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ConveningtheConversationaboutSustainability&Resilience:fiveintroductoryreferences

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ConveningtheConversationaboutSustainability&Resilience:fiveintroductoryreferencesABriefingPaperpreparedfor“EducationandActionforSecureEnergy”(EASE)MelissaEverett,Ph.D.,ProgramManager,ConnecticutCleanWaterFundDonaldWatson,EarthRisedesignEarthrise001@SBCgloabl.netThisbriefingpapercitesfivereferences(downloadableatnocost)thatdescribecommunity-basedinitiativestoaddressclimateandenergysustainabilityandresilience,emphasizingthefirststepof“howtoconveneaconversation.”Reference01AbtAssociates/Kresge(2016)summarizes17casestudiesandadigestofover40“thoughtleader”interviews.Highlight“NOTES”arelistedinthisworkingpaperthatoffertipsonengagingacommunitydiscussion.Reference02OrtonFamilyFoundation(2015)isa“grass-roots”approachtocommunitydialogueswithresourcesthatguidelow-keyandvolunteerinitiatives.Reference03Post-CarbonInstitute(2015)describesgeneralizedprinciplesofcommunityengagementaddressingenergy,sustainability,andclimatevulnerabilities.Reference04RockyMountainLandUseInstitute(2016)isanon-goingprojecttoprovidezoningcodeguidelinesforcodesandordinancesrelatedtorenewableenergyandsecurity.Reference05SustainableJerseywebsiteprovidesinformationaboutcommunityinitiativesandactions,supportedbySustainableJersey’sCertificationprogram.[01] AbtAssociates/Kresge(2016)

ClimateAdaptation:TheStateofPracticeinUS.CommunitiesNov.2016(260pp.)NOTESFROMClimateAdaptation:TheStateofPracticeinUS.Communities1-HOWTOENGAGEACOMMUNITYDISCUSSION2-MESSAGING3-FACTORSTHATCREATECONTEXTFORCOMMUNITYENGAGEMENT4-EFFECTIVEACTIONS5-BARRIERS

[02] OrtonFamilyFoundation(2015)

CommunityHeart&SoulGuide2ndEdition.[03] Post-CarbonInstitute(2015)

SixFoundationsforBuildingCommunityResilience[04] RockyMountainLandUseInstitute(2016) SustainableCommunityDevelopmentCodeAcodeforthe21stcentury[05] SustainableJersey(2017)

SustainabilityInstitute,CollegeofNewJerseyThesereferencesarerepresentativeofresourcesavailableontopicsofenergy,sustainability,resilience,andclimateaction.Seewww.theOARSlist.comforanupdatedindex.


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[01]AbtAssociates/Kresge(2016)ClimateAdaptation:TheStateofPracticeinUS.CommunitiesNov.2016(260pp.)Cambridge:AbtAssociatesURL:kresge.org/sites/default/files/library/climate-adaptation.Casestudies,practices,lessonslearned,mechanismsforcoordinatingadaptationactionplans.Community-BasedChampionsofAdaptationActionandAdaptationProfessionalsShouldUseVulnerabilityReductionasaKeyBaselinetoAssessandFacilitateProgressinAdaptation(p.45)ActivityStreams(p.242)1UnderstandCommunity-BasedAdaptationState-of-thePractice2DevelopanAnalyticalFramework3ObtainExternalExpertGuidance4ConductCaseStudies5CompareCaseStudies6ShareProjectFindings


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NOTESFROMClimateAdaptation:TheStateofPracticeinUS.CommunitiesNov.2016(basedoninterviewswithnationalthoughtleaders)

SOURCE:AppendixE:SummaryofInsightsfromThought-LeaderInterviews(pp.251-254)

