Climate Change Adaptation Facilities Best Practices

							Climate Change Adaptation:
  Facilities Best Practices
                 Matt Rose
     Climate Friendly Parks Workshop
             October 26, 2009




                    Climate Change Adaptation Best
                    Practice # 1 - Underwater Meetings!
       Presentation Outline
• Key Terms
• Info on Park Service Guidance on
  Facilities Adaptation
• Facilities Best Practices
• Recommended Sites for Further
  Information
                   Key Terms
• Mitigation – The reduction greenhouse gas emissions
  into the atmosphere.
• Adaptation – The range of adjustments and actions
  taken to deal with the potential or experienced impacts of
  climate change.

                                    •   The need for adaptation
                                        planning and strategies -
                                        Oakland Airport with 1.25 m
                                        sea level rise – 2030.org
Park Service & Climate Change Adaptation

• Currently developing guidance as part of
  the NPS Climate Change Response
  Strategy

• Adaptation section will cover facilities,
  planning, cultural resources & natural
  resources
      Facilities Best Practices
• Pursue actions that will promote decision
  support
  – Example: Filling current information gaps (facilities
    and utilities GIS location, asset value, elevation data,
    etc.)

• Build interdisciplinary networks & share
  information related to climate change
  – DOI Regional Climate Change Response Centers
    and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives described
    in Sec. Order 3289
      Facilities Best Practices
• Integrate probable impacts into facilities
  planning, design, renovations and
  management to promote resiliency in park
  infrastructure
  – Example: Limiting the development footprint in
    vulnerable habitats or areas susceptible to high
    intensity flooding
  – Example: Elevating structures, mechanical &
    electrical components in areas vulnerable to flooding



                          Elevated House designed for Make It Right
                          Foundation’s reconstruction in Lower 9th
                          Ward, New Orleans
     Facilities Best Practices
• Pursue ‘no regrets’ adaptation actions that
  are beneficial regardless of climate effects,
  which are difficult to predict
      Examples of ‘no regrets‘ actions
     – Address Urban Heat Islands through
       building design and landscaping
     – Reducing energy and water
       consumption in facilities
     – Specify materials that can survive
       flooding in flood prone and coastal
       areas
   Websites for Further Information
• Facility Management Climate Friendly Parks Program Webpage on
  Inside NPS (PWR) -
  http://inside.nps.gov/regions/region.cfm?rgn=1597&lv=3

• California Climate Change Portal -
  http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/

• USAID Climate Change -
  http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/climate/index.html

• NOAA Coastal Climate Change Adaptation -
  http://community.csc.noaa.gov/climateadaptation/

• Pacific Institute –
• http://www.pacinst.org/
QUESTIONS?