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Efforts to raise awareness about climate change issues and develop local, regional, and ecosystem-wide preparation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on humans and biodiversity.
RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate scientists tell us that even if emissions were halted tomorrow, the world's climate would not stabilize for decades. Climate Change is here now and for the foreseeable future. At the National Center we are helping communities develop sound preparation and mitigation strategies. The time to respond is now.
PREPARATION
Climate change preparation is in its infancy; a variety of approaches are being explored. Because many climate change risks are shouldered by families and communities, the development of local and regional preparation strategies is urgent.
The National Center is:
- ORGANIZING CLIMATE FUTURES FORUMS - focused on pilot watersheds in Oregon and California as part of a collaborative effort with the Climate Leadership Initiative
and the Pacific Northwest Research Station to help communities plan for climate change
- DEVELOPING NEW CONSERVATION METHODS - aimed at identifying strategies to help land and wildlife managers adapt current conservation policies to climate change stresses and maintain populations of native and endemic species, and meet conservation objectives
- IDENTIFYING AREAS OF CLIMATE STABILITY FOR CONSERVATION FOCUS - working to identify "microrefugia" that will remain relatively stable in a climate changed future, and develop management policies for such areas to preserve species and genetic diversity
MITIGATION
Forest management can contribute to the accumulation of atmospheric greenhouse gases or help prevent climate change. The difference is whether we adopt policies that capitalize on the ability of forests to sequester additional carbon.
Given the enormous potential impact of climate change, we are working to shift the focus of federal forest land management toward practices that promote carbon sequestration.
Such activities can be carried out immediately, present relatively cost-effective emission reduction opportunities, and generate ecological and social co-benefits.
HOW CAN WE RESPOND?
Given projections for the future, prudent risk management dictates that society take action now. There are three approaches for dealing with climate change risks: reduce emissions, prepare for the change, and wait to suffer (Smith 2008).
Total Response = Mitigation + Preparation + Suffering
So far we have done nothing, delaying emission reduction so long that climate change impacts no longer can be avoided entirely. Out choices are clear:
(1) mitigate - take aggressive action to curtail emissions and increase CO2 sequestration to minimize the rate and extent of climate change
(2) prepare (also referred to as "adaptation") – assertively look for opportunities to build resiliency and resistance into ecological systems and human communities in anticipation of climate change risks
(3) suffer: continue doing nothing and preside over wholesale habitat loss, extinction of species, and human suffering
Our options for responding to climate change are much like those available for dealing with an impending car crash. The brakes mitigate or slow down the speed of change, the air bags help soften the blow or prepare for the climate impact. Unfortunately, as in a bad car crash, what the brakes and airbags don't take care of is left for the vehicle and its occupants to suffer.
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Read the climate change preparation resources of governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
Are you concerned about preparing for climate change? DONATE to our organization or SIGN UP to receive email updates about our climate change preparation efforts.