1-HOWTOENGAGEACOMMUNITYDISCUSSIONSeveraloftheinterviewquestionsfocusedonissuessurroundingcommunityengagement,includingwhomtoengage,howtoengagethem,andwhatmessagestouse.Below,weoutlinesomeofthekeycommunityengagementthemesthatemerged.WhomtoEngageIntervieweesfocusedontwodominantmessagesaboutwhomtoengage:thatthemessengermatters,andthattheengagementprocessshouldtargetthecommunity’sneeds.Informationaboutclimatechangeadaptationneedstocomefromatrustedsource.Severalthoughtleaderssaidthatcommunityengagementshouldbebroadandinclusive,engagingallinterestedcommunitymembersandstakeholdergroupsearlyonandthroughouttheadaptationprocess.Othersfeltitwasmoreimportanttofocusonengagingkeyconstituencies,suchasgovernmentagenciesorkeycommunitygroups. Leadingwitha“climatechange”messageisnotnecessary.Youcanoftenaddresstheissueofclimatechangeadaptationfromastartingpointthatthecommunityfeelsismorerelevant.Workincrementally.Insomecommunities,itmakessensetostartsmallandgainsupportalongtheway.Communityengagementiscomplex.Communityengagementcanbemorecomplexandtimeconsumingthancommunitiesrealize.Communitiesshouldbesuretohaveaneffectivecommunicationsstrategyinplace.Takeadvantageofopportunities.Promotinganadaptationactionimmediatelyafterasevere


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eventisanexampleoftakingadvantageofacommunityengagementopportunity.Takeawhole-communityapproach.Adaptationshouldbenotbeconsideredinavacuum.Developacomprehensiveapproachthataddressescurrentissuesinadditiontoclimatechange.Peeraction.Seeingwhatothercommunitiesaredoing,withgoodresults,canbeanimportantmotivatortostartorcontinuetheadaptationprocess.Prepareadvancedmessaging.Communitiesneedtohavetheirmessagingpreparedinadvanceofextremeevents.Thereisanarrowwindowtoactfollowinganevent.Understand“wherethecommunityis”andmeetthemthere.Thismaymeanfocusingonanissueseeminglydistantfromclimateadaptation—suchasbuildingarobusteconomyorpreservinglocalenvironmentalresources—andthenshiftingtowardadaptationandvulnerabilityreduction.2-MESSAGINGThoughtleadersemphasizedthatthemessageisimportant:makeclimatechangeadaptationrelevantatthecommunitylevel.Appealtowhatmatterstopeopleandwhataffectsthemeveryday.Ifthecommunitybelievesthatclimatechangeimpactswilloccur50or100yearsfromnow,itwillbedifficulttomovetheadaptationprocessforward.•Usepositivemessages.Amessageaboutclimatechangevulnerabilitiesmaynoteffectivelymotivateadaptation.•Emphasizeeconomicresilience.Framingadaptationintermsofavoidedfinancialcostsinthefuture,orconductingacost-benefitanalysiscanbeaneffectivecommunicationtool.•Understandwhatinformationiscurrentlybeingused.Informationanddatacanbetailoredtomeettheneedsoflocalengineersormanagers.Localplannersandengineersarealreadyusingclimatedatatomakedecisions.•Useexistinginformation.Sometimesadaptationprofessionalscomplainthatcommunitiesdonothavesufficientclimatedata.Inreality,sufficientdataexist,butweneedtodoabetterjobtargetingclimateinformationtocommunityinformationneeds.•Improveknowledgeofavailableresources.Someintervieweessaidthatexistingtoolsandresourcesaresufficient,butcommunitiesneedtoknowwheretolook.•Focusonstrategiesthathavemultiplebenefits.Communitiesaremorelikelytosupportstrategiesthatproducemultiplecommunitybenefits.MiscellaneousOtherkeythoughtsandfeedbackweheardfromtheintervieweesincluded:•Communitiesmaynotactuallyusethetoolsdevelopedbygovernmentsandacademics.•Citizenstendnottoreadreportsandmaybemoreresponsivetoothermediaforcommunication.3-FACTORSTHATCREATECONTEXTFORCOMMUNITYENGAGEMENTthatpromptedcommunitiestobeginanadaptationprocessorreducetheirvulnerabilities,inorderoffrequencyofmention:Extremeevents.Recentlargeeventsorrecurringeventswerethemostfrequentlycitedmotivatingfactorforcommunitiestobeginadaptation.Strongleadership.Leadershipfromachampion,suchasanelectedofficial,anagencystaffmember,orotheractivelyengagedcommunitymember,canbecriticaltoraisingawarenessandmotivatingacommunitytowardsadaptationplanningandaction.


