Loading...
2019_1-14_USDNResilience_BajaUrban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Climate Resilience in Smaller Communities Kristin Baja, USDN Climate Resilience Officer USDN Structure for Resilience •DEFINITION •OPPORTUNITIES MAINSTREAMING ACTION CONNECTIVITY (SCIENCE) METRICS & TRACKING •MIND-FRAME •PEER-LEARNING Definition of Resilience The ability of our community to anticipate, accommodate, and positively adapt to or thrive amidst changing climate conditions or hazard events and enhance quality of life, reliable systems, economic vitality, & conservation of resources for present & future generations. Resilience-Integration (Mainstreaming) •Integrate climate change into risk & vulnerability assessments •Mainstream climate and equity into existing planning documents (All Hazards Plans, Comprehensive Plans, etc.) and codesPlanning BudgetTraining•Mainstream climate and equity into budgeting processes and capital improvements processes •Integrate and use climate projections in developing and maintaining ‘Rainy Day’ funds •Prioritize climate and equity training opportunities for all municipal staff, stakeholders, leadership, and decision-makers •Develop new trainings and provide support to cities interested in training staff & stakeholders •Insurance, Reinsurance and Credit Rating Integration-Planning Documents Comprehensive Plans All Hazard Mitigation Plans Climate Action PlansSustainability Plans Transportation Plans Integrated Resource Plans All Hazard Mitigation Plans FEMA AHMPExisting Structure A.Planning Process B.Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment C.Mitigation Strategy D.Plan Review, Evaluation, & Implementation E.Plan Adoption •Include climate scientists/academics, equity experts, regional stakeholders & health experts on Advisory Committee •Have members of the public involved with the process from the very beginning as partners •Connect to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Climate Assessment (NCA) science and trend data •Utilize RISA’s, local universities, and local stakeholders for localized data •Integrate historic, current and predicted impacts for each individual hazard and factor climate change into probability calculations •Incorporate social, economic and environmental impacts •Develop proactive mitigation strategies that have viability for future impacts •Ensure Benefit-Cost Analysis is comprehensive (social, economic, environmental) •Utilize “No Regrets” actions as often as possible and crosswalk with other plans •Utilize trends and scenarios to demonstrate need for proactive approach •Demonstrate need for combined mitigation-adaptation-equity implementation •Identify strong metrics for success based on comprehensive benefit-cost •Connect formal adoption with community commitment to climate & resilience goals •Connect to regional initiatives, plans and projects Comprehensive Plans General Comp Plan Structure A.Vison B.Goals C.City Profile D.Economic E.Land Use F.Housing G.Environment H.Public Facilities I.Transportation •Include climate resilience and climate action as part of the vision •Ensure climate resilience and equity are integrated into the goals or are direct goals in themselves •Identify climate resilience in growth, employment, natural systems, housing, etc. •Connect to the climate impacts and trend lines •Identify historic, current and anticipated impacts from climate change •Transform transportation systems to be able to maintain function both during a disaster and before (effective evacuation support) •Benefit-Cost Assessment-connect to economic opportunities of a more resilient community •Land Use-not building in vulnerable areas and stronger restrictions •Citing of housing out of high risk areas, energy efficiency and renewable energy systems with battery backup •Prioritization of combined blue-green infrastructure, prioritization in urban heat islands, stormwater management and design criteria, and watershed planning Resilience-Scenarios Planning Budgeting-Capital Improvement Process Resilience Checklists for Capital •Developed a resilience checklist for projects requesting CIP funds •Investing capital dollars into more detailed climate plans for neighborhoods (Boston) Criteria for Resilience •All CIP projects are subject to Energy and Climate Performance Criteria (Miami-Dade County) •Impacts buildings and infrastructure and requires life- cycle cost analyses Resilience-Staff & Partner Trainings Resilience-Climate Trainings Trainings-Game of Floods, Heat, Extremes Plans: All Hazard Mitigation Plans Comprehensive Plans Codes: Building Code Language Floodplain Code Language Templates: Crosswalking resilience with other city plans Integrate: Short-term & Long-term Assessment Processes Ex. Facilities, Health, Vulnerability, Risk Additional Planning Documents Ex. CAP’s, Sustainability, Transportation Additional Code Language Ex. Land Use, Building, Zoning Landscape: Budget & Capital Improvement Processes:Identify opportunities to incorporate climate change Develop:Information sheets and provide support on insurance and credit rating changes and opportunities Budgeting Ex. CIP, Rainy Day Budgeting, Etc. Insurance Ex. Re-insurance Bonds, Credit Rating Bonds, Credit & Ratings Guidance for Investors, Risk Disclosure Trainings: Game of Floods Game of Heat & Extremes Climate 101, 201, 301 Identify and categorize continuing education opportunities for interested members Games Sector-Specific Training Continuing Education Training SHORT-TERM DELIVERABLES LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES BudgetDocumentsTraining Resilience-Support & Accelerate Action •Identifying and supporting projects and opportunities at the Mitigation-Adaptation-Equity Nexus •Develop a menu based on common Climate Action Plan and Climate Adaptation Plan strategiesAdapt-MitNexusInnovationPilot Projects•Support innovation and actions that have multiple benefits such as updating building codes for resilience and energy efficiency •Support innovative solutions such as biomimicry, blue-green-grey infrastructure & food resilience •Resilience Hubs business plan and community preparedness initiatives •Using socio-economic datasets and layers with climate change datasets to develop a prioritization system & map for implementation Mitigation-Resilience Interactions Mitigation Resilience Mal-Adaptation measures that increase resilience but increase GHG emissions Harm measures that increase vulnerability and increase GHG emissions Mal-Mitigation measures that decrease GHG emissions but have no impact on resilience Synergies measures that reduce risk and reduce GHG emissions Risk High Emissions Mitigation-Resilience Examples Mitigation Resilience Mal-Adaptation Harm Mal-Mitigation 1.Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases 2.Disproportionately burdening the most vulnerable 3.High opportunity costs 4.Reducing incentives to adapt 5.Path dependency Synergies Risk High Emissions 1.Desalinization 2.Ground pumping 3.Increase use of AC 4.Relocation of infrastructure 1.Reforestation with non-native or water-intensive species 2.Hydropower and wet-season retention of water in reservoirs for hot, dry season (increase flood risk) 3.More compact urban design (if done poorly, increase UHI) 1.Coastal wetland restoration 2.Reforestation with native and/or diverse tree species 3.Renewable energy with storage hybrid systems 4.Soil conservation VMT –Examples of Synergies Ex. King County Electric Bus Car Free Zones & Walkability Public Transportation Investment Ex. Brooklyn Battery Park •Reduce vehicle traffic & Improve human health •Protect structures from flooding & lower risk •Reduce urban heat with increased trees and vegetation •Capture, treat and slow release stormwater •Keep assets close to each other so people can walk and easily get the services they need Ex. Evacuation Bus Stops •Cite bus stops out of flood zones & protected from high winds •Electric buses for evacuation and as movable shelters on high heat days •Backup energy supply Buildings –Examples of Synergies Ex. Living Building in Sacramento Ex. Hospital General in Mexico City Green Building Standards •Improve building energy standards & ALSO integrate water reuse, flood protection, elevation of electrical & mechanical systems (insurance benefits) •Weatherization, cool roofs, & energy efficiency prioritized in areas with highest heat conditions (UHI’s) •INNOVATION -such as this smog eating building façade which neutralizes emissions and improves human health EVs and Water –Examples of Synergies Ex. EV charging stations elevated Ex. Blue-Green-Gray Infrastructure, Portland Electric Vehicles •Cite EV charging stations out of floodplains and flood-prone areas •Elevate EV charging stations near flood- prone areas •Treat the bottom of vehicles in areas where salt water inundation and ‘sunny day’ flooding is common to protect transition to electric fleet Water •Consider exploring energy generation in stormwater pipes using small turbines •Utilize Blue-Green infrastructure to reduce urban heat island and energy demand Energy –Examples of Synergies Ex. Solar with Battery backup in Sydney, Australia Private Example-Water cooling, embedded electricity networks, recycled water treatment plants and on-site renewable energy generation in one building Community Resilience Hubs •Enhance community resilience utilizing solar & storage projects that have community solar benefits •Increase community adaptive capacity –meet up spaces, space for events & activities •Increase tree canopy & green space •Not just for emergencies-these are YEAR- ROUND community facilities •Shift Power to members of the community Definition-Resilience Hub •Well-trusted locations utilized year- round •Build community and provide resources •Support community cohesiveness, before, during and after emergency events. •Consists of a building or set of buildings and outdoor space that provide shelter, backup electricity, and access to resources such as food, water, ice, charging stations, etc. •Resilience Hubs require governments and stakeholders to willingly shift power over to members of the community. Resilience Hub-Key Components Resilience Hubs-White Paper Download a copy here: https://www.usdn.org/uploads/cms/ documents/usdn_resiliencehubs_201 8.pdf Other Supporting Documents Resilience Hubs Technical Feasibility –Released Jan 20, 2019 Resilience Hubs Business Plan -Released Feb, 2019 Resilience Hubs Innovation Fund