Mapping and Convening Local

and Regional Climate Service

Providers

1.  Introduction to Resource and Service Landscape

2.  Overview of Local Government Survey Results

3.  Highlights and Opportunities for Moving Field Forward

OUTLINE

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

!  Part A: Resource Coding !  Inventoried services provided by 89

nonprofit and boundary organizations !  Catalogued local or regionally relevant

climate adaptation resources !  Organized services and resources by

coding system

!  Part B: Survey of Local Governments !  Focus: Understand resource use, need,

barriers, and visions of resilience !  +200 local government respondents !  Partnership with ICLEI, NLC, and USDN

!  Part C: Convening of Service Providers and Local Practitioners ! May 2014

PART A: RESOURCE CODING

!  3,400 resources or services coded !  Codebook developed with local practitioners !  Coded by:

!  Type of Resource !  Phase of Planning Process Resource Supports !  Climate Impact Resource Addresses !  Sector of Operation Resource Supports !  Geographical Area Served by Resource

BY RESOURCE TYPE

! Most abundant “types”: !  Fact Sheets !  Best Practice / Case Studies !  Scientific Reports / Data

Sources !  Least common “types”:

! Monitoring and Evaluating Resources

!  Grants

By Phase of Planning Process

!  Resources skewed to earlier phases of the adaptation planning process

!  Fewer resources aimed at the implementation-related activity

By Sector

! Water is far and away the most common sector

!  Sectors with the few resources identified include: engineering, solid waste, legal, agriculture, health, and vulnerable populations

!  Nearly 40% of resources are not sector-specific

BY IMPACT

!  Stormwater and flooding as well as sea level rise are the most common impacts addressed

!  Few resources identified that focus on extreme heat and forest fires

!  Nearly 55% of resources are not impact-specific

PART B: LOCAL PRACTITIONER SURVEY

!  Elected officials and staff identified political support as the most important motivator for action

!  Least common motivators for action include funding, addressing inequalities, and gaining a competitive advantage

LOCAL MOTIVATIONS FOR ADAPTATION ACTION

WHAT’S BEING USED

! Most commonly used resources: !  Best practices /

case studies !  Local peers !  Scientific reports or

articles !  Fact Sheets

!  Resources used infrequently: !  Software !  Social media !  Consulting firms

BARRIERS

NEEDS

80% 70%

RESOURCE AVAILABLE VS. RESOURCES DESIRED

! Most desired format for resources was web, followed by detailed case studies/fact sheets and in person conferences or trainings

!  Least desired formats include social media and blogs

RESOURCE FORMAT

HIGHLIGHTS !  Commonly used resources are often the most

abundant types of resources: !  Case studies, fact sheets, scientific reports/data sources

!  Resources coded support earlier phases of the adaptation planning process; fewer at later phases of the planning process

!  Few resources address a specific climate impact on a specific sector

!  Lowest rate of usage for software, which also is not an abundant resource/service type

!  A large percentage of the resources identified are “generic”, meaning they are not specific to a sector, climate impact, geographical area, or phase of the planning process

!  Some identified needs are being filled by existing resources !  77% of respondents indicated wanting information on how other

communities are implementing adaptation actions !  Second most coded resource type was case studies or best

practices

!  Support for the early phases of adaptation action appears strong: not a significant barrier to action

HIGHLIGHTS (1)

PART C: WORKSHOP PRIORITIES

! Peer to peer networking ! Communication, collaboration, and

community building ! Adaptation infrastructure ! Economic analysis ! Finance ! Centralized tools and mechanisms

Thank  You!  

Missy  Stults  Researcher  and  Doctoral  Fellow    

University  of  Michigan  Missy.stults@gmail.com    

Funding  generously  provided  by  the  NaDonal  Science  FoundaDon  Graduate  Research  Fellowship  program