Kelsey Rader is the City of Albuquerque’s first Sustainability Officer, leading City efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for changing climate conditions.
Over the last several years, she has had the opportunity to work with many New Mexico-based organizations and agencies on some of the leading topics in energy, water, agriculture and wildlife conservation. Kelsey Rader graduated from University of New Mexico School of Law with a certificate in environmental and natural resources law. Prior to her role at the City, Kelsey was the Natural Resources Policy Director for New Mexico First, a nonpartisan policy nonprofit. Kelsey also currently serves as a commissioner on the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission.
SESSION
Summer is Coming: Preparing Urban Heat Strategies in Albuquerque
Albuquerque is among a growing number of large U.S. cities building strategic responses to climate-driven heat. With limited resources and competing priorities, advancing heat response as a new policy focus comes with a number of challenges. Key to building heat strategies is integrating heat data collection, mitigation and emergency response to new and existing programs in local government.
Outline the realities of developing heat mitigation as a new policy focus within local government, as well as opportunities to implement.
Outline the realities of developing heat mitigation as a new policy focus within local government, as well as opportunities to implement.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate how cities can take advantage of opportunities to develop heat and health data and the importance of developing this data.
- Outline how to deploy projects and policies to address heat mitigation in multiple sectors as well as integrate heat into existing efforts.
- Address talking points to educate leadership and the public to create support for coordinated heat action
- Advocate to other levels of government, private sector and collaborate with regional partners to elevate the need to invest in heat
Participant Outcomes
- Effectively seek out entities and funding opportunities to assist in developing heat and public health data
- Assess and develop projects that address heat mitigation and incorporate heat into existing efforts
- Understand how to pitch and frame heat adaptation issues to bipartisan leadership and the public