Project-start 2019 Resilience-Smaller Towns/Cities •Wind Power Cooperative includes 15 wind turbines •Prevents 15,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually & created local jobs and boost tourism •Create power for 50,000 people and are owned by the people who use themCosta RicaVietnamCar Free Zones•Biodigester (a large brick-lined storage container for animal waste) uses methane produced from the waste to power stoves, lamps and other appliances for local farmers. •Reduces household air pollution, deforestation and noxious manure odors. •Car Free cities have the multiple benefits of human health improvement, GHG reduction, congestion reduction •Less debris in the form of cars Resilience in Codes Jimi Jones •All new buildings must be “Solar PV Ready” and have EV charging infrastructure •Adopt building categories (example-Category I –IV) •Commercial Buildings must be 30% more efficient than IECC 2012 and must also be protected from extreme water, wind and heat Credit Ranking Agencies The growing effects of climate change, including climbing global temperatures, and rising sea levels, are forecast to have an increasing economic impact on US state and local issuers. This will be a growing negative credit factor for issuers without sufficient adaptation and mitigation strategies-Moody's Investors Service Implementation-Opportunities •As we are working on autonomous & electric vehicles, considering the resilience elements •Example-using buses in Phoenix, Arizona that are mobile emergency shelters for people who do not have access to air conditioning •Many local governments acquiring land to hold for floodplain management (no development) •Open space that can be utilized for solar and wind along with other large items like batteries (as long as they are in floodproofed structures) •As stormwater pipes are upgraded, important to look at capturing the energy generated by high flow events •Example-Mexico looking at potential of capturing energy from wavesFloodplainTransportation Energy/Water Proactive-Big Impact Items •Work with partners to create support structures and better decision making for relocation •Use guidance to better inform and support response and relocation efforts including funds for buyouts early in the process •Accommodating displacement and planned relocation –connect to energy efficient affordable housing (Lancaster, PA) •Develop guidelines for strengthening the capacity of displaced people to gain access to jobs and support •Calculating the avoidable health burden •How to begin preparing for increased vector-borne diseases •Working with medical professionals on climate-related medical issuesClimate MigrationBuy-outsHuman Health Adaptation-Mitigation-Equity Nexus Menu of common problems with opportunities to utilize solutions at the nexus of equity, GHG reduction, and resilience Identify partners to work with developing the menu and pilot opportunities Implement: Short-term & Long-term Adaptation-Mitigation-Equity Nexus Support Innovation:Biomimicry Food resilience; Art in resilience Blue-grey-green infrastructure Critical Issues: Climate migration & relocation Public health threats Existing building retrofits Resilience Hubs: •Guidance documents •Technical feasibility Assessment for solar and storage hybrid solutions •Business plan UHI project support at regional scale and connect to citizen science Resilience and Equity Projects: Resilience Hubs Green Infrastructure & UHI Mitigation Flood Mitigation: Green Stormwater Infrastructure-Retaining Walls, Sea Walls, etc. Case Studies: Support existing Clearinghouses Continuing Education: Support partner organizations developing criteriaProgram for Public Information (PPI): Provide support to members interested in PPI developmentStories: Collect and share stories about both local and regional resilience-building Communication with Stakeholders Engaging with Communities of Practice Disseminating Best Practices USDN Website: Upgrade and Maintain Develop Resilience Page SHORT-TERM DELIVERABLES LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES ProjectsOpportunitiesCommunication Connectivity & Collaboration •Identify opportunities for partners and researchers to provide stronger project support •Be aware of work that is being done by other stakeholder groups and cities (avoid duplication) •Online Tools and Clearinghouses-Georgetown Climate Center Adaptation Clearinghouse, Thriving Earth Exchange, CAKE •Actively support and participate in resilience and equity workshops and events and disseminate information to local governmentsResearchAdvisory Communities•Collect stories from stakeholders and value input •Create and utilize Community Ambassador Networks to help with engagement & outreach •Involve Youth Examples-Researchers and Practitioners Sustained Assessment •The UREx SRN focuses on integrating social, ecological, and technical systems to devise, analyze, and support decisions in the face of climatic uncertainty •Collaborate with nine cities to develop decision-support tools that confront resiliency challenges and put cities on a path to sustainable futures Urban Resilience to Extremes-URExSRN •A group of 35 experts developing a strategy for protecting the credibility of the National