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Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Individuals and Communities Terry Johnson University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Individuals
and Communities Terry Johnson
University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
The Climate Change Dialog
People are still discussing
whether it’s real
whether it’s part of a normal “cycle”
or caused by human activities
People have trouble distinguishing
Adaptation from Mitigation
Many see adaptation as a government issue
Requiring engineering and “hard” adaptations
Requiring state or federal money
But adaptation is a personal and community opportunity too.
Emphasis on Research and Monitoring
Even organizations promoting “adaptation” tend to emphasize research, data collection, and/or monitoring.
What’s generally missing is “how to adapt” or “how to plan for adaptation.”
Adaptation Projects Nationally
+ Excellent projects around the country. (Some are listed at the end.)
+ Tend to be directed at professional planners, states, counties, municipalities, and agencies.
Usually left out are…
Individuals
Families
Small geographical communities
Affinity groups
Alaska Marine‐Dependent Communities Climate Change Adaptation Project
Formed a steering committee
Conducted informal surveys around the state
Developing partnerships with ACCAP, CES
Began with a search of adaptation literature and projects
Obtained modest Sea Grant, ACCAP funding
Alaska Has Some Special Problems
Huge area, varied geography, long coastline
Many climates
Sparse and dispersed population
Alaska Native communities have a distinct set of priorities
Skepticism concerning science
“Make do” tradition of self‐reliance
We don’t have the answers … just some ideas
Developing some materials (“Toolkit”)
Started field testing
Always seeking input, learning from others and our own experiences
We’ve found some surprising responses
Alaska Community Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit
Alaska‐specific climate change adaptation manual, for session leaders. (Easily adapted to other places.)
Adaptation Planning Tool
“One‐pager” fact sheets
Video in preparation
Website: www.marineadvisory.org/climate
“Eight Steps to Adaptation”
1. Specify community or communities
2. Articulate motivations
3. List observed changes
4. Assess your vulnerabilities
5. Set adaptation goals and objectives
6. Identify adaptation measures
7. Implementation
8. Moving forward – finding help, evaluation, sharing experiences
Climate Change Adaptation Messages
1. There is no real scientific debate about its existence.
2. It doesn’t matter whether the effects result from climate change.
3. Mitigation is important but changes are occurring now and will continue irrespective of mitigation efforts.
4. Research and monitoring is under way; this is not adaptation, but results may guide adaptation.
5. Humans are adaptive and can avoid the worst consequences and even benefit from change.
Going to the Field
Planned to do small community workshops
Found some interest in adaptation planning
Timing is critical, as is local host commitment
What We Are Finding
Small but motivated core of interested individuals
Some unexpected observations
Lack of direct mechanisms for converting thought to action
Examples of Unexpected Observations
Negative – arrival of beavers
Positive – arrival of moose
Speculative – northerly shift of trawl fleets, threatening subsistence fisheries
Problems to overcome – “the Al Gore effect”
Example of proposed step to adaptation – “expand my garden”
What We Think Works
Avoid “global warming” and even “climate change” where possible
Focus on the observable and honor “anecdotal” input
Key in on hazards
“Hazard mitigation is climate adaptation”
Note
This is not confusing weather with climate.
We know that weather events can cause floods, slides, etc.
The focus is on frequency, severity, and trends.
Sources of Greatest Concern in Alaska
Inundation on the Bering Sea, Arctic coasts
Flooding on some rivers
Community water supplies
Steep slopes, bluff erosion
Wildfires
Fisheries effects
Mechanisms for Converting Thought to Action
Need annotated directory of sources of assistance
Need a gateway to resources for help
Need methods of prioritizing needs and funding
Problems to Address
How to foster engagement
How to avoid politicization of the discussion
How to focus stakeholders’ attention on adaptation
How to enlist other extension professionals and service providers in adaptation planning
Some Good Sources
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals http://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/index.asp for on‐line newsletter [email protected]
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Climate Change Planning Tools for First Nations http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/projdb/186_e.php
Sea Grant Coastal Communities Climate Adaptation Initiative http://sgccnetwork.ning.com/page/coastal‐communities‐climate
What Are Your Experiences?
How are you addressing these problems?
What results are you getting?
Where do you plan to go from here?
907‐274‐9695 [email protected]
Marine Advisory Program
Terry Johnson Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
www.marineadvisory.org/climate
