Policy MakingWhat can you do?

Get Involved• Write a letter• Federal (President and Vice President, Senators,

Representatives)• State (Governors and Legislators)• Local (Mayor, city councils)

• Start in your community• You don’t have to be an expert• Make it fun• S.L.A.P. pole

Sea Level Awareness Project (S.L.A.P)

• SLAP Video

• Created by Kids Vs. Global Warming

• Started in California• Goals

• Empower youth• Create awareness• Alert citizens• Educate the public

Preparations Already Being Made• Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Report• Climate Action Plan

• Municipal Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise: City of Satellite Beach, Florida

• City of Punta Gorda Adaptation Plan

Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact

• Regional Climate Action Plan• Collaborative effort of Palm Beach,

Broward, Miami- Dade and Monroe counties

• Accomplishes:• Consistent methods for

assessing SLR• Calls for action• Presents recommendations• Protects high quality of life

• We can’t continue doing what we have done in the past, it is time to go into new frontiers which integrate policy into action in ways that have never been tried before

• Also builds on what other communities have tried

• 110 action items

Municipal Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise: City of Satellite Beach, Florida

• This document outlines how the City of Satellite Beach assessed it’s vulnerability to SLR.

• And initiates the steps needed to plan for changes on the built and natural environments.

• Outlines existing hazards (coastal erosion, storm surges, and sea level rise).• Project team of local stakeholders who meet regularly during project.• Public forums to provide information about project and SLR.• Sea level rise subcommittee of the City’s Comprehensive Planning Advisory Board was

created.• Ongoing media campaign.• Developed 3D map of city, identified critical infrastructure and assets (fire stations,

schools, parks, energy), and quantification of the extent of sea level rise.

Results• The City will lose 5% of

landscape during the 1st 2 feet of SLR, the subsequent 2 feet will cause an additional 20% of submergence.

• The city has 40 years to create and use an adaptive management plan.

Adaptive Management• Cities can respond to SLR by protection, retreat, or

accommodation.• Satellite beach is on a barrier island made of porous

sand that will allow penetration of seawater beneath the ground making seawalls ineffective

• Retreat is not possible in this city because only 2% of their city is undeveloped

• Accommodation through adaptive management• Develop a timeline describing future actions• Implement no-regret or low-regret policies• Tipping points built into plan

• As uncertainty diminishes, more robust plans and measures can be implemented

City of Punta Gorda Adaptation Plan• Explains, in great detail, the vulnerability and

adaptations of 8 major areas of climate change• Fish and Wildlife Habitat Degradation• Inadequate Water Supply• Flooding• Unchecked or Unmanaged Growth• Water Quality Degradation • Education and Economy and Lack of Funds • Fire• Availability of Insurance

• 246 climate change adaptations identified

Reactions to Effects of Climate Change

Four basic strategies to reduce vulnerability and benefit from impact.• Avoidance: Stop building infrastructure in a location that

will be impacted• Mitigation: Reduce climate stresses (reduce greenhouse

gas emissions, invest in renewable energy)• Minimize: Reduce human disturbances and destruction of

ecosystems, conserve water, and reduce farm runoff• Adaptation: Learning-oriented approach with monitoring,

review, and adjustment• Punta Gorda’s progressive plan will allow the city

to be more resilient to effects of climate change.

What Not to Do

Banning Reality

Summary• 1) Some communities are addressing the threats

of climate change through proactive policies• 2) Other communities are ignoring these threats• 3) You can make a difference by letting your

legislators know that you care about climate change and by doing what you can to lesson your carbon footprint