Overview of what local government staff and officials should know as they prepare their communities to adapt to climate change.

1. Climate Adaptation: Why? What?
How?
Sierra Schelegle
PhD Candidate at UNC-CH

2. Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change:
A handbook for local governments in NC
• Intent: provide information to local
governments interested in asking the climate
question
• Premise: local governments do a number of
things that, with minor adjustment, can
reduce vulnerability to climate change

3. Defining 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; TAR)

4. Why Adaptation?
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/future.html

5. Why local governments?
• Effects of climate change will be felt at the local
level first
• Local governments have the responsibility to
protect their citizens
• Local governments have the authority and a
variety of tools to address many of these issues.
In fact, through existing programs, local
governments can take meaningful action to
address climate change impacts.
• Have the necessary information and
understanding of local issues

6. Climate Exposure
• Extreme Heat
• Drought
• Heavy Precipitation
• Hurricanes
• Sea-level rise

7. Climate Exposure
• Extreme Heat
• Drought
• Heavy Precipitation
• Hurricanes
• Sea-level rise
Climate change is not a new hazard, it will alter
existing hazards making them more frequent
and intense

8. Impacts
• Economic
• Health
• Environmental

9. For example, Heat…

10. For example, Heat…

11. For example, Heat…
An estimated 200 million
menhaden were killed due to
anoxic conditions in the Neuse
River in 40 days in 2009. This
photo was taken outside New
Bern near the Neuse River Bridge,
the map to the left indicates
locations and extent of fish kills in
Pamlico Sound region in 2009.

12. Adaptation Strategies
• Infrastructure
• Land Use
• Natural Resources
• Educational

13. For Example, Heat…
• high-temperature resistant paving materials
could be used on highly travelled streets to
prevent damage
• Using different
materials may also
reduce the risk of
heat itself.

14. For Example, Heat…

15. For Example, Heat…
• Education about the risks of
extreme heat and methods to
avoid heat stress
• Early warning systems of heat
waves
• response to air quality hazards
associated with high temperature
days

16. Implementation
• Alternate approaches:
o Ad hoc
o Hazard mitigation plan
o Sustainability or natural resources plan
o Stand alone plan
o Comprehensive plan

17. Hazard Mitigation, Climate Adaptation
Plan: Lewes, Delaware
• The plan identifies
how changing climate
conditions –
temperature increase,
altered precipitation
patterns and sea level
rise – are projected to
influence current
natural hazards.
Figure 3.1 Flooded roadway in Lewes,
Delaware caused by nor’easter in 2008.

18. A Process
1. Establish a Planning Process
2. Assess Vulnerability
3. Select Strategies to be
consistent with context
4. Design a Plan Implementation
and Maintenance Process

19. Vulnerability Assessment
Step 2.1
• Identify Climate Change Exposure
Step 2.2
• Identify Community Sensitivity
Step 2.3
• Assess Potential Impacts
Step 2.4
• Consider Adaptive Capacities
Step 2.5
• Develop Scenarios and Simulate Future Outcomes
Step 2.6
• Summarize Vulnerability and Identify Focus Areas

20. Selection of Strategies
Step 3.1
• Set Goals
Step 3.2
• Identify Actions
Step 3.3
• Evaluate, Select and Prioritize Actions
Step 3.4
• Write Action Plan

21. Design a Plan Implementation and
Maintenance Process
Step 4.1
• Adopt the Plan
Step 4.2
• Implement the Plan
Step 4.3
• Integrate Plan Findings into Other Plans and Programs
Step 4.4
• Track, Evaluate, and Communicate Plan Progress
Step 4.5
• Update the Plan

22. Take-away
• Comprehensive
• Long-term
• Most of this is not new!!!

23. Accessing the Handbook
www.coastalhazardscenter.org/adapt
Not live yet, but will be accessible at the
beginning of July.