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Chesapeake Rising: Innovative Law and Policy Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Coastal Communities
Coastal communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly those historically underserved and overburdened, are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise and more frequent and severe storms pose significant threats to coastal areas, making adaptation not just necessary but essential. Science, law, and policy are vital to navigating this shifting landscape.
Join us for a symposium April 2 in Washington, DC
The Chesapeake Rising: Innovative Law and Policy Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Coastal Communities symposium will explore key legal and policy considerations that affect climate adaptation strategies. It aims to foster an exchange of ideas on how coastal communities can respond to climate change.
Experts will discuss the status and challenges of climate adaptation in coastal regions, and law students and early career professionals will share innovative solutions and research. Attendees will also have the chance to engage in action-oriented conversations about climate adaptation.
Keynote speakers include Serena McIlwain, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, and Vikki Arroyo, professor of practice at Georgetown Law School.
Symposium Details
We invite law students, lawyers, scientists, and anyone interested in the intersection of law and climate adaptation to join this discussion.
Date: April 2, 2025
Location: 500 First St NW, Washington, DC, 20001
Registration fee: Free entry!
How to register: Fill out this registration form to register for the symposium
Agenda
The Chesapeake Rising: Innovative Law and Policy Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Coastal Communities symposium features keynote speakers, expert panelists, law student research, and breakout sessions.
See the full agenda
8:30 a.m. | Check In
Check in and network with fellow attendees. Light refreshments will be served.
9 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
Opening remarks from symposium organizers, including an overview of the symposium goals and the day's schedule
Keynote Address by Secretary Serena McIlwain, Maryland Department of the Environment
Distinguished speaker on legal and policy challenges in coastal resilience and climate adaptation
Panel Discussion: Governance Framework in the Chesapeake Bay
Experts discuss federal, state, and local policies shaping coastal resilience. Topics include regulatory challenges, climate migration, and environmental justice.
Break
Research Paper Presentations
Selected law students and early-career professionals present their research on climate adaptation law and policy, followed by Q&A.
Breakout Discussion
An interactive session where participants work on discussed researcher topics and explore multifaceted complexities of resilience strategies.
12 p.m. | Networking Lunch
Keynote Address by Professor Vikki Arroyo, Georgetown Law School
Distinguished speaker on legal and policy challenges in coastal resilience and climate adaptation.
Panel Discussion: Adaptation in Waters and Wetlands
Experts discuss interstate policies shaping climate adaptation. Topics include regulatory hurdles, interstate agreements, and local challenges.
Break
Research Paper Presentations
Selected law students and early-career professionals present their research on climate adaptation law and policy, followed by Q&A.
Breakout Discussion
An interactive session where participants work on discussed researcher topics and explore multifaceted complexities of resilience strategies.
Closing Remarks
Wrap-up of the day's discussions, acknowledgements, and next steps.
Apply to Write a Law Review Article
Are you inspired by creative problem-solving solutions to climate adaptation challenges? Apply to write a law review article on climate resilience for coastal communities.
You'll have the chance to be published in the Sea Grant Law & Policy Journal!
Applications are due June 1, 2025, and can be submitted via eSeaGrant.
For details on how to apply, visit our submission guidelines page.
Chesapeake Rising: Innovative Law and Policy Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Coastal Communities is hosted by Maryland Sea Grant in collaboration with the National Sea Grant Law Center, the Environmental Law Institute, and the Georgetown Climate Center.
Program Announcements
News and Blogs
Featured Fellow
Leone Yisrael is a cephalopod-loving scuba diver, cook, and loves to try new activities. She conducts genetic analysis and fieldwork at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center through the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab.
Featured Research Project
Developing a habitat model for mysids, an important link in Chesapeake Bay food webs
Mysids are important mesozooplankton prey for many species of fish in Chesapeake Bay and are an important link in transferring energy from lower to upper trophic levels. Mysids also serve as biological vectors for benthic-pelagic coupling due to their diel vertical migration and omnivorous prey-switching behavior, which makes mysids important regulators of food web architecture. Despite their central role in coastal food webs, surprisingly little is known about mysid ecology and dynamics in Chesapeake Bay.
