Climate Futures and Climate Futures and Oregon’s Coastal Oregon’s Coastal

CommunitiesCommunitiesA Survey and Strategy A Survey and Strategy to Address the Effects to Address the Effects of Climate Change on of Climate Change on

the Oregon Coastthe Oregon Coast

October 2007 Coastal Planners’ Network Meeting

Survey: Survey: What do cities and counties need from state and What do cities and counties need from state and federal agencies related to climate changefederal agencies related to climate change??

Data and information: Data and/or information to better understand or predict the likely effects of climate change on coastal communities.

21 49%

Outreach: Informational materials for the general public and elected officials about climate change and the need for action.

9 21%

Guidance: Materials to assess or improve local governments’ ability to respond to the effects of climate change.

4 9%

Funding: Funding to assess vulnerability, develop adaptation plans, or to implement adaptation measures.

4 9%

Leadership: Political leadership to support local initiatives.

3 7%

Infrastructure: Structural measures to mitigate the effects of climate change on coastal communities.

2 5%

Question or concern: Survey response is a question or concern; no specific need was noted.

(2) --

Purposes of the Report and StrategyPurposes of the Report and Strategy

Provide basic information about climate change and its effects on coastal resources and communities

Make the case that the state needs to allocate resources to help coastal communities prepare for and adapt to climate change

Provide a framework for state-local collaborative effort to prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change on the coast

The Big PictureThe Big Picture Oregon Coastal Climate FuturesOregon Coastal Climate Futures Consequences of Climate Consequences of Climate

Change on Coastal CommunitiesChange on Coastal Communities Adapting to Climate Variability Adapting to Climate Variability

and Changeand Change

Climate Futures and Climate Futures and Oregon’s Coastal Oregon’s Coastal

CommunitiesCommunities

I. The Big Picture:I. The Big Picture:Variability, Trends, Variability, Trends,

and and Oregon’s Coastal Oregon’s Coastal

ClimateClimate Climate and energyClimate and energy Climate variability and Climate variability and

trendstrends Oregon climate basicsOregon climate basics

Sidebars in Section ISidebars in Section I::

The effect of changes in average conditions

Regular cycles in the North Pacific Ocean affect Oregon’s climate

Future climate scenarios and the IPCC’s ‘reasons for concern’

II. Oregon coastal climate II. Oregon coastal climate futuresfutures

• TemperatureTemperature• PrecipitationPrecipitation• Sea surface and Sea surface and

ocean ocean temperaturestemperatures

• Coastal stormsCoastal storms• Sea level riseSea level rise

III. Likely consequences III. Likely consequences of climate change on of climate change on coastal communitiescoastal communities

•Community improvements Community improvements at riskat risk

•Natural systemsNatural systems

•Coastal sectorsCoastal sectors

IV. Adapting to Climate IV. Adapting to Climate Variability and ChangeVariability and Change

• Oregon’s Framework for Oregon’s Framework for Addressing Rapid Addressing Rapid Climate ChangeClimate Change

• Coastal Climate Coastal Climate Adaptation StrategyAdaptation Strategy

Oregon’s Framework for Addressing Rapid Climate

Change

Immediately begin preparing for climate change

Determine how climate change will affect Oregon’s diverse regions

Assist Oregon institutions and individuals in responding to climate change

Transform our planning processes to deal with climate change

From the Key Recommendations:

… Key Recommendations and Actions…Recommendations Immediately begin

preparing for climate change

Determine how climate change will affect Oregon’s diverse regions

Actions Require and encourage all

government agencies to adopt and implement climate change preparation plans

Develop localized climate change assessments that focus on impacts of a changing climate, adaptation and preparation needs, and mitigation opportunities

Recommendations Assist Oregon institutions

and individuals in responding to climate change

Transform our planning processes to deal with climate change

Actions Support integrated local government

planning for both greenhouse gas mitigation and climate change preparation and adaptation

Incorporate climate change effects and impacts into new transportation initiatives

Redesign planning tools to account for the future impacts of climate change

Plan at larger scales to ensure that climate preparation in one sector or region does not affect preparation elsewhere

… Key Recommendations and Actions…

IV. Adapting to Climate IV. Adapting to Climate Variability and ChangeVariability and Change

• Oregon’s Framework for Oregon’s Framework for Addressing Rapid Addressing Rapid Climate ChangeClimate Change

• Coastal Climate Coastal Climate Adaptation StrategyAdaptation Strategy

Coastal Climate Adaptation Strategy

Strategy Elements: Tools to increase community

resiliency Data and information delivery Resources for local capacity Measuring progress

Coastal Adaptation Strategy …Strategy Element Tools to increase

community resiliency

Tasks Collaboration,

coordination and clearinghouse function

Land use planning tools Public outreach Legal issues Framework for retreat

Coastal Adaptation Strategy Strategy Element Data and information

delivery

Resources for local capacity

Measuring progress

Tasks Estimates of effects Decision support tools

Grants for local planning

Technical assistance

(To be developed)

Information SourcesInformation Sources• InternationalInternational• United StatesUnited States• Pacific Northwest/OregonPacific Northwest/Oregon• Coast/sea level riseCoast/sea level rise• Policy/planningPolicy/planning

International Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports Synthesis Report and the Summary for PolicymakersNational US Climate Change Science Program (Use the Site Map)Synthesis and Assessment Products Pacific NorthwestUniversity of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group This website is excellent and well-organized. Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State GovernmentsOregon Oregon’s climate change portal Framework for Addressing Rapid Climate Change

Information sources used for the reportInformation sources used for the report

Let’s talk!!Let’s talk!!