Obama Administration Officials to Convene Public Meeting of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force in Miami, FL, on June 23, 2010

Miami, FL – Obama Administration officials will hold a public meeting of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force in Miami, Florida, on June 23, 2010.  This meeting is being organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and co-hosted by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and the Miami-Dade County Office of Sustainability.  The meeting provides an opportunity for senior members of the Obama Administration to listen to local and regional ideas, questions and concerns about climate change adaptation, and to describe federal efforts already underway to plan for climate change adaptation in this area, with an emphasis on hazard preparedness and mitigation and water resource management.

In 2009, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiated the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes representatives from more than 20 Federal Agencies. When President Obama signed the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, on October 5, 2009, he called on the Task Force to provide a progress report within one year on agency actions in support of a national climate change adaptation strategy and recommendations for any further measures.

WHO:      Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator

                 Rob Verchick, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

                 James Murley, Chair of the Florida Energy and Climate Commission

                 Katy Sorenson, County Commissioner (District 8) and Chair of the Budget, Planning and Sustainability Committee

                 Harvey Ruvin, Chair, Miami-Dade Climate Change Advisory Task Force and Clerk of Court of Miami-Dade County

WHAT:   Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force Public Meeting and Press Conference

WHEN:   Wednesday, June 23, 9:00 am – 12:00 p.m. public meeting following by a press conference from 12:15 – 1:00 pm

WHERE: Miami-Dade County Commission Chambers, located at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 NW 1st Street, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL  33128

WATCH:        The meeting will be webcast live at: http://miamidade.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=168

                 The press conference will be webcast at: http://miamidade.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=170

FWC launches climate change website

Find out what fish and wildlife managers are doing to help wildlife adapt to potential climate change impacts. Measure your carbon footprint. Tap into age-appropriate climate change lessons. These exciting features and more can be found on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) new website, MyFWC.com/ClimateChange. The website is dedicated to educating the public about the impacts of climate change to the state’s fish and wildlife resources and how the agency is addressing those impacts.

“We hope the FWC climate change website will become a must-visit resource for individuals and organizations wanting to learn more about climate change and its impact on wildlife,” said Doug Parsons, the FWC’s climate change program coordinator. “The FWC has established itself as a leader nationally on this issue, and we look forward to working with our wildlife partners to improve the information on the website as this issue unfolds in the years to come.”

Florida’s geography and position as home to threatened and endangered wildlife puts the state in a unique position for experiencing the effects of climate change. Acknowledging that fact, the FWC began addressing climate change in 2007, when the commission passed a resolution directing staff to develop recommendations for conserving fish and wildlife in the face of climate change. In 2008, the FWC hosted a climate change summit, which brought together leading experts and professionals in the field to share their knowledge. Immediately following the summit, the FWC formed climate change teams. The website confirms the FWC’s commitment to addressing this complex issue.

Climate Change Adaptation Task Force

In 2009, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiated the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes representatives from more than 20 Federal Agencies.  When the President signed the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, on October 5, 2009, he called on the Task Force to develop, within one year, Federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.
See http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptation

Interim Progress Report

On March 16, 2010, the Task Force released an Interim Progress Report  which outlines the Task Force’s progress to date and recommends key components to include in a national strategy on climate change adaptation.  These six components include:

1. Integration of Science into Adaptation Decisions and Policy 
2. Communications and Capacity-building
3. Coordination and Collaboration
4. Prioritization
5. A Flexible Framework for Agencies
6. Evaluation

The Interim Progress Report is available for 60 days of public comment.  Submit your comment here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptation/submit

Workgroups

The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force formed workgroups to consider the capabilities of the Federal Government to respond to the impacts of climate change on various critical sectors, institutions, and agency mission responsibilities. The workgroups are focused on the following topics:

• Agency Adaptation: Develop recommendations on how agencies should plan and implement adaptation efforts.
• Science Inputs to Policy: Develop recommendations to couple the production of scientific and technical support to adaptation planning, prioritization, and resilience building within the USG, in the US, and internationally.
• Insurance: Develop recommendations on opportunities for the United States Government to support insurance and adaptation issues.
• Water Resources Adaptation: Develop recommendations on how Federal water management agencies should plan and implement adaptation actions related to climate impacts on water resources.
• International Resilience: Develop recommendations on opportunities for the United States Government to support and lead international adaptation efforts.
• Health: Develop recommendations focused on educating and communicating with policymakers, public health officials, healthcare professionals, and the public; building early warning systems, identifying vulnerable populations; forecasting, modeling, and predicting the health impacts of climate change; and building capacity to better prepare for and respond to those impacts.
• Fish, Wildlife and Plants: Develop recommendations on how Federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments should plan and implement adaptation efforts related to climate impacts on wildlife, fish, and plants.
• Structure for Coordination and Collaboration: Develop recommendations on the structure for U.S. Government adaptation efforts and on how Federal agencies can coordinate adaptation activities with other Federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector and civil society.
• Urban: Develop recommendations on how Federal agencies in conjunction with state, local, and tribal governments can implement adaptation efforts related to climate impacts on urban environments, communities and infrastructure.
• Coasts and Oceans: Develop recommendations to strengthen resiliency of coastal communities and marine and Great Lakes environments and their abilities to adapt to climate change impacts and ocean acidification. 
• Land: Develop recommendations on how Federal land management agencies in conjunction with state, local, and tribal governments and private landholders can address adaptation related to climate impacts on land.
• Communications: Develop recommendations on how the Federal Government can better communicate messages regarding climate change adaptation and resilience within and outside the government.

