Science integration into US

climate and ocean policyNatcha M. León

CIAM 6117

10/nov/2014

Paper

discussion

Authors

Laura E. Petes

BA in Biology from Cornell University

PhD in Zoology from Oregon State University

Climate Program Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Ecosystem Science Advisor; connect and translate science in support of climate adaptation decision-making and policy development.

Initiatives

Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force

National Ocean Policy

National Climate Assessment

Biography

http://www.globalyoungacademy.net/membership/members/Laura.Petes

Jennifer F. Howard

Marine Climate Change Manager at Conservation

International

Brian S. Helmuth

Northeastern University, Department of Marine and

Environmental Sciences

School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Marine Science

Center

(http://www.northeastern.edu/helmuthlab/People/Helmuth.h

tml)

Elizabeth K. Fly

South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium

Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments, Department

of Geography, University of South Carolina

Background information

Importance of ocean

Cover 71% of Earth’s surface

Contain 97% of the planet’s water

Global climate regulator

Carbon sequestration

Provides almost 20% of animal protein to 2 billion people

2.8 millions jobs related to de ocean and costal

economies (US in 2011)

18% of land in US costal watershed counties and home

to 50% US citizens

Jobs, tourism, recreation, commerce, transportation etc.

Background information cont.

Impact of climate change and acidification

The compromise of the capacity or ability of the

ocean to provide services

Challenges in;

Natural resources management

Energy production

Human health

Transportation and national security

Problematic statement

“Science is playing an increasingly important role in

informing policy and management of the world’s oceans.”

p.671

“scientific understanding is often not reflected in policy and management decisions, and misperceptions among both scientists and decision makers impede the two way exchange of information” p.671

Topics

1. US science and policy initiatives

2. Examples where information is successfully incorporated in policy

and planning

3. Opportunities for advancing partnerships

US science and policy initiatives

Initiatives

Initiatives

National Climate Assessment

National Fish, Wildlife, and

Plants Climate Adaptation

Strategy,

Interagency Working Group

on Ocean Acidification

Interagency Climate Change

Adaptation Task Force

National Ocean Policy

President’s Climate Action

Plan

US federal laws

Clean Water Act

Endangered Species Act

Federal Ocean Acidification

Research and Monitoring Act

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act

Goals of the initiatives

Manage the impacts of climate change and

acidification on ocean waters

Provide a framework for planning and action, with

the goal of enhancing climate resilience.

Ocean Adaptation (preparedness and resilience)

integration of climate information in practices

reduction of non-climatic stressors

natural resource dependent communities--

awareness and address current and future

climate impacts

Examples of information incorporated

in policy and planning

Climate assessments

Early-warning systems

Long-term planning

Climate assessments

Periodic evaluation

• Current state of knowledge and the identification of information needs and gaps.

• Sources of information to support planning and policy development

Product

• State of knowledge and function as go-to sources of best-available information for experts from a wide diversity of backgrounds.

Decision makers

• Look trusted sources of information to support planning and policy development

National Climate Assessment (NCA)

Reviews the current state of the knowledge on climate

change

Investigates impacts already being observed in specific

sectors and regions

Anticipates trends for the next 25 to 100 years.

May 2014

covered new topics, including a chapter specifically

addressing oceans and marine resources

included assessment of societal responses to climate

change through adaptation, mitigation and decision

support

designed to evolve into a sustained, forward-looking

process

Early-warning systems

Mechanism for informing and supporting preparedness for climate variability and change

preparedness and rapid response to weather and climate events and their

impacts.

Example; droughts and extreme heat

Drought in coastal

areas

“Upriver and inland

saltwater intrusion due

to reduced freshwater

input can affect the

coastal flora, fauna

and aquifers relied on

by coastal

communities for

drinking water”

National Integrated Drought

Information System (NIDIS) Real-time information

drought information across federal, state, tribal and local levels.