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Peeraction.Seeingwhatothercommunitiesaredoingcanhelpstarttheadaptationprocess.Itcanalsobuildhealthycompetitionamongcommunitiestobealeaderinclimateadaptation.Insurance.Communitiesmayundertakeadaptationactivitiestoregaininsuranceforhomesandbusinessesafteranextremeeventortobenefitfromamorefavorableinsurancerate.Regulatorydrivers.Governmentrequirements,mandates,orenforcementactionscanhelpraiseawarenessaboutclimatechangeandmotivatecommunitiestoadapt.Funding.Communitiesmaybegintheadaptationprocessbecausefundingisavailablefromlocal,state,orfederalgovernments;foundations;ornonprofitorganizations.Mitigationorsustainabilityefforts.Anumberofthoughtleadersindicatedthatthereisashiftinfocusfromgreenhousegasmitigationtoadaptation.Inaddition,somesaidthatsustainabilityandmitigationplansareincreasinglyincorporatingadaptationandclimaterisks.4-EFFECTIVEACTIONSHowcommunitiesidentify,select,andimplementadaptationactionstoreduceclimatevulnerability: Useexistingprocesses,regulations,andmechanismstoimplementadaptationactions.Communitiescanintegrateadaptationactionsintoexistingprocesses,regulations,andmechanisms.Forinstance,hazardplanscanincludeelementsofclimateadaptationbyplanningforfutureeventsandhazards.Focusonactionsthathavemultiplebenefits.Communitiesaremorewillingtoundertakeactionsthathavemultiplebenefits.Forexample,emergencyorhazardmitigationplanningcanincludeplanningforawiderangeofhazardsoveraspecifictimehorizon.Smallactions.Engagecommunitymembers“wheretheyare”ontheissuesthatmattertothemandinawaythatresonateswiththeirpriorities.Forexample,communitiescouldbeengagedonasmallactionthatreducesimpactstheyarecurrentlyexperiencing,suchasasmallactiontodevelopanerosioncontrolproject.Tools.Toolscanhelpcommunitiesmovebeyondplanning.Engagededicatedtechnicalstaff.Dedicatedtechnicalstaffcanhelptousheradaptationthroughtoitscompletion.Allowforanecessarytimelagbetweenplanningandimplementation.Communitiesdonotgostraightfromplanningtoimplementation;thereisatimelag.Theymayneedtowaitforanupdatetoanotherplan,forexample.Lackofaction.SeveralthoughtleadersindicatedthatfewexamplesofadaptationactionexistintheUnitedStates.5-BARRIERSBarriersthatcommunitiesfaceinreducingtheirvulnerabilitiesandhowcommunitieshaveovercomethesebarriersonthepathtoadaptation,inorderoffrequencyofmention:Lackoffunding.Manyintervieweessaidthatcommunitieslackthefundingtodevelopadaptationplansorimplementadaptationactions.Inparticular,highpricetagsforadaptationoradaptationplanningcanscarepeopleaway,especiallywhenthecommunityhaslimitedfundsformeetingmanyimportantcommunitypurposes.Lackofknowledgeandinformation.Uncertainty,includinglackofgeneralandlocalizedclimatedataanduncertaintyaboutclimateprojectionsorclimateimpacts,caninhibitcommunitiesorcommunityleadersfromtakingaction.Politicsorthepoliticalenvironment.Thesecanbeabarriertoadaptation.Forexample,a


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shortelectioncyclecanlimitthepoliticalwilltotacklelong-termadaptationissues.Theideaofclimatechangecanitselfbeahot-buttonissuethatdetractsfromthegoalofreducingvulnerability.Lackofresources,staff,andcapacity.Insomecases,communitiesmaynothavestaffwiththenecessaryknowledgetoconductvulnerabilityassessments,todevelopadaptationplans,orimplementadaptationplans.Lackofotherresourcescanalsoposeproblems.• Lackofauthority.Governmentsmusthavesufficientauthoritytoimplementadaptations.

