The German Center for Research and Innovation, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany New York, and the American Friends of Bucerius cordially invite you to a panel discussion on:

Climate-proofing Cities Wednesday, March 27, 2013, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm with Dr. Klaus H. Jacob Special Research Scientist, Seismology, Geology, and Tectonophysics Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University Earth Institute Adjunct Professor, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University David Armour Chief City Executive for New York City Siemens Corporation James T. Gallagher Senior Manager for Strategic and Business Planning New York Independent System Operator Robert D. Yaro President Regional Plan Association at the German House, 871 United Nations Plaza (First Ave. at 49th Street), New York, NY RSVP by March 25 by clicking here. Registration is required to attend. Seating is limited. Reception to follow. Superstorm Sandy wreaked economic, social, and structural havoc, resulting in an estimated 25 billion dollars in lost business activity, 8.1 million homes without power across 17 states, and over 305,000 damaged or destroyed housing units in New York alone. The long-lasting effects of this natural disaster serve as a wake-up call, heightening public discourse on the topic of the vulnerability and resilience of major cities like New York. The question of how to build smart, sustainable, and resilient cities thus emerges. What actions can large cities take to further improve their ability to adapt to climate change and its impact? How is climate adaptation incorporated into spatial planning processes, and to what extent do cities themselves affect the local climate? Our expert panelists will convene on Wednesday, March 27th to discuss pathways to climate resilience in metropolitan areas. www.germaninnovation.org www.germany.info/newyork http://buceriususa.org/

Speaker Biographies: Dr. Klaus H. Jacob is a geophysicist and Emeritus Research Professor at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He teaches Disaster Risk Management at the School of International and Public Affairs, and Urban Disaster Resiliency Studios at the Graduate School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning for Caracas, Istanbul, and Accra. His current research focuses on climate change, sea level rise, and impacts on coastal megacities. He serves on the Mayor’s New York City Panel on Climate Change and NY State’s ClimAID project, prepared the MTA’s climate adaptation plan, and co-authored the National Academy’s “Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation.” Prior seismological research took him to five continents. He was named by TIME Magazine one of 50 “people who mattered in 2012” for forecasting consequences of a SANDY-like storm on New York City a year before SANDY hit. He received his PhD in Geophysics from the University of Frankfurt/Main, Germany. David Armour Appointed by the Siemens Cities Center of Competence as Chief City Executive for New York City in October 2012, David is responsible for establishing Siemens strategy for the metropolitan New York region. The Cities Center of Competence (CoC) is dedicated to understanding the key challenges facing cities. The CoC strives to leverage the company’s global experience and deep portfolio of infrastructure solutions to help cities create and implement plans for the future. Prior to joining the CoC, David served as Director of Business Development with Siemens One, a division of Siemens Corporation. This organization within Siemens is focused on bringing the breadth of Siemens to projects thereby providing a single, integrated solution. David serves on the Board of Directors for the Regional Plan Association and is a member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Washington University, St. Louis and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California. Robert D. Yaro is President and CEO of Regional Plan Association, America’s oldest independent metropolitan policy, research, and advocacy group. For nearly a century, RPA has promoted the livability, vitality, and sustainability of the New York metropolitan region and Mr. Yaro now leads RPA’s effort to create a 4th Regional Plan for the region. He founded and co-chairs America 2050, RPA’s initiative to create a national infrastructure plan and growth strategy for the United States. He is also a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s Sustainability Advisory Board, which helped develop PlaNYC 2030, New York City’s long-range sustainability plan. www.germaninnovation.org www.germany.info/newyork http://buceriususa.org/

Moderator Biography: James T. Gallagher is Senior Manager for Strategic Planning at the New York Independent System Operator, where he is responsible for establishing the long-term strategic direction for the NYISO, which operates New York’s electric transmission system and wholesale power markets. Prior to joining the NYISO in January of 2010, he was Senior Vice President for Energy Policy at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). In this position, he served as energy policy advisor to the Office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and he led the City’s Energy Policy Department. He also served as Chairman of the New York City Energy Policy Task Force. Prior to joining NYCEDC in December of 2007, Mr. Gallagher was Director of the Office of Electricity and Environment (OEE) for the New York Public Service Commission. Before joining the Department of Public Service in 1986, he held senior energy policy positions at Northeast Utilities, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Energy Council, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. He received a BS in Economics from Lehigh University and an MS in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

www.germaninnovation.org www.germany.info/newyork http://buceriususa.org/