Transcript Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force 2010 Progress

Adapting to a Changing Climate:
Challenges & Opportunities
Eileen L. Shea
Chief, Climate
Services &
Monitoring Div.,
NOAA/NCDC
Glen Gerberg Weather
and Climate Summit
January 12, 2012
Breckenridge, CO
Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force
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Adaptation as Response Option
• Mitigation and adaptation are
both essential parts of a climate
change response strategy.
• No matter how aggressively
heat-trapping emissions are
reduced, the world will continue
to experience some continued
climate change and resulting
impacts.
• Prudent risk management
demands advanced planning
Climate Change
not the only challenge
to be juggled (Dr. Lynne
Carter)
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We can anticipate, plan, act … be proactive
or we can remain reactive.
Some photos: courtesy Joel Scheraga, EPA
So, What is Adaptation?
• Measures to improve our ability to cope with
or avoid harmful impacts and take advantage
of beneficial ones, now and in the future
(Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S., 2009)
• Preparing for the impacts of projected local
and regional impacts before they occur”
(America’s Climate Choices, 2011)
• Iterative risk management…by increasing the
Nation’s resilience to both gradual changes
and the possibility of abrupt disaster
events”(America’s Climate Choices, 2011)
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What Is Adaptation?
• Responsible risk management
• Actions that reduce vulnerability &
enhance preparedness for climate &
extreme weather-related impacts
• Common-sense planning to protect
Deer Island Sewage Treatment
our health, safety & prosperity
Plant, Boston
Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force
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Federal Action to Build Climate Resilience
• Core Federal Policy Goals for Climate Change
Adaptation
▫ Build resilience to climate change in communities.
▫ Make science more accessible to communities
and decision-makers.
▫ Integrate climate risk management into Federal
agency planning.
▫ Develop strategies to safeguard natural
resources.
▫ Enhance efforts to lead and support international
climate adaptation
Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force
Adaptation Example:
Responding to Sea-Level Rise and Storm Surge
• Protect: build hard
structures-levees and
dikes
• Accommodate: elevate
roads, buildings, and
facilities; improve flood
control structure design;
enhance wetlands (Deer
Island)
• Retreat: accommodate
inland
movement through
planned retreat
Courtesy of Jack Pellette, NWS
From: USGCRP, 2009
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Adaptation Examples
• Declining water resources
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Increase public awareness
Encourage water conservation
Fix water distribution systems to minimize leakage
Increase freshwater storage capacity
Explore alternative sources including importing water,
desalinating seawater, and using treated wastewater
• Unmanaged ecosystems
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Establish baselines for ecosystems and their services
Identify thresholds
Monitor for continued change
Restore ecosystems that have been adversely affected
Identify refuge areas that might be unaffected by climate
change and can be preserved
 Relocate species to areas where favorable conditions are expected to exist in the future
©iStockphotos.com/Stephen Muskie
Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
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Adaptation: Securing Water
Resources
In the islands, “water is gold.”
Effective adaptation to climate-related changes in the
availability of freshwater is thus a high priority and can
help reduce damage even if island communities cannot
completely counter climate-related threats to water supplies.
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Communities, Businesses and
Governments All Have:
• Much to lose from adverse
climate impacts
• Much to gain from opportunities
• Limited resources and tight
budgets
• Relevant authorities and
planning structures
• Opportunity to learn from and
work with others
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Some Lessons Being Learned
• No (single) “top 10” Adaptation Actions
• Adaptations are location and issue specific:
– Impacts differ from place-to-place and adaptive
capacity is uneven
– Understand regional context (culture, history,
demographics, economics, natural resources)
• Address today’s challenges while planning for the
future:
– Variability, Extremes and long-term trends
• Collaborative, public-private partnership
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Some Lessons Being Learned
• Climate in Context:
Decisions rarely only because of changing
climate
Think of the “Climate-Society System” (Glantz)
• Trusted information brokers are key:
• Broadcast meteorologists, community leaders,
businesses, local experts, educators, NGOs, etc.
• Leverage existing institutions & relationships
• Changing Climate - a moving target:
Requires an iterative risk management process
Shared learning & joint problem-solving
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Characteristics of a
Resilient Community
AWARE
ENGAGED
INFORMED
EMPOWERED
RESPONSIVE
PREPARED
ADAPTIVE
SUSTAINABLE
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Some Resources at your disposal:
[email protected]
www.globalchange.gov
www.climate.gov
www.ncdc.noaa.gov
(www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/inventories/2012psguide_
hires19MBpdf)
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