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Preparing Washington for a Changing Climate An Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy

Preparing Washington for a Changing Climate An Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy. Department of Ecology Hedia Adelsman, Executive Policy Advisor 2 nd PNW Climate Science Conference September 13, 2011. Foundation For Adaptation in Washington. Executive Order 07-02

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Preparing Washington for a Changing Climate An Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy

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  1. Preparing Washington for a Changing ClimateAn Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy Department of Ecology Hedia Adelsman, Executive Policy Advisor 2nd PNW Climate Science Conference September 13, 2011

  2. Foundation For Adaptation in Washington • Executive Order 07-02 • 2008 adaptation reports Hydrologic Climate Change Scenarios • UW/Climate Impacts Group (CIG) 2009 Assessment

  3. By 2020 total cost expected to reach $3,166 per household each year Source: University of Oregon, Climate Leadership Initiative

  4. Most Significant Climate Change Impacts Increase in average air temperature and likelihood of extreme heat events Changes in hydrology and water supply: reduced snowpack, changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation; and changes in water quality Increasing sea levels, wave heights and storm surges Increase in ocean acidification

  5. Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources Red: Severely impacted basins. Pink: Significantly Impacted basins. Green: Less impacted basins. Based on CIG 2009 hydrologic assessment , existing water problems in 16 critical basins and projected population growth WRIA – Water Resources Inventory Area (basin)

  6. Sea level rise in Puget Sound region High Tide - January 2010 West Seattle, WA Port Orchard, WA

  7. State Agency Climate Leadership Act, 2009 • Requires development of an “integrated climate change response strategy…” which must address “regional capacity to take action, existing ecosystem and resource management concerns, and health and economic risks.” • Requires state agencies“… to incorporate adaptation plans of action as priority activities when planning or designing policies and programs. ..and funding infrastructure projects…” • State agencies “… may consult with qualified nonpartisan experts from the scientific community…” • Executive Order 09-05: requires focus on sea level rise and water resources

  8. Seven state agencies collaborated on the Response Strategy with input from a large advisory group

  9. Topic Advisory Groups Built Environment, Infrastructure and Communities Human Health and Security Ecosystems, Species, Habitats Natural Resources

  10. An Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy Human Health and Security Ecosystems, Habitats and Species Coastal and Ocean Resources Water Management Agriculture Forestry Infrastructure Monitoring and Research Communication and Public Engagement Implementation Framework

  11. Policy Directives Mainstream adaptation - incorporate climate change and adaptation actions into state agency planning, policies and investment decisions. Foster collaboration and coordination between agencies and levels of government to address cross-cutting issues. Support efforts of local communities to prepare for changing climate. Improve access to integrated science. Build public awareness and engagement.

  12. Key Strategies • Incorporate impacts and adaptation into long-range planning. • Consider impacts when designing policies, projects and when making public investment decisions. • Strengthen state’s emergency preparedness to respond to climate hazards. • Implement portfolio of policies to achieve sustainable water resources management. • Protect human health by addressing impacts into existing public health activities.

  13. Key Strategies (cont.) • Protect ecosystem processes and services. • Encourage protection of conservation areas and avoid conversion of agriculture and forest lands. • Ensure climate-resilient infrastructure investments. • Improve availability and easy access to locally specific impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation options. • Provide guidance to local communities to integrate impacts and adaptation into local decision making processes.

  14. Key Strategies (cont.) Agriculture and Forestry • Engage scientific community, stakeholders and the public when designing adaptation actions. • Build public awareness through conversation about benefits of addressing climate change. • Develop applied tools for use for decision making, especially at local level. • Expand and adjust current monitoring networks. • Collaborate on research projects.

  15. Timeline November – Public review Final – End of December

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