Paper discussion by Natcha Leon, UPRRP Environmental Science Department

1. Science integration into US climate and ocean policy
NatchaM. León
CIAM 6117
10/nov/2014
Paper discussion

2. 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

3. 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.html)
Elizabeth K. Fly
South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. US science and policy initiatives

8. 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
EndangeredSpecies Act
Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

9. 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

10. Examples of information incorporated in policy and planning
Climate assessments
Early-warning systems
Long-term planning

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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”

14. 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

15. 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.

16. NOAA’s Office of National Marine SanctuariesTrustee for a network of 14 MPAs
The Gulf of the FarallonesNational 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”

17. Opportunities for advancing partnerships

18. 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

19. 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

20. Opportunities
•Key ocean and climate knowledge needs have emerged.
•Coordination and communication between scientists, natural resource managers and other decision makers.

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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
OrdenEjecutivaOE-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

24. ?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?