The Friends of the Lehigh University Libraries invite you to join us on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. via Zoom for Adapting to Climate Change in One Square Mile: Lessons Learned from Hoboken, New Jersey, presented by Jennifer Gonzalez ’08 ’09G, Director of Environmental Services and Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Hoboken, New Jersey.

The City of Hoboken, NJ is a 1-square mile city located along the Hudson River directly west of midtown Manhattan, between the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. As an urban coastal city, Hoboken is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which continues to threaten quality of life for Hoboken residents. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions will bring rising sea levels, more frequent and intense storm events, higher temperatures, and longer heat waves. This talk will review investments, policy, and planning by the City and its partners at all levels of government and within the private sector to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Participants will learn how the City leverages multi-benefit capital projects for financing resiliency, and the vital roles of leadership and community engagement. The talk will conclude with a view toward the future of regional resilience in New Jersey.

About the speaker:

Jennifer Gonzalez is the Director of Environmental Services and Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Hoboken, New Jersey where she oversees public works including parks, public property, waste management, and infrastructure projects including flood risk reduction. She advances asset management, sustainability in municipal operations across multiple departments, and resiliency projects such as the $48 million Northwest Resiliency Park. She also supports emergency management, the Hoboken drinking water utility, and coordination with energy and sewer utilities. Before joining the City of Hoboken, Ms. Gonzalez was a Principal Planner with Louis Berger and Environmental Planner with the County of Passaic, New Jersey. She holds professional certifications from the American Planning Association (AICP), National Association of Floodplain Managers (CFM), U.S. Green Building Certification Institute (LEED-Green Associate), and New Jersey Board of Professional Planners (PP). She earned her M.A. in Environmental Policy from Lehigh University, where she also served as a Young Alumni Trustee on the Board of Trustees, Director-at-Large on the Board of Directors of the Lehigh University Alumni Association, and President of the Young Alumni Council.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session led by Boaz Nadav Manes, Lehigh’s University Librarian. This event is free and open to the public.

Please register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Sponsored by The Friends of the Lehigh University Libraries.