Council of Environmental Quality Interagency Committee on Climate Change Adaptation State Agency Listening Session

BACKGROUND

An Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Group under the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with assistance from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been tasked to consider the capabilities of the Federal government to respond to the impacts of climate change across various critical sectors, institutions, and agencies. Five initial working groups (science policy, agency process, water, insurance, and international assistance) will review existing policies, operations, procedures, and other tools that affect the Federal government’s response, and suggest options for improving the government’s capacity for adaptation to climate change.

The Agency Adaptation Workgroup is tasked with identifying approaches for agencies in climate change adaptation planning related to internal agency operations, policies, and processes. It will also identify agency-level operational activities necessary to assess climate risks and plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of these activities prospectively. A critical component of the work of this group will be identifying opportunities for actions by agencies that reduce risks, facilitate resilience, and build adaptive capacity. The workgroup is charged with developing a report to the Interagency Committee by the end of the year. The report will include recommendations on adaptation planning and implementation, encompassing intra-agency and inter-agency considerations. It will summarize the key issues, the Federal government’s capabilities, and challenges in responding to climate change, suggest possible improvements in the Federal government’s capacity for climate change adaptation, and recommend policy and other options for consideration by the Interagency Committee.

State Agency Listening Session Overview

The workgroup held a series of “listening sessions” with local, state, and tribal governments and private sector partners. The purpose was to engage stakeholders involved in related planning processes and gather input on how federal agencies can work with partners to design and implement adaptation plans. During these sessions, participants were asked to consider the following questions:

· How did you approach your climate adaptation planning and implementation process? What worked well? What didn’t?

· What were the key programs, policies or other activities that supported and guided your adaptation planning and implementation?

· How did you coordinate with other organizations, governments and businesses?

· Are there key programs, policies, or other actions that Federal agencies should adopt to support or guide their climate change adaptation planning?

· Are there adaptation planning and implementation resources, studies or reports that the workgroup should consider in its work?

On the 16^th of November, 2009 the workgroup held a listening session in the Truman Room of the White House Conference Center for State Fish & Wildlife Agencies on their work with State Adaptation Strategies. A teleconference line was made available for those who could not attend in person. Each state participant was given time to answer the questions listed above. States that could not participate in the Listening Session are encouraged to email their replies to AgencyAdaptation@ceq.eop.gov with the subject line: “(organization) listening session-(Date).” Comments are still welcome by the workgroup.

Common Themes

One of the common threads throughout the listening session was the lack of coordination and communication among federal agencies. There is also a perception of competition among state agencies to be the first to move ahead in climate change impact assessment and adaptation planning. Several state participants reported that there is confusion within their agency about the roles of many federal agencies within the framework of climate change adaptation. This lack of coordination translates into lack of communication with state agencies as well as support and guidance on critical issues.

Several states indicated that a national adaptation strategy would be essential for future adaptation planning particularly as states are beginning to update their State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) for climate change.

In addition, a few states mentioned the need for adaptive management training for state agencies. Adaptive management and structured decision-making are important tools that state agencies need to be more comfortable practicing, particularly when managing for climate change.

Overview of State Participants Adaptation Activities and Challenges

California

-CA Adaptation Plan-The multi-sector plan involved close participation by stakeholder groups which helped create an open and transparent process. CA Department of Natural Resources was a key player in the creation of this document. The final version will be out for release soon: http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation/

-California DFG is also co-chair (with Nevada) of the WAFWA climate change committee.

Idaho

-Idaho is just beginning to coordinate and plan for climate change adaptation.

-They are working with USFWS on the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative (Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Wyoming are also participating in that project): http://www.fws.gov/science/SHC/pdf/DoIGreatNorthernLCCNarrative10092008.pdf

Pennsylvania

-Pennsylvania’s Governor created a Climate Change Advisory Council to begin drafting an adaptation plan. The plan, which crosses sectors, is currently under review.

-The Fish & Boating Commission and the Wildlife Commission are beginning to update their SWAP. At this time they are uncertain if it will be a large or small update.

Missouri

-The need for information on which parts of SWAPs would be most useful to federal agencies and partners was identified.

-Missouri is trying to determine how to integrate agriculture and wildlife agencies respective adaptation plans.

Alaska

- Alaska has formed a Sub-cabinet on Climate Change to prepare an Alaska climate change strategy which consists of an Adaptation Workgroup and a Mitigation Workgroup: http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/

-Alaska Department of Fish and Game has also formed a Think Tank to identify likely impacts to fish and wildlife.

Oregon

-Oregon is currently updating their SWAPs for climate change.

-Oregon also has an online Fish & Wildlife adaptation strategy: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/docs/preparing_oregons_fish_wildllife%20.pdf

Minnesota

-Minnesota created a strategic plan in 2009 on energy and climate for their agency that identifies adaptation and mitigation strategies.

-A new inter agency adaptation team was created and will host a Climate Change Adaptation Summit in December to identify what the research and policy needs are for the state.

Wisconsin

-The WI DNR, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin and other state agencies and institutions are part of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI). This taskforce consists of a science council, advisory committees, and 18 different working groups that assesses and anticipates climate change impacts on Wisconsin’s different sectors. The taskforce has downscaled climate models to the local level for WI: http://www.wicci.wisc.edu/

-The WICCI will be releasing an Assessment Report in 2010 that recommends adaptation strategies that can be implemented by different sectors.

Vermont

-Vermont is working with their cooperative units on data processing and analysis to develop an adaptation management framework.

-They are working with different partners on biodiversity and connectivity.

Massachusetts

-For the past year and a half Massachusetts has worked with Manomet to identify vulnerable habitats through an expert panel process. These habits are identified in their SWAPs.

-They are now in the process of developing adaptation planning for the state across all sectors.

-The MA DFW is also a member of the Climate Change and Wildlife Alliance-Massachusetts: http://www.climateandwildlife.org/

Nevada

-Nevada is working with partners to rewrite their SWAPs. They are using the AFWA Guidance Document for that process as well.

-NatureServe will be hosting a workshop in NV on the use of the NatureServe Vulnerability Index: http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/climatechange/ClimateChange.jsp

New York

-The Governor drafted an Executive Order for an action plan across all sectors for adaptation and mitigation.

-New York also has a Sea Level Task Force that is creating recommendations for state legislation as it pertains to sea level rise.

Texas

-Texas has no formal committees or task force for climate change.

-They will be updating their SWAPs for climate change.

-TWRP is working with Katherine Heyhoe from Texas Tech and the coop units to leverage resources.

Summarized notes by Arpita Choudhury, Science & Research Liaison for the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies