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Community-based adaptation in the United States: A critical evaluation
Jason VogelJuly 23, 2015
Abt Associates | pg 2
What is the project? Funded by the Kresge Foundation
Sign post for the state-of-the-field
Focused on action at the community level
Empirically grounded
Abt Associates | pg 3
The project purpose To catalyze community-based adaptation action in
the United States– Normative standpoint– Empirical focus
Ask the big picture questions
– What motivates communities to take action?
– How do communities get funding for their actions?
– What role does leadership play?
– What strategies are used?
Abt Associates | pg 4
CC adaptation versus hazard mitigation
Lots of interest in CC adaptation
– Plans on shelves?
Lots of experience in natural hazards mitigation
– Thinking about the future?
Compare the two, common denominator of actions to reduce vulnerability to climate impacts
Abt Associates | pg 5
Diversity of communities included
Abt Associates | pg 6
Example case studies Dune building and beach nourishment in Avalon, NJ
Desalinization plant in El Paso, TX
Relocation from floodplains in Tulsa, OK
Climate Change in comprehensive planning in Miami-Dade County, FL
Climate change planning process: cool roofs and shade trees in Chula Vista, CA
Integrating climate change into building codes in Boston, MA
Abt Associates | pg 7
IV. Case studies: Fort Collins, CO
7
• Impact: Drought• Action: Water Supply
Shortage Response Plan and conservation programs
• Essential elements - Severe drought- Economic concerns - Insufficient water storage - Leveraging community support
Sources: New Belgium 2015; Fort Collins Utilities 2015
Abt Associates | pg 8
IV. Case studies: Tulsa, OK• Impact: Inland flooding• Action: Acquisition of
repeatedly flooded properties• Essential elements
- History of flooding- Community mobilizes- Tulsa creates regulatory flood
maps to target acquisition- Tulsa markets acquisition
program8
1984 Memorial Day Flood Tulsa World, 1984
Abt Associates | pg 9
IV. Case studies: Norfolk, VA• Impact: Recurrent tidal flooding
• Action: Flood and coastal zone ordinance changes
• Essential elements – Increased flood insurance claims → Department of
City Planning decides to take action– Department of City Planning drafts proposed
ordinance changes– Planning Commission considers climate change– Stakeholder feedback and ordinance revisions– City Council passes a final ordinance 9
Abt Associates | pg 10
IV. Case studies: Seattle, WA
10
Strategic Business Planning
Organization-wide agenda setting
and prioritizationDepartment-Wide
PlanningLong-term planning for water
supply or drainage and wastewater
Capital ImprovementsAllocation of funxding for
implementationOperations and
MaintenanceEnsuring the day to day functioning of the water,
wastewater, drainage, and solid waste system
• Impact: Multiple
• Action: Climate change integrated into internal planning
• Essential elements - Increasing intensity & frequency of
extreme events increases awareness- Climate reports illuminate risks - Partnerships form to understand SPU’s
climate impacts- SPU creates Climate Resiliency Group- Climate change integrated all scales of
decision-making at SPU
SPU mainstreaming cc modelSource: Stults
Abt Associates | pg 11
IV. Case studies: Chula Vista, CA
• Impact: Urban heat island effect
• Action: Cool roofs ordinance & shade trees policy
• Essential elements
- History of climate hazards
- Focus 2050 Report
- Early action on mitigation
- Develops plans for ordinance & policy
11
Abt Associates | pg 12
What empowers communities to take action despite uncertainty?
Tulsa: citizen activists, government staff, political winds
Grand Rapids and Flagstaff: vote of the citizens
Boston and Miami-Dade: elected leadership
Avalon and Boston: experience extreme events
Norfolk: climate change information
Grand Rapids and Mobile County: Other community issues
Abt Associates | pg 13
What kind of engagement can help further climate change adaptation?
Boston and Seattle: Staff engagement and capacity building
Grand rapids and Flagstaff: vote of the citizens
Tulsa and SW Crown: citizen/grass-roots effort
El Paso: community leaders lobby elected officials
Chula Vista: citizen engagement to support staff w/ council
Mobile County: provide local jobs and volunteerism
Abt Associates | pg 14
Cross case findings Multitude of pathways to achieve concrete reductions in
vulnerability
– Modest modifications to existing regulations (Norfolk)
– Transformational change (Tulsa)
– Capacity Building (Seattle)
Community engagement essential, but varies
– Diversity of interested and affected parties (Chula Vista)
– Political consensus (Grand Rapids)
– Staff-focused (Seattle)
Motivation
– Climate change (Seattle, Chula Vista)
– Extreme events (Tulsa, Fort Collins)
