Transcript D02_Godlewski_Climate Change Adaptation Process in NH

The NH Climate Action Plan
and the need for Adaptation
Sherry Godlewski
NH Department of Environmental Services
[email protected]
New Hampshire Governor’s
Climate Change Policy Task Force
Purpose and Goals
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Established through Executive Order 2007-3
December 6, 2007
 Establish quantified greenhouse reduction
goals considering regional and international
goals
 Recommend specific regulatory, voluntary and
policy actions that the state should consider to
achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Climate Change Policy Task Force
Composition
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State agency commissioners;
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House and Senate members;
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General commerce and industry;
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Environmental interests;
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Forestry sector;
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Science/academia;
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Public utilities;
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Municipal government; and
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Insurance industry.
Technical and Policy
Working Groups
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Electric Generation and Usage
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Transportation and Land Use
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Residential, Commercial and Industrial
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Agriculture, Forestry and Waste
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Government, Leadership and Action
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Adaptation
Action Plan Development
Process
Climate
Twenty-nine (29) members
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Working
(6) Official Public Listening Sessions
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300
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Groups (6)
125+ Participants
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Six
Change Policy Task Force
15 Locations
275 Participants
100 Commenters
Pages of Public Comments
e.g., mail, email, phone calls
Task Force Principles
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Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20%
below 1990 levels by 2025; 80% by 2050.
Create economic opportunity, while
considering all costs and benefits.
Focus investments in a phased-in
approach.
Do not further disadvantage already
disadvantaged populations.
Task Force Principles
Continued
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Reduce the vulnerability of the natural and
built environment.
Engage the public to take action.
Sustain the state’s resources.
Integrate accountability and adaptability
into the Plan’s implementation.
Adaptation
If not now, when?
If not today,
then…
What happens tomorrow?
Southwestern NH – October 2005
Central NH - May 2006
Eastern NH - April 2007
Deerfield Flooding
April 23, 2007
VT and Upper Valley
July 2007
Presidentially Declared
Storm-Related Disasters
30
25
20
15
10
5
Year of Storm Event
J-08
J-06
J-04
J-02
J-00
J-98
J-96
J-94
J-92
J-90
J-88
J-86
0
Presidentially Declared
Storm-Related Disasters
30
25
20
15
10
5
Year of Storm Event
J-08
J-06
J-04
J-02
J-00
J-98
J-96
J-94
J-92
J-90
J-88
J-86
0
Adaptation Focus Areas
 Public
Health and Wellness
 Two specific recommendations
 Natural Ecosystems - protect and
buffer impacts
 Built Environment - resilience to
impacts
 Economic Development
Adaptation Actions
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Develop and Distribute Critical Information on
Climate Change (ADP Action 1)
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Promote Policies and Actions to Help Populations
Most at Risk (ADP Action 2)
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Charge and Empower Public Health Officials to
Prepare for Climate Change (ADP Action 3)
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Strengthen Protection of New Hampshire’s Natural
Systems (ADP Action 4)
Other Adaptation Actions
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Increase Resilience to Extreme Weather Events
(ADP Action 5)
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Strengthen the Adaptability of New Hampshire’s
Economy to Climate Change (ADP Action 6)
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Establish a Permanent Climate Change Advisory
Council (ADP Action 7)
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Develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for
the State of New Hampshire (ADP Action 8)
Moving Forward
 Action
Plan Released - March 2009
 Task Force replaced by the NH Energy
and Climate Collaborative to coordinate
actions
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Six members from the business community.
Six members from the public sector.
Six members from the education and
nonprofit sectors.
Legislative liaison committee.
Continuing Forward
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Current research being conducted by
universities looking at impacts of future flooding
(culvert size, tidal rivers and sea level rise)
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Adaptation Plan creation – have current grant
funding for creating a Public Health Adaptation
Plan - part of final Adaptation Plan
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Implementation of the Climate Change Action
Plan - Budgetary considerations
Lessons learned
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Get more people to the table
 Executive Order was written for mitigation;
Adaptation was something we intuitively knew to
include
 Don’t assume Task Force members are
including their staff (who are actually doing the
work)
 We were a seed that sprouted; there needs to
be cultivation
Gaps and Opportunities
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Funding for Government Programs
Collaboration barriers imposed by funding
Leaders for implementation
Emerging Awareness and Partnerships
 Health and Human Services + Emergency
Managers + Municipal Planners
Develop an integrated education, outreach and
workforce training program
Obama’s stimulus package for municipalitiesenergy efficiency/green jobs
NGOs and Government
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Help to lead Government
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Work with others who have similar goals and
outcomes (in state and regional networks)
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Build social capitol
Municipal zoning and building codes
Education and Awareness
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Consistent messages
If not now,
When?
If not today,
Then,
What happens tomorrow?
Sherry Godlewski NH Department of Environmental Services
[email protected]