Climate Assessment processes and outputs •Expanding the role of civil society in all phases of the assessment including a restructuring of how science is provided to practitioners Research and Integrated Science Assessments •A five-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). •RISA’s support integrated, flexible processes for building adaptive capacity to climate variability and change in diverse settings in specific regions within the US Community Network Building •People trust their own friends, family and community leaders more than government or institutions. •Peer network that is trained and supported on response, recovery and preparedness •Train community members to identify neighbors in need and check-in on them or assist with response •Provide stipends that value their time and efforts Identify and track member needs: Develop a database with short-term, medium-term and long-term needs Identify partners and tools that can best support and meet members needs Connectivity: Short-term & Long-term Identify opportunities for greater connectivity and collaboration on projects with multiple stakeholder groups Connectivity mapping and identifying partnership opportunities Identify toolkits and frameworks most used Track opportunities to reduce duplication Curation of existing toolkits and tools intended to support local governments in taking action Reduce duplication of efforts from consultants, researchers, and government agencies that develop toolkits National Science and Research: Provide USDN members with information Represent local government perspectives Influence the priorities of state, regional, federal, & other scales of science production Serve as an aggregator of member needs and work to share those needs with potential partners Connect to National and Regional Science Networks Work with research community to develop science in ways local governments can utilize Ensure local government needs are integrated into national and regional production SHORT-TERM DELIVERABLES LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES Reduce DuplicationField DrivingConnect Science Resilience Tracts: Meet all members needs Ex. Water Plaza, Holland •Build out the amount and type of support for members in certain ‘tracts’ and identify partnership opportunities •Identify existing frameworks and methodologies to get a project started and mapped out. •Develop a video series for local governments who are ‘just getting started’ and/or ‘have no funding for resilience’ and identify ways they can get started. •Track one-on-one support requests and connect members to peer support opportunities Metrics and Tracking-Cost Benefit Work with partners on taking the successful cost-benefit calculators for each content area and combining them for more effective cost- benefit analyses Metrics-Tie to Existing Reporting Required ACEEE and Carbon Disclosure Project •STAR & LEED are both extensive frameworks that include metrics for success & provide resilience-integration opportunities •Opportunity to integrate resilience, sustainability and equity into other city departments and establish metrics that compare to other cities STAR Community Rating System & LEED •CDP runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts •ACEEE acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors NFIP Community Rating System •CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. •Extensive tracking process with opportunities to integrate resilience & climate Develop track’ for members in different phases of resilience work Develop a list of the top 5-10 resilience actions each member should do Plan & Metrics: Short-term & Long-term Resilience Tract Planning for USDN Members Explore existing CBA’s being utilized & identify elements of existing tools work well Explore potential partnerships for comprehensive CBA tool development Comprehensive Cost-Benefit Analysis Cost of Inaction Communication Tools SHORT-TERM DELIVERABLES LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES Cost-BenefitTiersDraft list of metrics for adaptation actions Draft list of metrics for adaptation- mitigation-equity nexus actions Identify measures of failure for most common climate resilience actions Develop effective metrics for Climate Resilience grounded in equity Connect to and enhance existing data- tracking platforms with preliminary metricsMetrics Inventory existing methodologies to create a short summary of the different ways to start Curate examples of scope of works for RFPs and work plans Identification of opportunities to work at the adaptation-mitigation-equity nexus Support in development of stand-alone resilience plansPlans Cassandra Syndrome Mind-frame and Mindset Cassandra syndrome occurs when valid warnings or concerns are dismissed or disbelieved Facts and Information So many sets of data along with actual natural hazard events increasing in impact and frequency Racism and Prejudice Prejudice attitudes impacting life and work along with discriminatory behavior Peer Learning: Mechanisms Web-based Peer Exchange Collective Action Peer Mentoring USDN Staff Support Innovation Fund Small Groups Conferences Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change Barbara Mikulski