Coordinatingmultiplecommunitieswithoutsuchauthoritycanbeachallenge.• Legalbarriers.Adaptationpoliciesmustbeincompliancewithfederalandstatelawand

regulations.• Morepressingday-to-dayneeds.Communitieshaveshort-termprioritiesthatoftentake

precedenceoveradaptation.• Lostpropertytaxrevenue.Limitingdevelopment,suchasalongvaluablecoastalareas,can

resultinlostpropertytaxrevenue.• Unrealisticoptimism,amnesiaaboutpastevents,ordenial.Insomecases,communities

feelasenseofoptimismthattheywillfacefewchallengesfromclimatechange.Inothercases,communitiesmayfeelthattheywillnotexperienceextremeeventsagain.

• Sentimentality.Communitiesmayresistchangebecausetheyfeeltheymightlosetheirhistoryoruniquecharacteristics.

• Lackofunderstandingofadaptationoptions.Manycommunitiesdonotknowwhattheadaptationoptionsare;theyneedhelpunderstandingtheoptionsandselectingtherightone.

• Organizational,cultural,orinstitutionalinertia.Oneofthechallengesforadaptation,inparticular,isforgovernmententitiestoworkacrossagencies.Somecommunitieslackahistoryofcollaborationamongdepartmentsoragencies.

• Misunderstandingofdata.Manycommunitiesfeeltheyneedsite-specificdatatomakedecisionsormoveforward.However,climatemodelsarenotyetsophisticatedenoughtoprovidetheinformationcommunitiesthinktheyneed.

• Fear.Ifnotcommunicatedproperly,adaptationcanleadtoperceptionsthatthingsarebeing“takenaway”fromindividualsorthecommunity.

• Lackofurgency.Climatechangemightfeellikeaproblemthatisfarinthefuture.Thiscanmakeadaptationplanningandimplementationalowpriorityinsomecommunities.


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[02]OrtonFamilyFoundation(2015).CommunityHeart&SoulGuidebyWhatMattersMost2ndEdition.ShelburneVT:OrtonFamilyFoundation(70pp.)URL:www.orton.org/heart-soul

“CommunityHeart&Soulbeginswithapartnershipbetweenlocalgovernmentandresidentsinaprocessthatcastsawidenetofengagementthatworkstoidentifyandarticulatewhatmattersmost—emotionally—toresidents”LymanOrtonPreface

Phase1LaytheGroundwork

Step1:GetOrganizedStep2:CreateaWorkPlanStep3:SpreadtheWord

Phase2ExploreYourCommunityStep4:GatherandShareStoriesStep5:IdentifyWhatmattersMost

Phase3MakeDecisions Step6:DevelopOptions Step7:MakeChoices Step8:FormalizeDecisionsPhase4TakeAction Step9:MobilizeResources Step10:FollowThrough Step11:CultivateHearth&Soul


