Track 3: Catalyzing Meaningful Adaptation Action

Local jurisdictions throughout California have been working to understand their climate risks and vulnerabilities, identify adaptation strategies, and develop adaptation plans. While this foundational work must continue to ensure that plans are strategic, aligned, and informed by community and science, communities are experiencing and witnessing climate-fueled disasters at an increasing pace. On-the-ground action and projects are urgently needed – across the entire state – to build the resilience of our communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and economy.

This track will focus on opportunities to accelerate the implementation of climate adaptation strategies by tapping into existing assets, leveraging the power of partnerships, and unlocking new pathways for ongoing investment.

Key challenge questions may include: What early investments will enable long-term resilience building? How do we translate broad adaptation strategies into specific project requirements and metrics? How can we use public policy and public dollars to encourage private markets to build resilient communities? How do we finance landscape-scale adaptation solutions? How should public agencies and communities integrate adaptation solutions into capital improvement plans?

Track Intro Webinar

Wed, July 14 • 9:30-11:00am

Track Workshop #1

Mon, July 26 • 10:00am-12:00pm

Track Workshop #2

Thurs, Aug 19 • 9:00-11:00am

Track Workshop #3

Thurs, Sept 30 • 1:00-3:00pm

Track Outcomes Webinar

Thurs, Oct 21 • 9:30-11:00am

Exploring and Overcoming Implementation Barriers to Catalyze Meaningful Adaptation Action

Wednesday, July 14th • 9:30-11:00am

Year after year, we have been seeing more communities assess climate vulnerabilities, develop adaptation plans, and begin implementing adaptation strategies – from living shorelines to cooling centers. However, there are many barriers that must be overcome in order to catalyze meaningful and equitable adaptation at the pace and scale demanded by the climate crisis. Community-based initiatives, landscape-level projects, systems improvements, and built and natural infrastructure solutions are all urgently needed to build resilience to the worsening heat waves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and more. This webinar will explore key adaptation implementation challenges related to measuring performance, insurance, funding and financing, scaling local solutions, and more. Presenters will highlight ongoing efforts to address these challenges and case studies of promising strategies that catalyze meaningful adaptation action.

Speakers

Susanne Moser | Director, Susanne Moser Research & Consulting

Maureen Frank | Deputy County Administrator, Tuolumne County

Susan Silber | Founder and Director, NorCal Resilience Network

Adaptation Implementation Barriers & Solutions

Monday, July 26th • 10:00am-12:00pm

The introductory webinar for Track 3: Catalyzing Meaningful Adaptation Action highlighted common challenges related to implementing adaptation strategies. For this track’s first workshop, we will delve deeper into five key challenge areas to better understand specific barriers and issues related to 1) Social Resilience, 2) Built Infrastructure, 3) Natural & Working Lands, and 4) Landscape-level Adaptation. Moving beyond challenges, track participants will also begin identifying opportunities to address specific barriers, such as promising practices, case studies, and more. We hope you can join us for this interactive workshop!

Adaptation Shark Tank: Collaborative Project Conceptualization

Thursday, August 19 • 9:00-11:00am

At this highly interactive workshop, participants worked collaboratively to develop then pitch an adaptation project concept that addresses key implementation challenges identified in the track’s first workshop. Each group focused on a distinct climate impact and community type, respond to curveball scenarios, and engaged in a role playing exercise.

Real-World Adaptation Project Challenges & Field Opportunities

Thursday, September 30th • 1:00-3:00pm

While the first two workshops focused on broader challenges and solutions, key concepts, and scenario-based exercises, this third and final workshop will dive into real-world adaptation projects and concrete opportunities to support implementation. Participants will hear brief presentations on adaptation projects to then engage in a “project troubleshooting lab,” which aims to crowdsource ideas for strategies and solutions to overcome each project’s specific implementation challenges. Participants will then engage in small and large group discussions to explore game changers that have catalyzed adaptation efforts for their agencies and organizations, upcoming opportunities that can be leveraged to accelerate project implementation, and ideas to foster ongoing dialogue.

Track 3: Catalyzing Meaningful Adaptation Action Outcomes Webinar

Thursday, October 21 • 9:30-11:00am

Local jurisdictions throughout California have been working to understand their climate risks and vulnerabilities, identify adaptation strategies, and develop adaptation plans. While this foundational work must continue to ensure that plans are strategic, aligned, and informed by community and science, communities are experiencing and witnessing climate-fueled disasters at an increasing pace. On-the-ground action and projects are urgently needed – across the entire state – to build the resilience of our communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and economy. This webinar will highlight key takeaways from the track’s workshop series and case studies featuring real-world implementation projects addressing extreme heat, drought, sea level rise, and wildfires.

Track 3 Facilitators

Ignacio Dayrit

Director of Programs | Center for Creative Land Recycling

Ignacio Dayrit is responsible for overseeing the Center for Creative Land Recycling’s (CCLR) technical assistance and training programs that focus on the sustainable reuse of blighted land in economically distressed and underserved communities. He provides implementation assistance for area-wide plans, sustainable development, such as affordable infill housing, environmental restoration, renewable energy, infrastructure and economic development. Ignacio also develops and conducts community outreach, educational training, workshops, and consensus building activities to rural and metropolitan areas of the western US. In the last few years, Ignacio has helped bring $70M+ to communities across the country. Prior to joining CCLR, Ignacio was redevelopment manager at the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency. He is an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University teaching resilience, sustainability and livability. Ignacio has a BS from the University of the Philippines and an MS in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley

Ben Gettleman

Senior Facilitator and Vice President | Kearns & West

Ben Gettleman is a Senior Facilitator and Vice President at Kearns & West, a national leader in the field of environmental despite resolution and stakeholder engagement. Ben works with public agencies, interest groups, and communities across California to help them address some of the most pressing challenges facing the state, including climate change adaptation, water resource management, air quality, and wildfire prevention planning. Ben designs and facilitates collaborative planning processes to ensure that the stakeholders who will be impacted by a new plan, policy, or decision have a meaningful role in shaping it. Ben lives in Petaluma and enjoys running, biking, and surfing as much as he can.

Melodie Grubbs

Science, Research & Policy Specialist | USC Sea Grant Program

Melodie Grubbs, is a Science, Research & Policy Specialist at the University of Southern California Sea Grant Program. As a coastal scientist, Ms. Grubbs is focused on helping communities prepare for and adapt to changing climate conditions, coastal hazards, and sea level rise. Ms. Grubbs specializes in physical coastal processes, habitat restoration and monitoring, and geospatial science. She has over a decade of experience in planning and implementing coastal habitat restoration and living shoreline projects in California.

Register for The Grand Adaptation Challenge!

Join climate leaders from across the state for an engaging and newly imagined California Adaptation Forum, taking place virtually June-October 2021. This year, we’re combining keynotes, informative webinars, and interactive workshops to address key climate challenges faced by California’s communities and adaptation practitioners. We hope you can join us!