Transcript Current Climate Change Adaptation Initiatives Carole McCauley

Current Climate Change
Adaptation Initiatives
Carole McCauley, Massachusetts Bays Program
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Workshop
Peabody Institute Library, Danvers
March 12, 2009
What’s the problem?
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Sea level rise is just one projected impact in
New England – there are others:
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Increased summer drought
Increased temperatures
Increased winter precipitation (rain, not snow)
More frequent periods of intense weather
Increased allergens and asthma, heat-related illnesses
Coastal flooding
Shoreline erosion
But from listening to the news, you would
think we are figuring it out…
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Lots of efforts focusing on
mitigating against climate
change
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But even if we were to stop
emitting GHGs today,
scientists predict that some
amount of change is inevitable
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Bottom line: we are “locked in”
to a certain amount of
warming at a minimum
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists
So hadn’t we better get ready for at least the
minimum predicted change?
What do we need to do?
Mitigation
“avoid the
unmanageable”
Adaptation
“manage the
unavoidable”
Some challenging thoughts…
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How do we deal with all the uncertainty?
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Scenario planning – best case, worst case
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Use the precautionary principle
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Do the best with what we have
How do we know what is the best thing to do?
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Models of success do not yet exist
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Network, share science and experience
What is needed
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Educate and communicate
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People need to be at the table willingly to plan and act
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Determine what the local impacts are likely to be
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Assess vulnerability to the impacts
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Structural, natural, economic, social
Figure out what is feasible and realistic
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Politically, economically, socially, technologically, ecologically
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Set priorities
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Plan
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Monitor, evaluate, and adapt
Who is doing what so far?
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Federal
Regional/multi-state
State
Academia
Non-profit
Federal
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NOAA
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Coastal Services Center (including national roll-out of
Storm Smart Coasts)
Centre for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
Office of Ocean and Coastal resource Management
Sea Grant
Climate Program Office
National Climactic Data Center
National Coastal Data Development Center
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Federal (cont.)
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EPA
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Office of Water (including Climate Ready Estuaries)
Office of Research and Development
Office of Air and Radiation
Region 1
USGS
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Waste Science Centers
Costal and Marine Geology Program
Science Center for Coastal and Marine Geology, Woods
Hole
Federal (cont.)
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FEMA (National Flood Insurance Program)
USDOT, USACE, HUD, NSF, NASA
Joint efforts
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US Climate Change Science Program
US Global Change Research Program
Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology
Regional/multi-state
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New England Environmental Finance Center
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Gulf of Maine Council Climate Change Network
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Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System
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Gulf of Maine Research Institute
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New England Governors/Eastern Canadian
Premiers
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Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
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New England Interstate Water Pollution Control
Commission
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USFWS
State
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Office of Coastal Zone Management
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Department of Environmental Protection
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Emissions reductions, smart growth, renewable energy
Department of Fish & Game
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Coastal Hazards Commission
Storm Smart Coasts
State Wildlife Action Plan
Task Force – planned by EOEEA
Coalition – coordinated Bentley forum and beyond
Academia
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Too many to list here, but there are dozens
of studies, projects, institutes working on
climate issues at all of the region’s
universities
Non-Profit
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Union of Concerned Scientists
International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI)
Coastal States Organization
Association of State Wetland Managers
Adaptation Network
The Nature Conservancy
National Wildlife Federation
And many more…
What is the Mass Bays Program doing?
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Climate Ready Estuaries
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Salt marsh vulnerability assessment
Integration of climate change into strategic plan
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Communicate and educate
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Network and collaborate
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Develop Climate Advisory Group to set priorities
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Update Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
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Ultimately provide assistance to communities in adaptation
planning and implementation
Thanks for coming!