Interagency and place-based partnerships to advance the development of

Regional Drought Early-Warning Systems (RDEWS)

Carolinas RDEWS pilot project

drought impacts to the coastal ecosystems

engaged scientists and decision makers

through interviews, discussions and a workshop to identify key needs,

opportunities and vulnerabilities

Resulted in a drought-salinity indicator project and an assessment of

ecological indicators for coastal drought that are expected to be

transferable to other regions

Long-term planning

Long-range planning and management of climate change impacts on

oceans

Marine protected areas (MPAs)

defined geographical spaces and management of human activities

Climate-smart MPAs

“seek to improve the long-term resilience of species and ecosystems

by ameliorating anthropogenic stressors, but also reflect that sites are

not immune from the impacts of climate change”

Networks of protected areas

“interconnectedness of marine ecosystems and the high spatial and

temporal variability in where and when impacts occur”

buffers and sources to repopulate damaged areas.

NOAA’s Office of National Marine

SanctuariesTrustee for a network of 14 MPAs

The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in California.

Climate-Smart Conservation Program

climate change monitoring, mitigation, preparedness and education into

sanctuary management

Climate change impacts report in 2010

ID key issues and vulnerabilities

1. increases in sea level

2. coastal erosion

3. reduced runoff of freshwater

4. increases in surface ocean temperature

5. range shifts of species and other climate-related changes

“Currently in the process of developing a stakeholder-led climate

adaptation action plan to respond to, and manage for, the identified

climate impacts”

Opportunities for advancing

partnerships

Challenges

Scientific knowledge grows

Overwhelming to stay abreast of new studies

Determine which is the relevant information

Lack of access to usable, policy-relevant information

Institutional and capacity challenges to implementation

lack of financial resources

stakeholder awareness

support and engagement

Improving methods for evaluating the effectiveness of

adaptation options

Advancing knowledge gaps is important but;

“relevant scientific knowledge already exists but is not being

used by decision makers and managers”

“potentially useful scientific studies are only published in peer-

reviewed journals that most decision makers do not read”

Available information not understandable and usable by

non-scientific audiences

Not enough sustained interactions between knowledge producers

and users

Opportunities

• Key ocean and climate knowledge needs have emerged.

• Coordination and communication between scientists, natural resource managers and other decision makers.

Suggestion

Scientist

provide input during public comment periods

for government policies and reports

pursue training and practice in

communicating science to the media, policy

makers and the public

serve on advisory boards and review panels

for local, state, tribal and federal efforts

collaborate with managers on research

projects

conduct scientific efforts that are designed to

be of high relevance to the policy community

disseminate scientific findings broadly and in

formats that are usable by non-scientists

Decision Makers

provide input on scientific projects and

reports

attend workshops and briefings on

emerging advances and technologies

approach trusted scientists in their regions

to work collaboratively on pressing

climate challenges

Petes, L. E., Howard, J. F., Helmuth, B. S., & Fly, E.

K. (2014). Science integration into US climate

and ocean policy. Nature Climate Change,

4(8), 671-677.

Discussion In PR

PUT

o “Los principios actuales aunque potencian e intentan coordinar el uso del suelo carecen de objetivos importantes relacionados al cambio climático”

o “Proteger zonas costeras tanto residenciales como industriales antes los efectos inminentes del cambio climático”

http://gis.jp.pr.gov/externo_Econ/Otros%20-%20PUT/AnejosComentariosPUT/123_Recomendaciones_ELAC_PUT.pdf

Orden Ejecutiva OE-2008-09

o “ no debe escapar del análisis la amenaza real que plantea para las actividades dependientes de la costa los efectos del cambio climático, particularmente el aumento en el nivel del mar y el aumento en la frecuencia e intensidad de eventos climatológicos. Los procesos de planificación en Puerto Rico deben anticipar este fenómeno para evitar costos económicos y sociales”

http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/arn/recursosvivientes/costasreservasrefugios/pmzc/publicaciones/Resumen%20Ejecutivo%20Espanol.pdf

?Cual es tu evaluación de las sugerencias que

brindan los autores para trabajar las

oportunidades para el avance de las alianzas?

?Consideras que Puerto Rico esta coordinando

proyectos que vislumbren los impactos del

cambio climático?

?Que aspectos antropogénicos inciden en

Puerto Rico?

?Cuales iniciativas deben desarrollarse en

Puerto Rico para incorporar a las políticas

publicas en referencia al tema?