Join us for a seminar sponsored by the Environment and Natural Resources Program and the Sustainability Science Program.
Currently in the United States, reducing vulnerability from climate change impacts is being handled at a community level through community based adaptation. The discussion of adaptation to climate impacts at the U.S. federal level is primarily focused on providing usable science to those communities through a National Climate Service and leaves aside discussion of funding and other services.
While credible science at an appropriate scale is critical to good decision making, reducing vulnerability requires much more. Research into King County, Washington’s approach to community based adaptation indicates the need for an enabling environment, to backstop the local community’s work. We’ll discuss the range of support decision-makers need as they begin to incorporate climate change impacts into their choices. From financing mechanisms to insurance, from decision support to technical expertise, better science or a blank check won’t be sufficient to effectively reduce vulnerability from climate change impacts in the U.S. or overseas.
