The Southeast Coastal Climate Network (SECCN) is dedicated to

fostering regional leadership in mitigating and adapting to the

challenge of global warming.

The Network promotes protection of the Southeast’s uniquely

vulnerable coastal resources by increasing local, state and national
awareness of the threats and opportunities posed by climate
change.

To join the SECCN: www.seccn.groupsite.com

To join the Florida Climate Alliance:
www.floridaclimatealliance.groupsite.com

The host organization for the Southeast Coastal Climate Network is!!
•! Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) has
been a leading advocate for clean, responsible
energy choices that better our communities, our
region and our world, for over 20 years.
•! Since its formal inception in 1985, SACE has
grown from a small group of individuals into a
dynamic organization, with five offices across the
Southeast and initiatives at federal, state and
local levels.
•! As we look towards the future, SACE’s
commitment to preserve, restore and protect our
environment through the use of innovative
technology, grassroots and grasstops education,
and pioneer policy work remains steadfast.

For more information on Southern Alliance for Clean Energy please

visit www.cleanenergy.org
ICLEI is an international association of local governments as well as
national and regional local government organizations that have made
a commitment to sustainable development.

Over 1107 cities, towns, counties, and their associations worldwide

comprise ICLEI's growing membership.

ICLEI provides technical consulting, training, and information

services to build capacity, share knowledge, and support local
government in the implementation of sustainable development at the
local level.

ICLEI’s basic premise is that locally designed initiatives can provide

an effective and cost-efficient way to achieve local, national, and
global sustainability objectives.
Developing Sustainable Climate
Strategies – Integrating Climate
Adaptation and Mitigation
Ulla-Britt Reeves, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Missy Stults, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

Miami Beach post hurricane

 Overview
!! What is climate protection?
!! What is sustainable adaptation?
!! How does one incorporate
climate mitigation and
adaptation?

!! What are the criteria by which we

might evaluate adaptation
initiatives?
Understanding Climate

!! Climate Mitigation – Any measure or action taken to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

!! Climate Adaptation – Any measure or action that

reduces the negative impacts of climate change or
increases new opportunities.

!! Adaptation and Mitigation are not mutually exclusive!

Why Mitigation?
!! Greenhouse gas emissions are
changing our climate now and these
changes are projected to get worse
!! Taking action to reduce GHG
emissions leads to:
!! Improved air quality
!! Energy security
!! Lower operating costs
!! Reduced traffic congestion
!! Creation of good, local jobs
!! Protection of public health
!! Stronger sense of community
Why Adaptation?
!! “We’ve already brought [upon ourselves]
decades of sea level rise, extreme weather
events, tropical disease, and a range of
other impacts due to the emissions we
have emitted since the Model T Ford.” –
Harvey Ruvin, Chair Miami-Dade Climate
Task Force

!! Climate change is not a future trend.

It is here now.
!! The Southeast U.S. coastline is
particularly vulnerable to the
impacts of climate change: rising
seas and temperatures, stronger
storms, etc.
 Primary Climate Impacts
Stronger Storms and
Rising Temperatures Hurricanes

Four Primary
Categories

Changes in Sea Level Rise

Precipitation Patterns
Initial Implication Analysis

Primary Societal
Impact Implication

Secondary Sector of
Impact Society
 ICLEI’s Impact and Resiliency
Approach
Changing
Climate Potential Can This
Condition Climate Planning If Impact Planning
(including Change Area Occurs, Will it Area Adjust
Sector
amount of Impact Within Affect the to the Consequen Likelihood of
Likely to Priority
expected (Positive and Sector Functionality Projected ce if impact Impact
be Planning Area
change, Negative, Likely to of the Impact with occurs Occurring
Impacted
seasonal Being as be Planning Minimum
variability, and Specific as Impacted Area? Cost and
degree of Possible) Disruption?
confidence)

Looking at the
These combine to determine the vulnerability and
vulnerability of a planning area to These combine to form an risk of each
the identified impact assessment of risk. planning area
 Stronger Storms & Hurricanes

Storm Surges Increased Flooding

Water resources/hydrology,
Sector of Society

Infrastructure, medical,
tourism industry, coastal medical, infrastructure,
resources/ecosystems, emergency response,
communications, energy communications, energy
systems systems, transportation
 Sea Level Rise
Topsail Beach, NC
1 meter
(3.28 feet)

Tybee Island, GA
1 meter
(3.28 feet)
 Sea Level Rise
Infrastructure
Saltwater Loss of land
damage and
intrusion and beaches
deterioration

Water
Decline in habitat, Loss of roadways,
Implication

contamination &
Societal

recreation areas, buildings, water

less available
tourism, etc. systems
drinking water

Coastal resources, Transportation,

Sector of
Society

Water Resources ecosystems, infrastructure,

tourism industry water resources
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Leatherman
 Adaptation Response
Strategies
!! Future projections rather than historical records
!! Make sure the right stakeholders are involved.
!! Integrate planning efforts to ensure overlap and
communication between existing planning
priorities and adaptation response plans
!! Resiliency goals – creating communities that
truly can adapt and withstand uncertainty of
science
 Sustainable/Resilient
Criteria Analysis
Adequate Environmental Win-Win Ability
Adaptive Sustainability Given
Capacity Uncertainty
Will the ecosystem The ability of the
The effectiveness of
be harmed more adaptation initiative
safeguarding citizens
from the adaptive to serve as a win-win
and communities
measure than by (or “no regrets”)
from the impacts of
leaving it alone, or strategy in the face
climate change.
does the adaptation of climate
initiative contribute uncertainty.
to another
environmental
challenge?

Yes, No, or Yes, No, or

Yes, No, or
Inconclusive? Inconclusive?
Inconclusive?
 Sustainability/Resiliency
Criteria Analysis
Adequate Win-Win
Adaptive Environmental Ability Given
Sustainability Uncertainty
Results
Capacity

Yes Yes Yes Very High

Yes Yes No High

Yes Inconclusive No Medium

Yes No No Low

No No No Very Low
 Adaptation – Mitigation
Synergies
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Adaptation – Mitigation
Contradictions
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)73*+1"3&,3(#1")&4(55&3"?$(3"&'*3"&
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7*&'""7&#"'0+#)&,-&'*6(+1&407"3&
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Photo Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Leatherman
Example of Contradiction Applied:
Salt Water Intrusion

Very High Low

Rainwater Desalination plants

harvesting

Water conservation,
efficiency and reuse
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Leatherman
Resiliency Criteria Analysis
Loss of
Land

Very High Medium Low

Allow ecosystem
Abandonment/
to respond demolition of Short term:
naturally to SLR, inundation-prone moving houses
limit hardened/ properties
permanent
structures esp.
in rural areas Construction of Beach
sea walls/ renourishment:
Planned Retreat – armored trucked in sand or
long term shorelines sand bags
 Resiliency Criteria Analysis:
Private Property Strategies
Very High •! Building codes for
•! Building stronger homes
setbacks for •! Rolling and flood
construction easements accommodation
•! Transfer of
development
Very High rights Very High
Courtesy of
Dr. Stephen
Leatherman
 Conclusions
!! Complex impacts from climate change
to the Southeast coastline – affect all
aspects of society
!! Decision-makers at every level must
begin the dialogue and cross-
fertilization – particularly at the local
level
!! Our ability to proactively address
adaptation while simultaneously
reducing GHG emissions today carries
huge implications for the environment
 THANK YOU!

Please visit www.cleanenergy.org

and www.icleiusa.org

Questions?