
12:00 PM Lunch
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1:30 PM Cultural Heritage Session –  CHAIR: Dr. Jean Mitchell

•     Strategies for Preserving Cultural Heritage in Climate Change in the Pacific – Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Government of Vanuatu

•     Innovative Community Design for Preserving Culture on Canadian and Caribbean Islands – Dr. Luna Khirfan, School of Planning, University of Waterloo

•     Climate Change Threats to Cultural Sites on PEI – Dr. Helen Kristmanson, Director, Aboriginal Affairs and Archaeology, Province of Prince Edward Island

2:30 PM Discussion Panel

Facilitated discussion led by session chair and two participants

3:00 PM Networking Break
3:30 PM Food Security Session – CHAIR: Ms. Kathleen Brennan

•        Milan Declaration on Enhancing Food Security and Climate Adaptation in Small Island Developing States – Ms. Tiina Kurvits, Project Manager, Ecosystem Management, GRID-Arendal, Norway/Ottawa

•        Pacific Food Security under a Changing Climate Dr. Steven Underhill, Professor of Horticulture, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

•        Food Vulnerability in Small Island Indigenous Communities: Adaptation Recommendations for Building Resilience – Mr. Charlie Sark, Lennox Island, Prince Edward Island, Canada

4:30 PM Discussion Panel

Facilitated discussion led by session chair and two participants

5:00 PM Free time for participants
7:00—9:00 PM Symposium Banquet featuring foods from Atlantic Canada

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Thursday, September 22, 2016 – 9:00 AM–5:30 PM        

9:00 AM Keynote Address II – Introduction by Dr. Adam Fenech

•    Importance of the Marine Environment to Island Life: Local and Global Strategies in Building Small Island Resilience to Climate Change – Hon. David MacDonald, Former MP and Cabinet Minister

9:30 AM Discussion
9:45 AM Questions  / Facilitated Discussion: The Economics of Climate Change (30 min) – led by Dr. Robert Greenwood
10:15 AM Renewable Energy Session – CHAIR: Dr. John McIntyre

•    Renewable Energy Potential of Small Island States – Mr. Bengt-Olof Grahn, Region Gotland, Sweden

•    100% Green Electrical Energy for the Faroes by 2030: Lessons for Small Islands – Mr. Terji Nielsen, Manager, Research and Development, SEV, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

•    Experience Using Wind Power on Small Islands: Challenges and Opportunities – Mr. Scott Harper, Director, Wind Energy Institute of Canada, North Cape, PEI, Canada

11:15 AM Discussion Panel

Facilitated discussion led by session chair and two participants

11:45 PM Lunch
1:15 PM Innovation Sessions – CHAIR: Mr. Gordon Cobb

•     Innovation and Governance in Climate Change Solutions for Small Islands – Dr. Stefano Moncada, Lecturer, Institute for European Studies, University of Malta

•     Technology and innovation for the development of small islands: An update in an age of climate change – Dr. Robert Greenwood, Director, Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

•     Small Island Innovations and New Technologies for Addressing Threats from Coastal Erosion and Sea Level Rise – Dr. Adam Fenech, Director, Climate Research Lab, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

2:15 PM Discussion Panel 

Facilitated discussion led by session chair and two participants

3:00 PM Networking Break
3:30 PM Communicating the Symposium Results – CHAIR: Dr. Laurie Brinklow

•  Walking the Talk with Video: Communicating the Climate Change Message Mr. Bryan Ogden, Wastewater Science, Malta

•  Participants will work collectively on a communiqué to be presented at the Public Symposium – Facilitated by Symposium Co-chairs, Drs. Adam Fenech and Jim Randall, and Public Symposium host, Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino

•  Closing Remarks and Thanks — Dr. Jim Randall

4:15– 7:00 PM Free time for participants
7:00– 9:00 PM Public Symposium at Florence Simmons Performance Hall, Holland College –
MC: Dr. Laurie Brinklow•        Building Small Island Resilience to Global Climate Change – Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, University of Malta and UPEI, UNESCO Co-Chair on Island Studies and Sustainability•        Release and Comments on the Symposium Statement – Drs. Jim Randall and Adam Fenech, Symposium Co-chairs

                                                                                                                                                 Friday, September 23, 2016 – 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

9:00 AM– 4:00 PM Post-Symposium Study Tour

Study Tour – Island Resilience and Climate Change: A Visit to PEI National Park adjunct at Greenwich; lunch at Trailside Café in Mount Stewart; and finishing with tour of UPEI, including the Climate Research Lab.