Monday, February 22, 2010

EPA Announces New Website to Help State and Local Governments Tackle Climate Change


EPA just launched a new Web site to help state and local governments understand, plan, and implement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within their jurisdictions.

The State and Local Climate and Energy Program Web site, www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate, brings together EPA resources to serve as a one-stop shop for government officials seeking information on climate change and clean energy. The site provides:

Resources on energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, workforce development, health, adaptation, and more. “How to” information for developing a climate change action plan or greenhouse gas inventory along with maps showing which states and localities have them in place. Guidance on evaluating policy and program options and measuring results. A calendar of upcoming climate change and clean energy webcasts and conferences. Podcasts and video recordings of State and Local Climate and Energy Program webcasts.

Featured Resource:  Assessing the Multiple Benefits of Clean Energy: A Resource for States

This resource will help state energy, environmental, and economic policy makers identify and quantify the many benefits of clean energy. This groundbreaking document is the first to organize and present a comprehensive review of the multiple benefits of clean energy, together with an analytical framework that states can use to assess those benefits during the development and implementation of clean energy policies and programs. Access the resource at:

To be notified of upcoming Webcasts, hear about state and local climate and energy news, and learn of enhancements to the Web site, join theState and Local Climate and Energy Listserv by visiting:
http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/listservs/index.html.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Change Job Opening

Title: Assistant Conservationist (Climate Change)
Department & Program: North America Program
Reports to: North America Climate Change Program Coordinator
Location: Bozeman, MT (or Portland, OR)
Application deadline: Looking to fill position immediately

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been dedicated to conserving the earth's
biodiversity since its establishment in 1898 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS). As part of WCS’s Global Conservation Program, the North America Program saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. The North America Program employs approximately 50 people in the US and Canada and has an annual operating budget of about $5.5M; US-based programs comprise approximately 70% of this. WCS focuses on three major conservation outcomes including:
i)                    Saving the Best of the Wild
ii)                   Conserving Priority Species
iii)                 Resolving Critical Wildlife Challenges including Climate Change, Local Livelihoods, Wildlife Health, Natural Resource Use, and Ecological Connectivity.
This position will provide support to efforts that address the Climate Change challenge at several landscapes in North America, including the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains, the Adirondack Park, and Arctic Alaska.

Position Objectives: The Climate Change Assistant Conservationist will provide scientific, conservation, and technical support for climate change adaptation projects at several landscapes across North America, aimed at applying best-available climate change science to identify or modify conservation and management practices. The Climate Change Assistant Conservationist is expected to work in close collaboration with
landscape, challenge and project leaders within the WCS North America Program as well as scientists and managers at other organizations, universities and government agencies, and diverse stakeholders at particular landscapes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Work with the North America Climate Change Program Coordinator to implement
climate change adaptation projects and synthesize lessons learned on climate change
adaptation across North American landscapes.
• Provide support to existing adaptation efforts by contributing ideas on how to approach
adaptation planning and implementation, helping to facilitate climate change workshops
and working group meetings, contributing to workshop report writing, and other project
activities.
• Build, maintain, and facilitate cross-agency and cross-organizational working groups.
• Contribute to the development of new projects aimed at implementing the Wildlife
Conservation Society North America Program’s climate change strategic plan.
• Synthesize, analyze, and interpret emerging climate change science for conservation
practitioners and policy-makers, and stay abreast of the latest developments in climate
change adaptation for biodiversity conservation and other sectors.
• Report project findings in peer-reviewed scientific publications as well as through
appropriate internal and external communication vehicles.
• Provide climate change adaptation expertise to national, regional and local climate
change planning efforts.
• Contribute to grant writing and other development activities related to raising funds for
climate change projects in North America.

