HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE, Va. – On the heels of the Administration's release of a plan to cut carbon pollution this week, on Thursday, June 5, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will tour Jamestown Island and host a roundtable discussion on the impacts of climate change on cultural resources at Virginia's Historic Jamestowne, part of Colonial National Historical Park
On the tour, Jewell will examine areas previously affected by flooding and expected to experience increased flooding from sea-level rise as a result of climate change. In a May 2014 report on National Landmarks at Risk , the Union of Concerned Scientists included Jamestown among 30 case studies of iconic historic and cultural sites at risk from climate change.
During the roundtable discussion, Jewell will meet with National Park Service land managers and cultural and natural resource specialists, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and the nonprofit sector, local officials and other stakeholders to discuss how to make the island and its archeological treasures more resilient to climate change.
The Third National Climate Assessment released by the White House on May 6 found that sea level is projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet in this century in the U.S. Southeast. According to the National Park Service, Jamestown Island faces a particularly extreme risk because two thirds of the island's surface is less than 5 feet above sea level.
At the President's direction, on Monday, June 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the Clean Power Plan proposal, which calls for cuts in carbon pollution from existing power plants, the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States. By 2030, the plan announced this week calls for cutting carbon emissions from the power sector by 30 percent nationwide from 2005 levels.
“Beyond benefiting public health and the economy, these cuts in carbon pollution will greatly benefit the parks, refuges, other public lands and cultural resources entrusted to the Department of the Interior on behalf of all Americans,” said Jewell. “Through sound science and collaboration, we need to examine how we can help cultural and natural resources like those on Jamestown Island and in the larger Chesapeake Bay region adapt to climate change and become more resilient to its impacts.”
WHO:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Dan Smith, Superintendent of Colonial National Historical Park
USGS and NPS scientists
Local partners
WHAT:
Tour of Jamestown Island and Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change
WHEN:
June 5, 2014
9:00 am EDT – tour of Jamestown Island with Secretary Jewell (b-roll opportunities)
10:45 am EDT – media check-in for roundtable discussion
11:00 am EDT – roundtable discussion
WHERE:
Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center
1368 Colonial Pkwy
Jamestown, VA 23081
RSVP:
Credentialed members of the media interested in covering the visit event are encouraged to RSVP HERE. Additional logistical details will be provided to confirmed reporters.
Source: Department of Interior
