Leaders from local businesses and organizations unite at the Resilient Broward event to foster regional collaboration on climate resilience and sustainability

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – On February 26, 2025, the Broward County business community came together at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts for a powerful event that showcased the region’s commitment to addressing one of its most pressing challenges: climate resilience. The Resilient Broward event, hosted by the Economic Resilience Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, marked an important milestone in regional efforts to build a more resilient future for South Florida. This collaborative gathering brought together key organizations including the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber, Broward Workshop, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Marine Research Hub, and Broward County, all united in the mission to tackle the complexities of climate change and resilience.

The event was born out of a year-long effort led by Joseph Karl, Chair of the Economic Resilience Council. His reflections during his tenure as chair underscored the need for a more cohesive approach to resilience. “After serving as chair of the Economic Resilience Council for a year and listening to members of the council, my takeaway was that we needed to find a way to build awareness and momentum on an issue considered by some to be Broward County and South Florida’s greatest challenge,” said Karl. “Our message needed to target the business community, who could really drive the change needed, but whose knowledge of the challenges had a wide spectrum.”

Karl, in collaboration with leaders from several prominent local organizations, worked tirelessly to create an event that would not only raise awareness but also build momentum. The idea for the event originated at the Broward Workshop’s annual meeting in 2024 when Karl approached Kareen Boutros about working together on a resilience-focused event. The Broward Workshop has its own resilience group, and by joining forces, they could amplify the reach and impact of the event. “If we could get all these groups to row the boat together, and collectively tap into our respective networks, we could put on an event that could be educational, spread awareness, and build momentum,” Karl explained.

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One of the goals of the Resilient Broward event was to foster a deeper understanding of the various facets of resilience, from climate finance to energy sustainability. Topics addressed included the Broward County resilience plan, presented by Dr. Jennifer Jurado, which outlined the region’s strategies for adapting to climate change. The event also featured a discussion on new business opportunities in the blue economy, moderated by Katherine O’Fallon of the Marine Research Hub. The blue economy—focused on sustainable ocean resources—has gained traction as an important area of growth, especially as the impacts of climate change become more evident.

In addition, attendees heard from experts on critical issues such as climate finance and the related risks, as well as the significant impacts of climate change on the insurance market, with insights from Anita Byer and Representative Chip LaMarca. Energy resilience was also a key topic, with a presentation by Tim Oliver of Florida Power & Light (FP&L), discussing strategies for maintaining energy systems amid increasing climate volatility.

The event, which had been over a year in the making, faced challenges in terms of securing speakers and finalizing the location. Despite these hurdles, the team pulled together in the final 60 days to put on an exceptional event. “Planning for the Resilient Broward event took over 12 months. We experienced challenges with respect to speaker’s schedules and the event location, but everyone on the team pulled together in the final 60 days to put on an exceptional event and to build the foundation for a Resilient Broward,” Karl said.

As the event concluded, James Donnelly delivered the closing remarks, which included a strong call to action. The need for regional collaboration was emphasized, urging businesses and community leaders to stay engaged and continue driving forward the resilience efforts that are so vital for South Florida’s future.

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Looking ahead, the Resilient Broward event sets the stage for further action, particularly as Broward County will host the South Florida Regional Climate Compact in 2026. This event will bring together experts from around the world for a multi-day conference on climate change, providing even more opportunities for collaboration and learning. The Resilient Broward event was only the beginning of an ongoing regional effort to address the challenges posed by climate change.

For those interested in joining the efforts to enhance the region’s resilience, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce offers opportunities to get involved with the Economic Resilience Council. Joseph Karl, Chair of the Council, encourages those who want to support the mission to contact him directly at [email protected].

The Resilient Broward event proved that when communities come together with a shared vision and a commitment to addressing climate change, progress can be made. South Florida has a long road ahead, but the collaboration sparked by the event is a hopeful sign that the region is ready to face the challenges of climate resilience head-on.