Alaskan Sub-Cabinet on Climate Change

Alaska has formed a Sub-cabinet on Climate Change to prepare an Alaska climate change strategy. The Sub-cabinet has selected over 100 individuals from the public to serve on Mitigation and Adaptation Work Groups to help develop this strategy. The Mitigation Work Groups are examining ways green house gas emissions can be reduced through conservation, efficiency and technological advances and are arranged to develop a set of recommendations for:

(1) Oil & Gas

(2) Energy Supply and Demand

(3) Transportation/Land Use

(4) Forestry, Agriculture, Waste

(5) Cross-Cutting, including Residential/Government-lead actions.

The Adaptation Work Groups are focusing on areas such as how to design and/or prepare for the future and address impacts of climate change as it relates to:

(1) infrastructure

(2) human health and culture

(3) ecosystems and the economies that depend on them

(4) new shipping routes in the north

A Research Needs Work Group has also been formed to identify research gaps and needs. The goal is to develop a final product from the Advisory Groups to the Sub-cabinet which, in turn, will evaluate the recommendations and submit a Climate Change Strategy to the Governor by spring 2010. Information on the Sub-cabinet and Work groups can be found by visiting http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/.

While the Sub-cabinet is looking comprehensively at climate related impacts throughout Alaska, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has also formed a Think Tank to identify likely impacts to fish and wildlife and their uses. The goal is to develop a climate change strategy that can form a foundation for efforts to maintain healthy ecosystems and robust fish and wildlife populations in the face of a changing climate. Specifically, the Think Tank is:

(1) assessing the short and long-term impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife and habitat

(2) determining data deficiencies and set research priorities to help us understand these impacts

(3) identifying science-based management strategies for adaptation to a changing climate

(4) providing input to ADF&G leadership and the Governor’s Sub-cabinet on climate change impacts.

Addressing climate impacts is complex and no single agency can by itself succeed. Collaboration with partners will be needed. The Sub-cabinet and the Department Think Tank are working with agencies, the University of Alaska, and other groups to identify areas of research focus and possible collaboration. For more information contact Douglas Vincent-Lang at: douglas.vincent-lang@alaska.gov