ADAPTATION – MITIGATION SYNERGIES:

Connecting the Dots…

Shana Udvardy Climate Adaptation Policy Analyst

Resilience: prepare, plan, absorb, recover, adapt to actual or potential adverse events

Climate Change Mitigation: Reducing GHG emissions

Synergies: the mitigation – adaptation combined effect is greater than the sum of the effects if

implemented separately.

Climate Change Adaptation: informed by future projections

Hurricane Sandy, October 28, 2012 NASA Earth Observatory

• What we build -- where and how -- makes a difference.

• Ask the Climate Question:

• How will infrastructure, land use and policy decisions affect:

GHG emissions?

Resilience to climate change impacts?

• “PIE” framework - People, Infrastructure (Built & Natural) and Economy – to align integrated climate planning with policy and community priorities. 2

ASK THE CLIMATE QUESTION…

Economy

People

MITIGATE & ADAPT

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“It’s like breathing and eating” –

we must reduce GHGs and adapt! ~ Ron Sims

former King County Executive & HUD Deputy Secretary

“Mitigation is part of our preparedness” ~ Lucile Sering

Secretary, Philippines Climate Change Commission

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ADAPTATION / MITIGATION SYNERGIES (Urban Focus)

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A CONTINUUM APPROACH

ADAPTATION

INTEGRATED

SOLUTIONS

MITIGATION

A M A M A + M

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CONSIDER SYNERGIES AT ALL SCALES

Many opportunities to Ask the Climate Question

(and a variety of solutions exist):

Siting Design Planning Policies Investments

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Green Infrastructure: Mitigate urban heat and

stormwater

Building Weatherization: Improve energy efficiency & storm

resilience

Micro Grids & Distributed Renewables: low-carbon, resilient power systems

Elevate Subway Grates: Protect Low-Carbon Transit from

Flooding

Water Efficiency: Reduce Pumping Energy Use & Prepare for

Declining Supplies

ADAPTATION / MITIGATION SYNERGIES: SOME EXAMPLES...

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CONNECTING THE DOTS: ASKING THE CLIMATE QUESTION

Mitigation Adaptation

Building Smart meters? Weatherized building?

Out of harms' way? Energy/water efficiency?

Community Renewable energy source? Retreat whole neighborhoods from Tsunami/flood prone areas?

City Transportation reduction goals? Flood plain ordinances in place? Building codes?

State Climate Action Plan? Climate Adaptation Plan?

Regional Regional Carbon Trading Program?

River basin management? Wildlife corridors?

National Legislation supports reneables? Legislation cuts carbon focused energy?

Funding supports hazard mitigation? Funding for climate modeling?

Global Benchmarks to reduce GHGs? Benchmarks and standards established on how to rebuild more resilient?

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ENERGY SECTOR: CHP SYSTEMS & RESILIENCE

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GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS – AFTER SANDY

Connecting the “A&M Dots” An Approach & Process…

Energy & Water efficiency included?

Setting new building codes?

Sustainable Green Building

A&M

A M

Connecting the “A&M Dots” An Approach & Process…

Sustainable Transportation

A&M

TOD?

M

A Resilient Culvert & Bridge Design?

Setting new building codes?

Sustainable Green Building

A&M

A M

Energy & Water efficiency included?

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Connecting the “A&M Dots” An Approach & Process…

Investing in Renewables?

Resilient Grid? A&M M

A

Resilient, sustainable

energy

Setting new building codes?

Sustainable Green Building

A&M

A M

Sustainable Transportation

A&M

TOD?

M

A Resilient Culvert & Bridge Design?

Energy & Water efficiency included?

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(1) Avoiding trade-offs—when

designing policies for mitigation or

adaptation

(2) Identifying synergies

(3) Enhancing response capacity

(4) Developing institutional links

between adaptation and mitigation

(5) Mainstreaming adaptation and

mitigation considerations into broader sustainable

development policies

CONNECTING THE DOTS (SWART & RAES, 2007)

CONCLUSION: TOWARD INTEGRATED CLIMATE STRATEGIES

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Ask both parts of the Climate Question: M A

and A M (2 sides of same climate coin)

Envision Present & Future Concurrently

Establish an “A&M” Approach & Process:

Connecting the “A&M dots” is not an end state, but it

is an approach & a process.

Connecting the “A&M dots”: policies, partnerships

(e.g. P3), funding, cross-sector planning, mapping

hazards/vulnerabilites & win-win practices.

“Follow the $”: assessing damages, cost-benefit

analysis: cost of doing nothing vs. assessing benefits of

adapting/mitigating; leverage multiple funding sources.

Consider synergies at multiple scales & sectors

(building, community, regional, etc)

Be strategic and opportunistic

THANK YOU

For more information,

please visit us at

www.ccap.org

Shana Udvardy Climate Adaptation Policy Analyst

sudvardy@ccap.org

Steve Winkelman Director, Transportation and Adaptation Programs

swinkelman@ccap.org