Listening Sessions

The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force workgroups have hosted twenty listening sessions with key stakeholders and experts.  The listening sessions are designed to engage the expertise and recommendations of external organizations into the workgroup deliberations early in this review process. 

Final Product

In October 2010, the Task Force will report to the President on the development of domestic and international dimensions of a U.S. approach to climate change adaptation and what Federal Agencies are doing to support this effort. The Task Force also will recommend additional aspects to consider in the development of a comprehensive national strategy.

Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife will be Studied

Fish and Wildlife Face Significant Risks as the Climate Changes

Our nation’s fish and wildlife are expected to be significantly impacted now and in the future as the climate continues to fluctuate.

New research will help understand future climate conditions and impacts to species and their habitats. Projects include studies of alterations in Florida’s ecosystems, potential impacts on Great Lakes’ fish, sea-level rise impacts on San Francisco Bay marshes, and the effects of melting glaciers on Alaska’s freshwater coastal systems.

“The U.S. Geological Survey has funded 17 new projects through the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center,” said USGS Associate Director for Biology Susan Haseltine. “Our future holds new climate conditions and new habitat responses, and managers need projections based on sound science to assess how our landscapes may change and to develop effective response strategies for species survival.”

Several projects are summarized below, and descriptions of all projects can be found at http://nccw.usgs.gov/.

Preserving Florida’s Unique Land

Florida has diverse ecosystems and a unique climate. To understand how it will fare in the face of climate change, scenarios must be developed that consider this uniqueness. USGS scientists are doing just that by creating Florida-specific models regarding which species and habitats will increase or decline based on potential rainfall and temperature change as well as impacts of human-induced land use and land cover change.

What’s the Future for Great Lakes Fish?

The Great Lakes support a multi-billion-dollar fishing and tourism industry, but little is known on how climate change could affect their fish species. USGS scientists and collaborators are updating models to predict 50 to 100 years in the future how water level, water temperatures and ice cover will change in the Great Lakes. Scientists will explore how warmer water temperatures may affect fish growth and consumption rates and forecast algal production and fish variability in Lakes Michigan and Huron.

San Francisco Bay Marshes under Siege

San Francisco Bay marshes are at risk from sea-level rise, storms, altered salinities, changes in sediment loads and more. This threatens plant communities and species such as the salt marsh harvest mouse, California clapper rail and California black rail, which are all listed as either federally endangered or threatened. USGS scientists are developing models for this area to predict sea-level rise, effects on species and habitats, and whether marshes can grow at sustainable rates.

Climate on the Move: Where Will It Go?

What if managers could map where climate conditions will likely occur in the future? Or visualize how habitats will respond and move? USGS scientists are working to make this happen, helping to protect our nation’s natural resources. They are creating climate models for North America and smaller scaled models for the contiguous United States and Alaska. Data will be incorporated into an online Web interface where managers can download information and produce maps of future climate conditions.

Camouflage Trying to Keep Up with Climate Change

Many species undergo a seasonal change of coat color to match the presence or absence of snow. As the climate changes and snowpack declines, species may have white coats on non-snowy backgrounds. One species impacted by this is the snowshoe hare, which are prey for the federally threatened Canada lynx. Animals could face population decline or respond by adapting or moving. USGS scientists are tracking snowshoe hares to evaluate their responses, using data to make projections for the next 30 to 50 years.

Are Melting Glaciers Disturbing Alaska’s Flow?

As the climate changes and glaciers melt, the flow of freshwater in the Gulf of Alaska is altered, and impacts are felt across coastal ecosystems. For example, fish feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton and these organisms could be negatively affected as increased water flows bring higher levels of iron and nitrate. Scientists are studying these processes and impacts, with particular focus on the Copper River, which relies on nearby mountain glaciers and is the Gulf’s largest freshwater source.

