The first in a series of town hall meetings organised by the Bermuda Red Cross to discuss climate change was branded a success by organisers yesterday.

The meeting was held at the St Paul AME Church Hall on Thursday with a presentation by Mark Guishard, who completed the Climate Change and Bermuda report recently for the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

In the two-part report, Dr Guishard predicts that climate change will have wideranging effects on Bermuda as sea levels rise, hurricanes become stronger and supply chains are strained.

The talks, titled Climate Change and Bermuda, are being organised by the Bermuda Red Cross with the support of the QBE Foundation, an arm of the global insurer QBE that aims to “improve the resilience and preparedness of our communities through long-term partnerships”.

Dianne Gordon, disaster manager for the Bermuda Red Cross, said: “Dr Guishard’s presentation, as always, was first class and those in attendance took a genuine interest and asked the right questions.

“We thank the community who attended and supported our cause, and we encourage and urge others to attend either the East or West End sessions.”

The next meeting will be held between 5.30pm and 7pm on July 13 at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s.

The last one in the series is scheduled to take place between 6pm and 7.30pm on July 25 at the St James Church Hall in Sandys.

Light refreshments will be offered at both meetings.