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? Sea level rise is just one projected impact in New England – there are others: 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… Lots of efforts focusing on mitigating against climate change But even if we were to stop emitting GHGs today, scientists predict that some amount of change is inevitable 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… How do we deal with all the uncertainty? Scenario planning – best case, worst case Use the precautionary principle Do the best with what we have How do we know what is the best thing to do? Models of success do not yet exist Network, share science and experience
What is needed Educate and communicate People need to be at the table willingly to plan and act Determine what the local impacts are likely to be Assess vulnerability to the impacts Structural, natural, economic, social Figure out what is feasible and realistic Politically, economically, socially, technologically, ecologically Set priorities Plan Monitor, evaluate, and adapt
Who is doing what so far? Federal Regional/multi-state State Academia Non-profit
Federal NOAA 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.) EPA Office of Water (including Climate Ready Estuaries) Office of Research and Development Office of Air and Radiation Region 1 USGS Waste Science Centers Costal and Marine Geology Program Science Center for Coastal and Marine Geology, Woods Hole
Federal (cont.) FEMA (National Flood Insurance Program) USDOT, USACE, HUD, NSF, NASA Joint efforts US Climate Change Science Program US Global Change Research Program Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology
Regional/multi-state New England Environmental Finance Center Gulf of Maine Council Climate Change Network Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System Gulf of Maine Research Institute New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission USFWS
State Office of Coastal Zone Management Coastal Hazards Commission Storm Smart Coasts Department of Environmental Protection Emissions reductions, smart growth, renewable energy Department of Fish & Game State Wildlife Action Plan Task Force – planned by EOEEA Coalition – coordinated Bentley forum and beyond
Academia 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 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? Climate Ready Estuaries Salt marsh vulnerability assessment Integration of climate change into strategic plan Communicate and educate Network and collaborate Develop Climate Advisory Group to set priorities Update Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan Ultimately provide assistance to communities in adaptation planning and implementation
Thanks for coming!