Virginia’s governor’s office announced Wednesday that the Office of Commonwealth Resilience is now fully staffed. This central office aligns climate resiliency resources statewide, marking a significant step forward for the Commonwealth in addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and increasingly severe weather events.
Legislation establishing this office was championed by Delegate Phil Hernandez last year.
The same week of the bill’s passage, parents in the Hampton Roads region dealt with their children’s schools being closed due to flooding, drivers navigated swamped roads, and communities across the Commonwealth prepared to mark Flood Awareness Week by sharing memories of severe storms that damaged their homes and businesses.
Delegate Phil Hernandez issued the following statement:
"I am excited to see my bill come to fruition and recognize the immense importance of this Office of Commonwealth Resilience in our fight against climate change and the disastrous weather challenges facing communities across Virginia.
“We extend our warmest congratulations to the dedicated individuals who have been appointed to lead this vital new office. Their expertise and commitment will be instrumental in coordinating climate adaptation efforts across our state government, ensuring a proactive and comprehensive approach to building a more resilient Virginia for all its citizens.”
Jay Ford, Virginia Policy Manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, issued the following statement:
"We are excited to work alongside the appointees to the Office of Commonwealth Resilience on the significant challenges our commonwealth faces in building climate resilience. This couldn't be more timely given proposed federal rollbacks to climate resilience efforts. Virginia must take a strong leadership role in this critical area as we face increasingly severe weather driven by climate change. Instead of reacting to extreme weather by relying on disaster recovery funds, this office is a step forward to a preventative approach that truly prepares Virginia for inevitable climate change challenges on our horizon.”
Virginia Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
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804-258-1567