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[02]Post-CarbonInstitute(2015).SixFoundationsforBuildingCommunityResilienceSantaRosaCA:PostCarbonInstitute.[40p.)URL:www.postcarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Six-Foundation...Effortstobuildcommunityresilienceoftenfocusongrowingthecapacityto“bounceback”fromdisruptions,likethosecausedbyclimatechange.Butclimatechangeisnottheonlycrisisweface,norispreparingfordisruptiontheonlywaytobuildresilience.Trulyrobustcommunityresilienceshoulddomore.Itshouldengageandbenefitallcommunitymembers,andconsiderallthechallengesthecommunityfaces—fromrisingsealevelstoalackoflivingwagejobs.Anditshouldbegroundedinresiliencescience,whichtellsushowcomplexsystems—likehumancommunities—canadaptandpersistthroughchangingcircumstances.SixFoundationsforBuildingCommunityResiliencedescribeshowcommunitiescanapproachthefullscopeofthe21stcentury’schallengesequitablyandsustainably.Althoughmanyresilienceframeworksandtoolsforbuildingcommunityresiliencearenowavailable,nosingleapproachwilllikelyworkforallcommunitiesandtheirvariedsocialandeconomiccontexts.Wehaveidentifiedsixfoundationsthatsupportbuildingcommunityresilience,ratherthanachievingresilienceasafixedgoal,soastoemphasizeresiliencebuildingasanongoingprocess.Thesixfoundationsare:1.People.Thepowertoenvisionthefutureofthecommunityandbuilditsresilienceresideswithcommunitymembers.2.Systemsthinking.Systemsthinkingisessentialforunderstandingthecomplex,interrelatedcrisesnowunfoldingandwhattheymeanforoursimilarlycomplexcommunities.3.Adaptability.Acommunitythatadaptstochangeisresilient.Butbecausecommunitiesandthechallengeswefacearedynamic,adaptationisanongoingprocess.4.Transformability.Somechallengesaresobigthatit’snotpossibleforthecommunitytosimplyadapt;fundamental,transformativechangesmaybenecessary.5.Sustainability.Communityresilienceisnotsustainableifitservesonlyus,andonlynow;itneedstoworkforothercommunities,futuregenerations,andtheecosystemsonwhichwedepend.6.Courage.Asindividualsandasacommunity,weneedcouragetoconfrontchallengingissuesandtakeresponsibilityforourcollectivefuture.


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[03]RockyMountainLandUseInstitute(2016)SustainableCommunityDevelopmentCodeAcodeforthe21stcentury.BetaVersion2.0.Denver:Univ.ofColoradoDenverCollegeofArchitectureandPlanning(40pp.)URL:www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/ArchitecturePlanning/AboutCAP/ResearchCenters/C

CSU/Sustainable_Community_Development_Code_FrameworkRockyMountainLandUseInstituteSustainableCommunityDevelopmentCodehasthegoalofmakingthegoalsofsustainabledevelopmentmoreeasilyappliedtozoningandcodepractices.Itdefinesarangeofmeasuresandgoals,fromentry-level(similartoUSGBCLEED)withupperrangemoredemandingthanLEED-ND.TheBeta1.1versionisaDRAFT,withsomesectionselldeveloped,otherstobecompleted.Theoverallframeworkishelpfulasasummaryofbestpracticesandsuggestions,includingreferenceforlocalcodeframeworksandadoptions.Specialtopicsincludeopenspacetofulfillhealthcriteria,wildfire,solarandwindenergysystemapplications.Thecodeprovidesprovisionsforregulationsthataddresseachofthefollowingtopics:

EnergyHealthyNeighborhoods,Housing,FoodSystemsEnvironmentalHealthandNaturalresourcesMobilityNaturalHazardsUrbanForm/CommunityCharacter

Thebasicorganizationandapproachtoeachtopicistoexaminerelevantobstacles,incentives,andregulations.TheCodeidentifiesobstaclestoachievingstatedgoalsthatmightbefoundinalocalzoningcode(e.g.,bansonsolarpanelsasaccessoryuses).Itsuggestsincentivesthatmightbecreatedtoachieveagoal(e.g.,increaseddensityinamulti-familydevelopmentthatinstallsgreenroofs).Athirdfocusisupononregulationsthatmightbeadoptedtoensureprogressinaparticulararea(e.g.,mandatorywater-conservinglandscapestandards)