Trout at Risk in the West

Some native trout populations in the western United States are at risk for extinction, with many proposed for or listed under the Endangered Species Act. The recovery of these species is a challenge as climate change is likely to raise water temperatures, alter wildfire occurrences, and increase demand for water resources. USGS scientists are studying how climate change will influence fish habitats and providing data to managers to help them assess extinction risks and develop appropriate response strategies.

Islands and Seabirds Faced with Sea-Level Rise

As the climate continues to change, sea-level rise may inundate coastal and low elevation Pacific islands. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands provide habitat for the largest assemblage of tropical seabirds in the world (14 million birds and 22 species) and 11 endangered species of terrestrial birds and plants. Even small increases in sea level may result in critical habitat loss. USGS scientists are mapping current species distribution and identifying the areas and species that are most vulnerable to sea-level rise.

Thirsty Plants in the Arid Southwest

A warmer climate can bring dryer conditions, threatening plant species in the arid southwestern United States as well as the wildlife that depend on these plants for habitat and food. USGS scientists will expand on existing models that outline climate change impacts to plant populations and include up to 30 plant species. Focus will be placed on plants supporting wildlife of greatest concern. These models will also be used to project changes in wildlife populations.

The National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center and other scientific programs elements of the USGS will work closely with eight regional Climate Science Centers being established by the Department of the Interior. These centers will provide scientific information, tools and techniques needed to manage land, water, wildlife and cultural resources in the face of climate change. The USGS and the DOI centers will also work closely with a network of Landscape Conservation Cooperatives in which federal, state, tribal and other managers and scientists will develop conservation, adaptation and mitigation strategies for dealing with the impacts of climate change.

The USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.

Subscribe to USGS News Releases via our electronic mailing list or RSS feed.

Obama Administration Officials Release Progress Report on Work of Climate Change Adaptation Task Force

WASHINGTON – Today, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released an interim progress report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force.  The report outlines the Task Force’s progress to date and recommends key components to include in a national strategy on climate change adaptation.   The components include: integration of science into adaptation decisions and policy; communications and capacity building; coordination and collaboration; prioritization; a flexible framework for Agencies; and evaluation. 

“The Administration believes we must prepare for the inevitable effects of climate change,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “We know that climate-related changes are already observed in the United States.  The Federal Government must adapt and improve resilience to minimize risk to people, natural places, and key infrastructure.  Adaptation will require thoughtful, preventative actions and investments, and demand new approaches and preparation from nonprofit, private and government entities.”

"The impacts of climate change are closely tied to our economy and national security; they affect all aspects of our society and ecosystems. This inter-agency effort will deliver on the President's promise to base decisions on good science," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. "This Task Force is focused on enhancing the resilience of the natural environment, the built environment and human institutions to climate change and ocean acidification."

“Effective policy demands the latest and best scientific information,” said Shere Abbott, Associate Director for Energy and Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “To this end, the Administration is strengthening the U.S. Global Change Research Program to support evidence-based actions aimed at adapting to climate change, even as we work to mitigate the effects of climate change and deepen our understanding of its consequences for human well-being and ecosystems.”

In 2009, CEQ, OSTP and NOAA initiated the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes representatives from more than 20 Federal Agencies.  When President Obama signed the Executive Order focused on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance on October 5, 2009, he called on the Task Force to develop, within one year, Federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally. 

In October of 2010, the Task Force will report to the President on the development of domestic and international dimensions of a U.S. approach to climate change adaptation and what Federal Agencies are doing to support this effort. The Task Force also will recommend additional aspects to consider in the development of a comprehensive national strategy.

Federal Adaptation Planning

There is substantial activity underway in the U.S. to adapt to climate change and build resilience. Several States, cities and counties have begun to assess risks and develop adaptation strategies.  The Federal Government also is taking action. However, the Task Force has determined that significant gaps in the U.S. Government’s approach to this effort remain.  To address these gaps, the Task Force identified the need to develop the following:

- A unified strategic vision and approach

-An understanding of the challenges at all levels of government

-Organized and coordinated efforts across local, State and Federal agencies

-Strong links between, and support and participation of, Tribal, regional, State, and local  
partners

-Coherent research programs to identify and describe regional impacts

-Relevant climate change and impact information that is accessible to and usable by
decision-makers and practitioners on the ground
-Comprehensive and localized risk and vulnerability assessments
-A strategy to link resources, both financial and intellectual, to critical needs

-A robust approach to evaluating and applying lessons learned

The Task Force seeks to address these gaps and recognizes that adaptation and resilience will require a set of thoughtful, preventative actions and investments, and will demand new approaches and preparation from all segments of society. To promote this, the Task Force determined a national strategy should address at a minimum the following six components:

1.       Science Inputs to Adaptation Decisions and Policy.  The Task Force may recommend approaches for coordinating, developing, distributing and integrating science, from physical to socioeconomic, into all aspects of adaptation.

