learning to adapt to a changing climate: an alberta perspective february 16, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Learning to Adapt to a Changing Climate: An Alberta Perspective
February 16, 2012
The Policy Context
• AEW recognizes the complementary roles of Mitigation and Adaptation
• Have since given the two issues focused policy attention (Climate Change Secretariat, CCEMC..)
• The 2008 Climate Change Strategy (2008) reaffirms province’s commitment to both Adaptation Mitigation as critical policy issues (development of comprehensive provincial adaptation strategy)
The Policy Context
• Adaptation policy processes have been evolving in planned phases (research, learning, knowledge development, institutional capacity building, and action).
• We acknowledge climate change as an evolving phenomenon and requires proactive learning and action approaches.
Learning and Capacity Building
• Learning and knowledge development informs all adaptation policy and decision making processes.
--created research and knowledge development partnerships with key institutions such as PARC at the University of Regina and the University of Alberta.
• Established Alberta’s Climate Change Adaptation Team (ACCAT)
Climate Projections, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments
• These are major steps towards the development of our provincial strategy
• Vulnerability Study focused on : Economics, Biophysical and Social (province-wide)
• Risk Assessment: A two-phased process: 1.Risk and Opportunity Assessments
2. Development of department-specific adaptation options and strategies
Departmental Risk Assessments
• Processes almost completed--and will help departments and (GoA) identify and prioritize risks and opportunities to ensure timely, targeted, and appropriate policy responses.
• Nine (9) GoA departments are involved—chosen by core business functions and how they interface (directly or indirectly) with current or future climate impacts.
• ARD, AEW, SRD, TPR, MA, ENERGY, Transportation, Infrastructure, Health and Wellness,
Towards Strategy Development
• The different departmental strategies will be synthesized to create a broader provincial adaptation strategy.
• Strategy will uptake emergent lessons and knowledge (PRAC, CCEMC, and will pave the way for more direct and targeted policy responses.
• Draft strategy by next summer to be followed by public consultation processes.
PRAC & Alberta
• Alberta embraced the regional collaborative idea as an opportunity to continue learning and to build internal capacity.
• Three ministries (AEW, SRD, ARD) involved in the major themes (Water, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Drought and Excessive Moisture.
• The different themes and projects provided a new awareness and urgency to approach work plans from a climate impact standpoint.
AEW Key Projects (Water Resources Management)
• Hydroclimatic modelling for the South Saskatchewan Regional Planning.
• Hydroclimatic variability studies in the in the South Sask.
• Planned similar works (Hydrocilamtic studies and modeling) in the North Saskatchewan Basin.
• Planned to use data from the studies to pilot Socio-economic analysis in the two basins
AEW Key Projects
• Remain critical projects that advance our Water for Life Strategy.
• Helps us know and understand the convergence and implications of climate variability, water supply, demand, and deficits.
ASRD Key Projects (Terrestrial Ecosystems Management)
• Climate Change Adaptation Framework-Manual
• Impacts of Climate Change on the Western Canadian Southern Boreal Forest Fringe
• Vulnerability of Prairie Grasslands to Climate Change
AARD Key Projects (Drought and Excessive Moisture)
• Currently working in collaboration with the University of Calgary on:
• New Generation year round Soil Moisture and Drought Monitoring Models.
CCEMC—Another Alberta Innovation
• An independent technology innovation fund central in Alberta’s Climate Change Strategy
Goals:
• To fund clean Technology projects that reduce GHG emissions
• To support research, development and deployment of
transformational technology • To improve knowledge and understanding of Climate Change
impacts, mitigation and adaptation • To demonstrate full accountability to all Albertans
CCEMC
• Focused largely on mitigation technologies
• Currently funding some adaptation projects for the first time.
• Significant—first non-government led adaptation program that brings diverse actors (govt., academia, industry) together to work on adaptation projects.
CCEMC—Pilot Adaptation Projects
• “Biodiversity Management and Climate Change Adaptation” : ($2.4 million). Led by Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institutes
• “Stakeholder-led Integrated Watershed Management” : ($1.6 million). Led by Alberta Innovates ( Water resources)
• “Tree Species Adaptation Risk Management”: ($ 3.0). Led by ASRD.
Lessons: Moving Forward
• Championing Adaptation still remains a daunting task in Alberta
--Political, Policy, Cultural, and Cognitive Barriers
• Significant progress made (PARC, PRAC, ACCAT, Strategy Development etc.)
• Provincial Strategy will consolidate gains to provide clear Policy direction.
• Adaptation Platform to help advance programs