Qualifications:
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
• Master’s degree in science-related field and 3-4 years experience, or Ph.D. and 1-2 years
experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience). Research
background in understanding ecological or hydrological consequences of climate change
preferred.
• Knowledge of current trends in climate change research, and practices and issues in
biodiversity conservation under climate change.
• Experience translating science research into practical and applied guidance for
conservation and management, preferably on the topic of climate change.
• Demonstrated strong writing and oral communications skills to effectively communicate
project findings to a broad constituency, including both scientific and lay audiences (e.g.,
scientists, policy staff, managers, donors, and the general public).
• Demonstrated ability to organize and facilitate workshops and working group meetings.
• Record of successful fundraising, grant writing, or research proposals.
• Willingness to travel to and work with partners in multiple locations across North
America.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of 3 references via WCS’ website
(http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers/opportunities-in-the-field.aspx). Questions regarding the position can be directed to mcross@wcs.org.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

SAFEGUARDING WILDLIFE FROM CLIMATE CHANGE WEB CONFERENCE SERIES

A partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wild Service and National Wildlife Federation have developed a series of web conferences to increase communication and transfer of technical information between conservation professionals regarding the increasing challenges from climate change. This program is being facilitated by the USFWS's National Conservation Training Center (NCTC).

You are invited to attend:  Thursday, February 18, 2010, 2:30PM - 4:00PM EST

Topic: "Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change: Case Studies for Species and Systems"
Instructor: Joshua J. Lawler, School of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
General Information about the Conference Series:

Instructions for registering:
YOU MUST REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 5:00PM ET TO JOIN THIS WEBINAR

The web conferences last about 1 to 1.5 hours including a question-and-answer session. Topics are climate change and wildlife-related and will include scientists from academia, government, and private conservation organizations.  The conferences are targeted at a technical level equivalent to that of a graduate seminar and assume that the participants already have some knowledge of and background with the topic.

The web conferences use the Microsoft Live Meeting software program. Conference advertisement and registration is through DOI LEARN. All conferences, including questions and answers, are recorded and available in NCTC’s web library. To view archived webinars in this series, go to:

If you have any questions regarding the Climate Change webinars, please contact: 
Donna C. Brewer, Curriculum Manager, Conservation Science and Policy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV 304/876-7451,donna_brewer@fws.gov

Naomi Edelson, Sr. Manager, State Wildlife Programs, National
Wildlife Federation, National Advocacy Center, Washington, DC
202/ 797-6889, edelsonn@nwf.org

Registration Information: Registration for all of the webinars is through DOILearn. To register go to: https://doilearn.doi.gov/ and follow these instructions:

Department of Interior Applicants:
Log in DOI Learn using your Log-in name and password.
Click on "Course Catalog" tab.
Click on "Catalog".
In the search menu box, type CSP3902 and click "Search".
Click on title of webinar.
Scroll to the webinar session you are interested in.
Enter $0 in the amounts estimated and enter "Agency" for who is funding.
Click on "Preview Schedule".
Under "Options", click "Apply".
You will receive an email from me two days prior to the webinar with instructions    
on how to log-on through Live Meeting.

Non-Department of Interior Applicants: There is not a tuition charge for these   
Webinars. To register, navigate to: https://doilearn.doi.gov/ and follow these   
instructions:
       1. Use the “Public Catalog Login” in DOI Learn to register for the Webinars
       2. Once in the Catalog, search on “Safeguarding Wildlife from Climate Change” or  
           "CSP3902"
       3. Click on title of topic
       4. Scroll down the course description until you find the webinar session you are  
           interested in
       5. Select “Apply”
       6. Fill out the registration form; where it asks for Payment
       Type, select “none required”; Click “Go”; then click on “Submit
       Order”

 Due to your computer configuration, you might receive an error message that says your application will not go through.  If this happens, in the Payment Type, select "credit card" and in the name of the credit card holder, type your name. The Data Steward will know not to ask for credit card information sine she knows there is not tuition due.
            7. You will receive an email from me two days prior to the webinar with  
                instructions on how to log-on through Live Meeting.

If you have any questions registering, please contact me at the address and/or phone number below.