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[04]SustainableJersey(2017)website(extensive).EwingNJ:SustainabilityInstituteCollegeofNewJerseyURL:www.sustainablejersey.comSustainableJerseyprovidestools,trainingandfinancialincentivestosupportcommunitiesastheypursuesustainabilityprograms,bysupportingcommunityeffortstoreducewaste,cutgreenhousegasemissions,andimprovetheenvironmentalequity.SustainableJerseyMasterActionTrackingSpreadsheet(representativeactions)Arts&CreativeCultureCommunityPartnership&OutreachCreateGreenTeam 10 MandatoryDiversity&EquityDiversityonBoardsandCommissions 10 PriorityEmergencyManagementandResiliencyClimateAdaptation:FloodingRisk 20 PriorityEmergencyCommunicationsPlanning 15 MICROGRIDVulnerablePopulationsIdentificationEmergencies 10 MICROGRIDEnergyEfficiencyEnergyTrackingandManagement 10-20 PriorityImplementEnergyEfficiencyMeasures 5-30 PriorityFoodGreenDesignHealth&WellnessInnovation&DemonstrationProjectLandUse&TransportationSustainableLandUsePledge 10 PriorityLocalEconomiesGreenBusinessRecognitionProgram 10-20 PriorityNaturalResourcesNaturalResourceInventory 20 PriorityOperations&MaintenancePublicInformation&EngagementSustainabilityPlanningMunicipalCarbonFootprint 10 PriorityWasteManagementPrescriptionDrugSafetyandDisposal 10 Priority


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MunicipalResilienceCycleSOURCE:http://www.njresiliency.com/about/resilience-cycle/

Municipalresilienceistheabilityofacommunitytoadaptandthriveinthefaceofextremeeventsandstresses.Municipalresilienceisachievedbyanticipatingrisk,planningtolimitimpacts,andimplementingadaptationstrategiesthatintegrateallcommunitysystems–civic,environmental,socialandeconomic–tosupportrecoveryandgrowth.TheMunicipalResilienceCyclepresentsasummarysnapshotoftheNetwork’scurrentunderstandingoftheprocesslocalgovernmentsmustundertaketobuildlong-termcommunity-scaleresilience.


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[05]VNRC(2000,2011).ResilienceCommunitiesScorecard:AToolforAssessingYourCommunityMontpelier:VermontNaturalResourcesCouncil.(49pp.)URL:vnrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Whole-Scorecard-FINALThisScorecardisachecklistofquestionstohelpVermontcommunitiesassesstheirresilienceinkeyareasincludinglanduse,transportation,energy,andhealthycommunitydesign,to:PromotethevitalityofdowntownsandvillagesAddressrisingenergycostsBuildcommunityresilienceReducetransportationcostsImprovepublicheathAdapttoclimatechange1. Promotevibrantcommunitiesbydirectingbusinessandhousingdevelopmenttoward

compact,mixed-usetowncenters,atascaleofgrowththatfitsthecommunityandregion.

2. Provideforandencouragetransportationoptionsthatsupportcommunitylandusegoals,reduceenergyconsumptionandcutcarbonemissions

3. Protecttheenvironmentandnaturalresources.4. Preservehistoricfeaturesandpublicaccesstoopenspaces.5. Promotephysicalactivityandaccesstohealthy,localfood.6. Strengthenandprotectfarmandforestenterprises,minimizingconflictsbetweenthem

andotherdevelopment.7. Encouragethecreationandrenovationofhousingtomeetthefulldiversityoflocaland

regionalneeds.8. Supportadiversityofbusinessesinthecommunity’stowncenters.9. Reduceenergyuseandcarbonemissionsthroughenergyplanning.10. Improvecommunityresilienceandreduceenergycostsbypromotingenergyefficiency

andconservation.11.Promoterenewableenergydevelopmentthatworksinharmonywithcommunitygoals

forlanduse.12. Developandimplementgoalsandprojectsbyworkingwithcommunitygroups,building

coalitions,engagingthepublic,andconsideringtheregionalcontext

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