Sessions
Lunch Speaker: The role of Solar + Storage in Mitigating Climate Change Impacts
12:45 PM - 12:55 PM Tue
Mr. Ernesto Diaz holds degrees in Oceanography and Marine Sciences from Shoreline
College, WA and the University of Puerto Rico, as well as a master’s degree in
environmental engineering management from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
and post-graduate studies in Energy and Environment at the University of Florida.
Mr. Díaz is a Chapter lead author of Fourth National Climate Assessment Report
(Chapter 20: U.S. Caribbean). He is also a co-author of the first State of the Puerto
Rico Climate Report (2013) and the Guide of Adaptation Strategies for Puerto Rico,
titled: Road to Resilience (2014). He served for 25 years as director of the Office for
Coastal Management and Climate Change, Assistant Secretary and Administrator of
the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
After Hurricanes Irma and María (2017) he served as State on Site Coordinator for
various response and recovery efforts, under the Emergency Support Function
10: Sunken Vessels Removal (USCG-DNER) and the Coastal and Nearshore Debris
Removal mission assignments (USACE-DNER). He also requested the first FEMA
mission assignment to assess damages to coral reefs, wetlands, beaches, and dunes
under the Natural and Cultural Resources Sector. Mr. Díaz submitted proposals under
FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (Stafford ActSections 428 and 404) totaling over $100 million.
Previous to DNER and the Climate Change Council, Mr. Díaz served as coordinator of
the United Nations Environment Programme – Integrated Planning and Institutional
Development for 13 States and Territories of the Caribbean region.
Mr. Díaz has worked at the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources for 25 years where he has served as Director of the Office for Coastal
Management, Administrator, and Assistant Secretary. Most of his career has been
devoted to coastal and marine resources conservation, management, and the
development of nature-based engineering solutions to address coastal hazards, risks and build resilient communities and infrastructure.