Download climate change nc scod 2010

Plans for Adapting to Climate Change
Jay A. Bennett, PE, North Carolina DOT
State Roadway Design Engineer
[email protected]
Planning for North Carolina’s Future: Ask The Climate
Change Question
In March 2010 state and federal agencies came together to discuss the need to plan for
climate change, its impacts on North Carolina and how the state can adapt policies to
address those impacts.
Hosted by the North Carolina Interagency Leadership Team (ILT) (a group of federal
and state agencies planning, developing and implementing an integrated transportation
system for North Carolina.
Climate Change Adaptation
Adaptation efforts focus on proactively preparing for and adapting to changes we can’t
prevent.
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is developing a
comprehensive adaptation strategy that will effectively identify and address
potential impacts to the environment and natural resources that our department is
charged with protecting.
Climate Change Adaptation
Adaptation efforts focus on proactively preparing for and adapting to changes we can’t
prevent.
The Division of Coastal Management released a Coastal Resources Commission
report on current and projected rates of sea level rise in North Carolina through
2100.
Division of Emergency Management is conducting a Sea Level Rise Risk
Management Study.
Climate Change Adaptation
Adaptation efforts focus on proactively preparing for and adapting to changes we can’t
prevent.
Through the EPA Climate Ready Estuaries program, DENR is working with
communities in the Albemarle-Pamlico region to improve the area’s resilience and
adaptation capacity. (address climate change impacts on each habitat type)
As a member of the North Carolina Interagency Leadership Team DENR cohosted a statewide Climate Change Adaptation Workshop March 2-3, 2010, called
“Planning for North Carolina’s Future: Ask the Climate Question.”
Based on the U.S. Global Change Research Program report, Global Climate Change Impacts in
the United States, there are a number of significant threats projected for North Carolina.
• More than half of North Carolina’s shoreline is projected to be at very high risk
from rising sea level.
• Increased storm intensity and frequency are expected to produce higher storm
surges along our coast.
• Rainfall patterns throughout the state are likely to change, with less frequent, but
more intense rains bringing increased flooding problems.
Based on the U.S. Global Change Research Program report, Global Climate Change Impacts in
the United States, there are a number of significant threats projected for North Carolina.
• Heat waves will likely become more frequent, longer lasting and more intense.
• It is also very likely that North Carolina will experience more droughts.
The projected threats from climate change are expected to have significant impacts on
North Carolina’s:
• Coastal Resources
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Water Supplies
• Agriculture
• Natural Systems
• Public Health
Leadership’s Responsibilities – Marketing, Education and Outreach
Our Society will not make decisions based solely on Climate Change.
People must be able to integrate Climate Change Information with other drivers.
They must trust the source of information.
Adaptation must Accompany Mitigation.
Leadership’s Responsibilities – Marketing, Education and Outreach
Focus on Value
•As part of the community, we rely on a set of services and we are willing to pay for
those services – through taxes, cost of living, etc.
•Those services may be stressed by a variety of things – but we can usually plan based
on trends, etc.
•Services that are interrupted are harder to manage and do without
•There are differences in Natural Services and Infrastructure Services, especially
when we look at vulnerable populations (which could be human or ecosystem based)
•How do we look at these from a value perspective?
Locally – How do we Apply Climate Change to Our Work?
Act locally, but tie actions to regional, state and global impacts
•
Locally adapt to globally-forced change
•
Locally mitigate to prevent worsening climate scenarios
Place based Vulnerability
•
Impacts of landslides on western NC’s transportation and economy
•
Coastal sea-level rise impacts: vulnerable population, resources,
tourism, agriculture, and transportation
Integrate with other drivers
“No regrets” approach
Economics will be the key
In Transportation – How do we Apply Climate Change to Our Work?
At the systems planning level, we need to understand the regional climate change
affects (or range of possible affects) and consider the impacts that may affect the
transportation system, connectivity, and intermodal connections.
At the project level, what types of impacts do I need to take into account as I plan my
project? This is where guidance from authorizing, funding and permitting agencies
about climate change adaptation would be helpful. North Carolina is using best
judgment, the best available data and tools, to consider sea level rise and other impacts
as a part of our project development and decision-making process.
In Transportation – How do we Apply Climate Change to Our Work?
What tools are available to help assess our vulnerability and risk? This is where
NCHRP, TRB and university studies and tools would benefit practitioners.
What data is available to support these tools? Is this obtained on a state, regional
and/or local level? How do we obtain this data in a cost-effective manner? The lack of
data can be an impediment, especially if it is not available at the appropriate scale.
As transportation agencies, we need to be able to determine if we are making progress
in becoming more resilient – and if our efforts have paid off. This is why performance
indicators or measures are needed. This is critically important due to the financial
challenges that confront us all.
From the March 2010 “Planning for North Carolina’s Future: Ask the Climate Question”
An interagency, interdisciplinary team is considering a strategy for developing the state
climate adaptation plan.
Contains elements on how plan, construct and maintain transportation infrastructure.
Contains outreach to the industry sectors participating in the March conference to get
their input on the state climate change adaptation plan.
Contains measures for adaptation and mitigation.
From the March 2010 “Planning for North Carolina’s Future: Ask the Climate Question”
“Mitigation” is trying to reduce Greenhouse Gases and Emissions.
“Adaptation” is becoming more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Topsail Beach North Carolina
Hurricane Fran 1996
Hurricane Fran 1996
Hurricane Dennis – August 24, 1999 – September 7, 1999
The maximum rainfall reported total was 19.13 inches at Ocracoke NC, with 6 to 10 inches reported elsewhere over portions of
eastern North Carolina.
Kill Devil Hills, NC
When Hurricane Floyd moved across the state in early September, it produced torrential rainfall, amounting to a
maximum of 19.06 inches in Wilmington, NC. Extensive flooding led to overflowing rivers; nearly every river basin in
eastern NC reached 500 year or greater flood levels.
Hurricane Floyd
September 7, 1999
– September 19,
1999
Hurricane Floyd
Oak Island, NC
NC 12 at Hatteras Village
NC 12 at Hatteras Village
October 25, 2009, Rockslide occurs,
closing Interstate 40 in both
directions.
Climate Change Adaptation
Solving the Climate Change Adaptation Puzzle will Require:
• Understanding region-specific climate change impacts
• Adaptation strategies aligned with regional impacts
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration
Climate Change Adaptation
Jay Bennett, PE, State Roadway Design Engineer, NCDOT
[email protected]
“Climate Adaptation Workshop” www.climatechangenc.gov
or
search for “climate change initiative in NC”
North Carolina Interagency Leadership Team
www.ncdot.org/programs/environment/development/interagency/ncilt/