6th Annual CAC Florida Climate Conference: From Climate Risk to Climate Resilience

Enjoy a full day of inspiring presentations, engaging discussions, and networking with the people helping shape the future of climate resilience along Florida's Gulf Coast. Guests will enjoy a catered outdoor lunch on the beautiful University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus, along with refreshments and breaks throughout the day.

This year's conference highlights the exciting vision of the Living Laboratory for Coastal Resilience, a collaborative initiative that brings together science, technology, education, and community partnerships to better understand our changing environment and build a stronger, more resilient Suncoast.

Whether you're a community leader, researcher, educator, student, business professional, or simply passionate about protecting our coastal communities, this conference offers an opportunity to learn from experts, exchange ideas, and discover how you can help make this vision a reality.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the people turning the Living Laboratory for Coastal Resilience from an idea into action and see how you can become part of the next chapter in building a more resilient Florida.

Early Bird Bonus: Register by August 15, 2026, and enjoy a complimentary catered lunch. After August 15, lunches will be available for purchase as a $30 add-on, subject to availability.

Conference Agenda

6th Annual CAC Florida Climate Conference
From Climate Risk to Climate Resilience

Thursday, November 12, 2026
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
Conference program: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus/New College of Florida North Campus
Selby Auditorium • Sarasota, Florida
Live Broadcast Available

Conference Purpose

The 2026 Florida Climate Conference brings together leading climate scientists, resilience practitioners, civic leaders, educators, and community partners to explore practical solutions for reducing climate risk and strengthening coastal resilience.

How can coastal communities translate the best available climate science into actionable understanding and practical systems for reducing climate risk and strengthening resilience?

The conference will culminate with the introduction of the Sarasota Living Laboratory for Coastal Resilience (LLCR), a prototype coastal framework integrating Earth system science, observational networks, and decision-support systems into a scalable model for coastal resilience.

8:30 a.m.

Conference Check-in & Registration

Morning Session

Understanding the Climate System and Risk

9:00 a.m.

Keynote Address: The State of Climate Prediction: What Models Are Telling Us About Evolving Risk in a Changing Climate

Benjamin Kirtman, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
Director, NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies

Topic: A scientific overview of current climate prediction systems, atmosphere-ocean coupling, and model-based understanding of evolving risks over the coming decades, with emphasis on coastal impacts, extremes, and decision-relevant prediction science.

9:40 a.m.

Flying with One Eye Shut: Florida’s Observation Gap and the Need for a Coastal Intelligence System

Bob Bunting
CEO, Climate Adaptation Center

10:20 a.m.

Networking Break

10:40 a.m.

How Might Climate Change Affect Our Ability to Manage Coastal Water Quality: What to Expect and How to Respond

David Tomasko, Ph.D.
Watershed & Water Quality Director, Environmental Science Associates
Former Director, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

11:20 a.m.

Fireside Conversation: The State of Earth System Science and Florida’s Role in Climate Risk and Resilience

Moderator: Cathy Carter (Tentative)
Host/Reporter, WUSF Media

Panelists:

• Stu Waterman, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Climate Adaptation Center
• Benjamin Kirtman, Ph.D.
• David Tomasko, Ph.D.
• Bob Bunting

11:45 a.m.

Audience Questions & Discussion

12:00 p.m.

Networking Lunch

Catered outdoor lunch on the beautiful USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.

Afternoon Session

Building the Living Laboratory

1:00 p.m.

The Sarasota Living Laboratory for Coastal Resilience: A Coastal Framework for Observation, Modeling, and Decision Support

Bob Bunting
CEO, Climate Adaptation Center

1:40 p.m.

Audience Questions & Discussion

2:00 p.m.

Networking Break

Sarasota’s Crown Jewels

Founding Nodes of the LLCR

2:20 p.m.

Climate Resilience at Selby Gardens

Jennifer Rominiecki
President and CEO, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

2:40 p.m.

The Bay: Building a Resilient Waterfront for Future Generations

A.G. Lafley
Founding CEO, The Bay Park Conservancy

3:00 p.m.

Building Cultural Resilience: The Sarasota Orchestra’s New Music Center

Joe McKenna
President and CEO, Sarasota Orchestra

3:20 p.m.

Closing Leadership Forum: Building the Sarasota Bay Living Laboratory: From Individual Projects to an Integrated Coastal Resilience System

Moderator: Susan Burns, Editor in Chief (Tentative)
Sarasota Magazine

Panelists:

• Bob Bunting
• Benjamin Kirtman, Ph.D.
• A.G. Lafley
• Joe McKenna
• Jennifer Rominiecki
• David Tomasko, Ph.D.
• Stu Waterman, Ph.D.

Discussion Focus: Integration of climate science, observational systems, cultural institutions, and civic leadership into a unified coastal resilience framework that can serve as a scalable model for other coastal regions.

4:00 p.m.

Conference Adjourns

(T) = Tentative. Speakers and agenda are subject to change.

Conference Sponsors

The Climate Adaptation Center gratefully acknowledges the organizations helping make the 2026 Florida Climate Conference possible.