Transcript Policy Making Power Point

What can you do?
• Write a letter
• Federal (President and Vice President, Senators, Representatives)
• State (Governors and Legislators)
• Local (Mayor, city councils)
• Start in your community
• You don’t have to be an expert
• Make it fun
• S.L.A.P. pole
• Created by Kids Vs. Global Warming
• Started in California
• Goals
• Empower youth
• Create awareness
• Alert citizens
• Educate the public
• SLAP Video
• Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Report
• Climate Action Plan
• Municipal Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise: City of Satellite Beach,
Florida
• City of Punta Gorda Adaptation Plan
• Regional Climate Action Plan
• Collaborative effort of Palm Beach,
Broward, Miami- Dade and Monroe counties
• Accomplishes:
• Consistent methods for assessing SLR
• Calls for action
• Presents recommendations
• Protects high quality of life
• We can’t continue doing what we have done
in the past, it is time to go into new frontiers
which integrate policy into action in ways
that have never been tried before
• Also builds on what other communities have
tried
• 110 action items
• This document outlines how the City of Satellite Beach assessed it’s vulnerability to
SLR.
• And initiates the steps needed to plan for changes on the built and natural
environments.
• Outlines existing hazards (coastal erosion, storm surges, and sea level rise).
• Project team of local stakeholders who meet regularly during project.
• Public forums to provide information about project and SLR.
• Sea level rise subcommittee of the City’s Comprehensive Planning Advisory Board was
created.
• Ongoing media campaign.
• Developed 3D map of city, identified critical infrastructure and assets (fire stations,
schools, parks, energy), and quantification of the extent of sea level rise.
• The City will lose 5% of
landscape during the 1st 2
feet of SLR, the subsequent 2
feet will cause an additional
20% of submergence.
• The city has 40 years to
create and use an adaptive
management plan.
• Cities can respond to SLR by protection, retreat, or accommodation.
• Satellite beach is on a barrier island made of porous sand that will
allow penetration of seawater beneath the ground making seawalls
ineffective
• Retreat is not possible in this city because only 2% of their city is
undeveloped
• Accommodation through adaptive management
• Develop a timeline describing future actions
• Implement no-regret or low-regret policies
• Tipping points built into plan
• As uncertainty diminishes, more robust plans and measures can be
implemented
• Explains, in great detail, the vulnerability and adaptations of 8
major areas of climate change
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Fish and Wildlife Habitat Degradation
Inadequate Water Supply
Flooding
Unchecked or Unmanaged Growth
Water Quality Degradation
Education and Economy and Lack of Funds
Fire
Availability of Insurance
• 246 climate change adaptations
identified
Four basic strategies to reduce vulnerability and benefit from
impact.
• Avoidance: Stop building infrastructure in a location that will be impacted
• Mitigation: Reduce climate stresses (reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
invest in renewable energy)
• Minimize: Reduce human disturbances and destruction of ecosystems,
conserve water, and reduce farm runoff
• Adaptation: Learning-oriented approach with monitoring, review, and
adjustment
• Punta Gorda’s progressive plan will allow the city to be more
resilient to effects of climate change.
Banning Reality
• 1) Some communities are addressing the threats of climate
change through proactive policies
• 2) Other communities are ignoring these threats
• 3) You can make a difference by letting your legislators know
that you care about climate change and by doing what you can
to lesson your carbon footprint