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Title Photo by Ray Troll.

“It didn’t have to be this way—at any point in history, there were infinite possible futures.” Dr. Kenneth Lacovara’s words at the 2023 Florida Climate Forecast Conference, hosted by The Climate Adaptation Center (CAC), echo a powerful truth: adaptation is survival.

We’re excited to announce Dr. Lacovara will return as a featured speaker at the 2025 Climate Forecast Conference. This is your chance to meet him and learn from the past to prepare for the future. Secure your tickets now and reflect on the critical lessons from his 2023 talk about how climate has always changed.

In his 2023 presentation, Dr. Lacovara—geologist, paleontologist, founding Dean of the School of Earth & Environment at Rowan University, and Director of the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park—traced Earth’s epic climate shifts. He showed how our planet’s history is marked by five mass extinctions, each triggered by climate crises. The fossil record, he argues, is a warning system: “The Earth does not need us. Far from it. The Earth has mostly not had us. But we need the Earth.”

Today, we face a sixth mass extinction—one driven by human activity. Atmospheric CO₂ has soared beyond levels seen in 800,000 years, and a species vanishes every 20 minutes. The risks are clear: biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and a future in jeopardy.

But adaptation is possible, and the CAC is leading the way. Through research, education, and community projects, the CAC translates ancient lessons into actionable climate adaptation strategies. The Edelman Fossil Park in New Jersey is a testament to this vision: a world-class museum and research hub, made possible by Jean and Ric Edelman, Rowan University, and generous donors. Their support preserved a site of global heritage, transforming climate risk into opportunity for education and resilience.

This is climate adaptation in action. By supporting CAC, you empower the next generation of scientists and citizens to understand climate risk, champion preparedness, and build solutions. Every donation directly funds adaptation projects that safeguard communities and inspire hope.

Organizations like Rowan University, the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park, and The Climate Adaptation Center are beacons of progress. Their work deserves to be celebrated, shared, and supported—because together, we can choose a better future.

Support adaptation. Support the CAC. Our planet’s next chapter depends on it. Get your tickets for the 2025 Climate Forecast Conference today.

In his riveting talk, Dr. Lacovara—geologist, paleontologist, founding Dean of the School of Earth & Environment at Rowan University, and Director of the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park—traces the planet’s epic climate shifts. He reveals how Earth’s history is marked by five mass extinctions, each triggered by natural climate crises, from volcanic eruptions to asteroid impacts. The fossil record, he argues, is a warning system: “The Earth does not need us. Far from it. The Earth has mostly not had us. But we need the Earth.”

Today, we face a sixth mass extinction—one driven by human activity. Atmospheric CO₂ has soared beyond levels seen in 800,000 years, and a species vanishes every 20 minutes. The risks are clear: biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and a future in jeopardy.

But adaptation is possible, and the CAC is leading the way. Through research, education, and community projects, the CAC translates ancient lessons into actionable climate adaptation strategies. The Edelman Fossil Park in New Jersey is a testament to this vision: a world-class museum and research hub, made possible by the generosity of Jean and Ric Edelman and a coalition of donors, state agencies, and local communities. Their support preserved a site of global heritage, transforming climate risk into opportunity for education and resilience.

This is climate adaptation in action. By supporting CAC, you empower the next generation of scientists and citizens to understand climate risk, champion preparedness, and build solutions. Every donation directly funds adaptation projects that safeguard communities and inspire hope.

Organizations like Rowan University, the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park, and The Climate Adaptation Center are beacons of progress. Their work deserves to be celebrated, shared, and supported—because together, we can choose a better future.

Support adaptation. Support the CAC. Our planet’s next chapter depends on it.

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