2.       Communications and Capacity-building.  The Task Force may develop recommendations for communicating climate change impacts, adaptation, and resilience and for building capacity within the U.S. Government, including prioritizing opportunities for additional training and resources.

3.       Coordination and Collaboration.  The Task Force may develop recommendations for structuring the national adaptation strategy within the Federal Government and for increasing and improving coordination and collaboration across the Government and with partners.

4.       Prioritization.  The Task Force may consider and make recommendations for how to identify priorities.  The Task Force has begun work on several areas that may require a coordinated government response, and is developing recommendations for water resource management and for international adaptation and resilience. The Task Force will add additional areas as it continues its work.

5.       A  Flexible Framework for Agencies.  Adapting to climate change and building resilience requires planning within and across agencies. There is no single planning approach appropriate for all agencies, but each should use a consistent framework to facilitate coordination and allow agencies to leverage common tools and methods. The Task Force may implement agency pilots to further develop and test the framework, and will continue to develop recommendations on the common tools required to support implementation.

6.       Evaluation.  Adaptation plans must allow for a “feedback” mechanism, whereby new information, lessons learned, and modified priorities can be incorporated into ongoing adaptation processes. Evaluation and lessons learned will help provide clear guidance for decision-making that enhances adaptation and resiliency. The Task Force may develop recommendations for how to evaluate the success of adaptation and resilience-building efforts.

In preparing its October 2010 report, the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force will refine recommendations around structural issues like improving the integration of science into policy development and developing a framework for Federal Agency adaptation.  It also will continue to work on cross-cutting topics like water resources management and international adaptation.  The Task Force will establish additional workgroups, including those to inform the national strategy in the areas of communications, coordination and collaboration across government and with partners, evaluation, and other priority issues.

In addition, the Task Force will hold a series of regional outreach meetings, conduct pilot activities, and accept public comment on its interim progress report for 60 days on the CEQ website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/initiatives/adaptation.

Secretary Salazar Announces University of Alaska as Host of Nation’s First Regional Climate Science Center

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Department of the Interior has selected the University of Alaska as the first of eight planned regional Climate Science Centers in the nation.

“With rapidly melting Arctic-sea ice and permafrost, and threats to the survival of Native Alaskan coastal communities, Alaska is ground zero for climate change,” said Secretary Salazar.  “We must put science to work to help us adjust to the impacts of climate change on Alaska’s resources and peoples.”  

In addition to the Alaska region, Climate Science Centers will be selected in seven additional regions throughout the country as directed by a 2009 Secretarial Order on climate change.

Secretary Salazar also announced today that the Department will be seeking grant proposals for four more Climate Science Centers in the next few weeks-- including centers in the Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and North Central regions.

Joining Secretary Salazar in today’s teleconference were Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes and Dr. Marcia McNutt, Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, which runs the existing National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center.

“Regional Climate Science Centers and their networks will provide science about climate change impacts, help land managers adapt to the impacts, and engage the public through education initiatives,” Secretary Salazar said.  “In short, Climate Science Centers will better connect our scientists with land managers and the public.”

In looking at criteria for choosing Climate Science Center locations, Secretary Salazar noted that the Department determined “the University of Alaska is uniquely qualified to serve as host for the Alaska region both because of its location and expertise.”  

 “Alaska has tens of millions of acres of public lands under Interior’s jurisdiction,” Secretary Salazar also noted. “A strong functioning partnership between federal and state agencies, Native communities, and other stakeholders will enable the Alaska Climate Science Center to hit the ground running,” the Secretary said.   Interior hopes to have the new climate science center at the University of Alaska formally established in Anchorage within six to eight weeks. 

On September 14, 2009, with Secretarial Order No. 3289, Secretary Salazar put into action the Department’s first-ever coordinated strategy to address current and future impacts of climate change on America’s land, water, ocean, fish, wildlife, and cultural resources. 

The plan called for establishing not only the regional “Climate Science Centers” but also a network of “Landscape Conservation Cooperatives” that will engage federal agencies, local and state partners, and the public in crafting practical, landscape-level strategies for managing climate change impacts within the eight regions. 

Within their respective regions, these cooperatives will focus on impacts that typically extend beyond the borders of any single national wildlife refuge, national park or Bureau of Land Management unit—such as the effects of climate change on wildlife migration patterns, wildfire risk, drought, or invasive species.

Salazar said that together the Climate Science Centers and the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives form “the cornerstone of our strategy.”  The Climate Science Centers will recruit staff from USGS and partner organizations, as well as cadres of scientists and information specialists.

To learn more about this our climate change strategy, visit our new website at http://doi.gov/whatwedo/climate/strategy/index.cfm.  This site features interactive maps of Climate Science Centers and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, as well as additional details on the services they will provide. 

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:

http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/resources/benefits.html.

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.