Speaker: Dan Zhu, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Gainesville, Florida
Dan Zhu: I told her, I can't control the weather, but I can help build a city that is stronger and safer. And that's exactly what I'm doing every single day.
How (and why) are you taking action on climate change solutions in, for, and with your community?
Dan Zhu: Hi, my name is Dan Zu, the chief resiliency officer for the city of Gainesville in Florida. Gainesville is a city has a population of 140,000. Our resiliency plan was built through community input, from daycares to universities, churches to parks, we listened and we acted. Because real solution should start with the people who live here and reach those who need them most. That plan helped us bringing in 46 million in just one year in federal and state funding. We are using it for improved infrastructures, safer streets, and even more community engagement opportunities.
Describe a moment when you felt the real-world impact of your work in climate solutions.
Dan Zhu: After one of my talks, a student told me, I thought this work was only for scientists. Now I wanted to be part of it too. That moment stuck with me. Our youth now have seats at our Citizen Climate Advisory Board. They are shaping city plans and finding their voice. It showed me that when people feel included, they start leading, and that's the real impact.
Who or what inspires/inspired you to care about climate change and climate solutions?
Dan Zhu: I grown up in a city that flooded often. From a young age, I learned that resiliency isn't a nice to have, it's survival. Years later, doing a community event, a 5 year old girl looked at me and said she was very sad the polar bears had nowhere to go because the ice was melting. Then she asked, Can you make it better? I told her, I can't control the weather, but I can help build a city that is stronger and safer. And that's exactly what I'm doing every single day.
