Climate Impacts Group

New King County Climate Plan Calls for 50% Cut in Emissions by 2030, 80% by 2050

King County would aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and 80% by 2050, while it simultaneously pushes to prepare for the inevitable disruptions of climate change, under an updated climate plan proposed Thursday by County Executive Dow Constantine. CIG Director Amy Snover is quoted. 

NW CASC’s Amy Snover Discusses Value of CASC Program with WA Representative Derek Kilmer

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center’s (NW CASC) University Director, Dr. Amy Snover, recently talked with WA Representative Derek Kilmer about the unique work of the Climate Adaptation Science Centers and how Congress’ continued support for building climate resilience through investments in the CASC program is helping the Northwest and the country as a whole prepare for and adapt to a changing climate.

Dr. Snover explains, “The real happy secret about climate adaptation is that there are folks on the ground in communities all around this region – in our local governments, in our tribal entities, in our state and federal agencies – who are thinking about these climate risks and are doing their best to prepare for them. 

Conservation Planning for a Wild and Thriving Cascadia

With ever-shrinking pristine habitats across the region and globe, wildlife is often hard-pressed to find a place to call home. Even if they find a suitable home today, the question remains if it will still be suitable tomorrow. With climate change already underway and increasing human presence in wild landscapes, land managers and conservation organizations continually wrestle with this issue here in the Pacific Northwest and across the world.

These complexities make conservation planning difficult, but the Cascadia Partner Forum is an organization primed to tackle it. Its focus is on Cascadia, an area rich in both plant and animal diversity that encompasses much of Washington and southern British Columbia. 

Webinar Series: Using Climate Information in Water Utility Planning

 This webinar has passed. To learn more about the project and view the webinar recordings, please visit the project page.

Tuesday, August 11,
9–10:30 a.m.

Learning How to Adapt to a Changing Climate: A Collection of Case Studies from Water Agencies Throughout the U.S.

REGISTER

Tuesday, August 18
9–10:30 a.m.

Climate Adaptation in Public Works led by Fred Buckenmeyer, Director of Public Works, City of Anacortes

REGISTER

Tuesday, August 25
9–10:30 a.m.

Throw Away Your Crystal Ball: A Stress Testing Approach to Infrastructure Planning Under Climate Change Uncertainty

REGISTER

This three-part webinar series is designed to help small and medium water utilities plan and design for climate change. 

New Guide from the Washington Coastal Resilience Project Helps Coastal Planners Use the Latest Sea Level Rise Data

IN BRIEF:

The Washington Coastal Resilience Project team — a collaboration between the state’s Department of Ecology, the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and Washington Sea Grant — are releasing How to Choose, a guide to support the use of available sea level rise data in coastal planning and decision making.
The authors of this guide led a webinar on July 21, 2020 to provide an overview of the guide, discuss a case study and lead a Q & A period.

Fostering resilience to rising seas requires more than sea level rise projections alone. Coastal decision makers are faced with questions datasets can’t answer, such as, “Do I need to plan for what the coastline will look like in 20 years, 50 or 100? 

New Chapter for Heidi Roop, Climate Impacts Group Lead Scientist for Science Communication

After nearly four years advancing climate communication research for the Climate Impacts Group, Heidi Roop is starting a new chapter as a faculty member in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Minnesota. In her new role, Heidi will be developing a climate services program to support climate adaptation efforts by natural resource managers, the agricultural sector, and state agencies in Minnesota and the greater Midwest.

As lead scientist for science communication at the Climate Impacts Group, Heidi has leveraged her expertise to improve the reach and impact of our research, quantify the effectiveness of our engagements across the region and develop novel research in climate change adaptation and communication. 

Conference Travel and Carbon Emissions: In the Midst of COVID-19, Some People Are Doing the Math

Hundreds of science organizations are moving their in-person conferences to virtual to slow the spread of coronavirus, prompting some to consider whether virtual conferences may be part of the “new normal.” Dr. Heidi Roop is quoted in this article from KQED.

“There isn’t yet a pick-your-own-adventure conference virtually, where you could be in-person or virtual. My hope is we start thinking seriously about it, not just because of the pandemic, but because of our carbon footprint and the environmental impact of all the traveling,” Heidi says. 

We’re Hiring! Apply to join our team as a research scientist

We are hiring an entry-level research scientist to provide social science/policy research support and logistical project management support to our team. We are seeking a candidate with a social science or policy background and project management experience who can add breadth to the work we do and support CIG’s senior researchers on climate change adaptation projects with our federal, tribal, state and local partners. Core job responsibilities will include:  

Research Support: This position will be responsible for thinking critically about, and doing research to support, the application of a social science or policy lens to projects led by the CIG’s senior research scientists.

NW CASC Climate Change Refugia Special Issue: Buying Time for Biodiversity to Adapt in a Changing World

Note: This article was originally published on the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center website. 

Human-caused climate change will rapidly alter ecosystems in the Northwest and around the world, putting species that inhabit them under severe stress. These sweeping ecological changes will leave little time for species and ecosystems to adapt to new conditions, resulting in extinctions and large-scale ecosystem transformations. In a time of dramatic ecological upheaval, identifying and protecting climate change refugia — areas relatively buffered from climate change over time — can protect species from the negative effects of climate change in the short-term as well as provide longer-term protection for biodiversity and ecosystem function. 

Beyond video games: virtual reality brings science to life

Work led by CIG scientist Heidi Roop and supported by an EarthLab Innovation Grant is highlighted in this article by the UW College of the Environment.