State and Local Adaptation Planning for Climate Change

1. State and Local Adaptation Planning for Climate ChangeJon MacDonagh-Dumler, Ph.D.Institute of Water ResearchMichigan State Universitymacdon47@msu.edu Webinar: Climate Change and Water Resource Impacts in the Great Lakes Region May 6, 2010

2. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning • Adaptation Planning Rationale • Overview of Current Actions • State and Local Planning Approaches • Climate Resilient Communities Program: Milestones toward Adaptation

3. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning 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.” Mitigation: “an anthropogenic (human) intervention to reduce the anthropogenic forcing of the climate system; it includes strategies to reduce greenhouse gas sources and emissions and enhancing greenhouse gas sinks. (IPCC 2007, Glossary)

4. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning Proactive Planning by State and Local Government: • Can benefit the present • Is “good government” • Responsibility to respond • More effective and less costly • Can reduce future risks • Can increase future benefits • Can add value to today’s investments at low additional cost

5. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning Adaptation may involve a range of responses: • Planned <—> Autonomous (or spontaneous) Deliberate actions aimed Actions by B that yield at adaptation adaptation for A • Anticipatory (or proactive) <—> Reactive Done before impacts are Done after impacts are observed observed • Public (or governmental) <—> Private Involving government Involving non-­governmental actions actions Source: Climate Adaptation Issues, WICCI Adaptation Working Group 2010

6. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning Adaptation Barriers • Uncertain about impacts • Responsibility of higher level of government • Wait and see – impacts / what will others do • Limited problem focus • Uncertain about what to do • Limited resources – skills / financial / political • No infrastructure to deal with future problems

7. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning State and Local CC Actions • Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (2007) • Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group (2006) • Michigan Climate Action Council (2007) • Chicago Climate Action Plan (2008)

8. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning Lessons Learned - Chicago Climate Action Planning Process: • Strategic Partners: Public-Private AND Public-Public Partnerships, Foundations, Local Leaders, Research • Dedicated Funding to Support Research, Planning and Implementation • Provide Climate Summits to Maintain Stakeholder Engagement • Start Implementation Early • Have an Aligned Communications Strategy • Build on Existing Initiatives • Track Progress and Continually Reassess to Ensure Success

9. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning Water Resource Adaptation Examples • Water Pricing Strategy • Catch Basin Retrofits • Permeable Pavement Requirements • Water Quality Testing • Wetland Management Plan • Watershed Studies Source: Chicago Climate Change Action Plan 2008

10. CC: State and Local Adaptation Planning Climate Resilient Communities Program: Five Milestones • Conduct a climate resiliency study • Identify priority planning areas for action, based on assessments of your vulnerability and risk in selected planning areas • Set goals and develop your plan • Implement your plan • Measure your progress and update your plan Source: ICLEI 2007. Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments

11. Thank YouJon MacDonagh-Dumler, Ph.D.Institute of Water ResearchMichigan State Universitymacdon47@msu.edu