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Climate Adaptation Policy & Practice in the United States. A Presentation for the Environmental Evaluation Network Forum June 24, 2011 Steve Adams Managing Director | Climate Leadership Initiative The Resource Innovation Group. What is Adaptation?.
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Climate Adaptation Policy & Practice in the United States A Presentation for the Environmental Evaluation Network Forum June 24, 2011 Steve Adams Managing Director | Climate Leadership Initiative The Resource Innovation Group
What is Adaptation? • Adaptation- Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. (IPCC 2007) • Various types of adaptation can be distinguished, including • anticipatory and reactive adaptation • private and public adaptation • autonomous and planned adaptation
Approaches to Climate Adaptation • Anticipatory Planning • Climate Vulnerability Assessments • Climate Risk Assessments • Strategy Development • Integration into planning processes • Evaluation & Measurement • Organizing in key sectors • Organizing around key threats
Notable Local Government Efforts • King County – Seattle • City of Keene (NH) • City of New York • Miami-Dade County • City of Chicago
Adaptation Planning in the States Source: Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Intergovernmental Approaches to Adaptation • CA-OR-WA SLR Assessment – National Academy of Sciences • New York City – PlaNYC • Western Governor’s Association • Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact (CLI)
CEQ Adaptation Task Force – Final Report to the President (Oct 2010) • Guiding Principles: • Adopt Integrated Approaches • Prioritize the Most Vulnerable • Use Best Available Science • Build Strong Partnerships • Apply Risk Management Methods & Tools • Apply Ecosystem-Based Approaches • Maximize Mutual Benefits • Continuously Evaluate Performance
CEQ Adaptation Task Force – Final Report to the President (Oct 2010) • Policy Goals & Recommendations: • Encourage & Mainstream Adaptation Planning Across Federal Agencies • Improve Integration of Science Into Decision-Making • Address Key Cross-Cutting Issues • Enhance Efforts to Lead & Support International Adaptation • Coordinate Capabilities of Federal Government to Support Adaptation
CEQ Adaptation Guidance to Agencies – March, 2011 • Establish agency policy on adaptation • Increase agency understanding of how the climate is changing • Apply understanding of climate impacts to agency mission and operations • Develop, prioritize and implement actions • Evaluate and learn