Dear all -
Forgive the cross-posting, but if you get this three times, I hope I
can triply interest you in this new report about the US adaptation
field.
In a nutshell, the report identifies a troubling chasm between the
climate challenge and the resources devoted to it.
While the emerging field of climate adaptation is growing in
sophistication and influence, there is a significant gap between the
magnitude of the challenge and existing efforts to protect people and
property from climate volatility, according to a report released on
February 1, 2018.
“Rising to the Challenge, Together” provides a wealth of tools to
think about a professional field, offers a critical assessment of the
state of the climate adaptation field in the U.S. and then offers a
wealth of recommendations to build it to greater strength and
sophistication. The report was commissioned by The Kresge Foundation
and authored by a trio of adaptation experts: Susanne C. Moser, Ph.D.
of Susanne Moser Research and Consulting; Joyce Coffee of Climate
Resilience Consulting; and Aleka Seville of Four Twenty Seven, Inc.
The report finds that the challenge of climate adaptation and
resilience is an everyday reality for decision makers across the
United States. Climate change is widely recognized as a critical –
possibly existential – threat to humans, other species, and the
natural systems on which all life depends. As climate impacts
accelerate and population grows in vulnerable areas, disasters are
more frequent and more devastating. Supercharged storms, catastrophic
wildfires, and deadly heatwaves affect growing numbers of Americans –
particularly those with low incomes who are least able to avoid or
minimize the impact of severe events.
Communities across the country are experimenting with adaptation,
defined as the management of and preparation for the impacts of global
climate change and related extremes. They are aided by a growing
knowledge base and suite of tools, and boosted by new actors including
utility managers, private sector interests and philanthropy.
However, the field is largely crisis-driven and fails to adequately
address the social equity aspects of adaptation choices, that should
ensure all people benefit regardless of socio-economic status or race.
It also lacks a shared vision, consistent funding and agreed upon
best practices among other shortcomings, the report found.
“Our research revealed a growing core of professionals, committed
municipal leaders, engaged community residents and others who are
proactively identifying ways to make their cities and regions more
resilient,” said author Susanne C. Moser. “But without
much-accelerated efforts to expand and professionalize the adaptation
field we fear communities, businesses and particularly the most
vulnerable are at growing risk. To ensure their safety, well-being and
prosperity, we must rapidly come together to slow the release of
planet-warming greenhouse gases; invest in smarter, more resilient
systems, infrastructure and planning practices; and do both while
building social cohesion and equity.”
The report recommends aggressive acceleration of adaptation planning,
coordination across jurisdictions, and implementation among advocates,
planners, and funders. Leaders must press the urgency of addressing
climate change both through adaptation and mitigation – pushing the
field to think bigger, bolder and deeper. At the same time, funding
support must grow and policy incentives should be aligned to support
the incorporation of resilience across different practices and
sectors. (See the specific recommendations for various kinds of actor
groups in the online appendices at
https://kresge.org/content/rising-challenge-together.)
“This report highlights the urgency of building climate adaptation as
a field of practice,” said Lois DeBacker, managing director of The
Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program. “It is critical to expand the
number of people who understand the imperative of acting quickly,
which actions yield the best and most effective protections against
climate change-fueled events, and how to approach climate resilience
in ways that advance equity.”
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Thanks for spreading the word far and wide!
Susi Moser
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