Resiliency + Sustainability Task Force Meeting

On behalf of Resiliency + Sustainability Task Force Chair Reinaldo Borges, Borges Architects + Associates, please join us for an update on Miami Beach resiliency initiatives. 

Date:
Tuesday, July 18
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Agenda:
“Introduction and Opening Statements by our Resiliency Chair, Reinaldo Borges”

Key points:
- Active projects to look ahead toward future proofing the community
- Getting prepared for significant storm events
- Local resiliency initiatives for the City of Miami Beach 

Speaker:
Amy Knowles
Chief Resilience Officer
Environment and Sustainability Director

City of Miami Beach 

​This meeting is via Zoom only. Once you have registered for the meeting you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. 

This meeting is open to members and non-members. For more information please contact Charlotte Rigaud at events@miamibeachchamber.com

Mission Statement

The Task Force will focus on enhancing dialog between city government, Miami Beach citizens and Chamber leadership on the topic of sustainability and resiliency. Through education, risk analysis, economic considerations, insurance risks, consideration of new technologies and local contexts, the committee seeks solutions with the objective of framing a well-balanced process that is ongoing and will continue to address challenges to the Coastal Community of Miami Beach and its government, citizens and to the business community. The task force will formulate a more consistent platform for dialog on the important topics related to sustainability and resiliency and follow the 100 Resilient Cities Rockefeller Foundation initiative, as it explores the following four dimensions to sustainability and resilience: Health & Wellbeing; Economy & Society; Infrastructure & Environment; and Leadership & Strategy.

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Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience Officer
City of Miami Beach

Amy Knowles serves as the Chief Resilience Officer and the Director of Environment and Sustainability for the City of Miami Beach.  Ms. Knowles works closely with a holistic resilience leadership team to implement policies and projects to build a resilient Miami Beach.  
Miami Beach is a living laboratory for climate change, and Ms. Knowles focuses on integrating climate preparedness planning with nature-based solutions and infrastructure.  In planning for sea level rise, Ms. Knowles recently helped to secure $48 million in resilience funding for projects ranging from dune restoration to infrastructure.  She led the city’s first vulnerability assessment and the business case analysis of the stormwater program- both highlighting the social and economic importance of protecting of Miami Beach.  She recently launched Fight the Flood, a Private Property adaptation program to incentivize private property investments in resilience. Notable Miami Beach work on extreme heat includes the Urban Heat Island Ordinance and the Urban Forestry Master Plan. 
Ms. Knowles believes collaboration is critical for resilience and works in a unique partnership with Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, and the Miami Foundation to implement Resilient305, a shared resilience strategy.  Ms. Knowles serves on the North American Steering Committee for the Global Resilient Cities Network.  She participates in in the work of the Southeast Florida Climate Change Compact and Resiliency Florida.  Ms. Knowles has traveled to the Netherlands, Chile, and across the United States to study and share resilience strategies.
Ms. Knowles‘ career in public service includes environmental protection, administration, and planning.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Binghamton University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Miami.