The NH Climate Action Plan and the need for Adaptation Sherry Godlewski NH Department of Environmental Services

New Hampshire Governor’s Climate Change Policy Task Force Purpose and Goals  Established through Executive Order December 6, 2007 Establish quantified greenhouse reduction goals considering regional and international goals Establish quantified greenhouse reduction goals considering regional and international goals Recommend specific regulatory, voluntary and policy actions that the state should consider to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Recommend specific regulatory, voluntary and policy actions that the state should consider to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Climate Change Policy Task Force Composition  State agency commissioners;  House and Senate members;  General commerce and industry;  Environmental interests;  Forestry sector;  Science/academia;  Public utilities;  Municipal government; and  Insurance industry.

Technical and Policy Working Groups Electric Generation and Usage Electric Generation and Usage Transportation and Land Use Transportation and Land Use Residential, Commercial and Industrial Residential, Commercial and Industrial Agriculture, Forestry and Waste Agriculture, Forestry and Waste Government, Leadership and Action Government, Leadership and Action Adaptation Adaptation

Action Plan Development Process  Climate Change Policy Task Force Twenty-nine (29) members Twenty-nine (29) members  Working Groups (6) 125+ Participants 125+ Participants  Six (6) Official Public Listening Sessions 15 Locations 15 Locations 275 Participants 275 Participants 100 Commenters 100 Commenters  300 Pages of Public Comments e.g., mail, , phone calls e.g., mail, , phone calls

Task Force Principles  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2025; 80% by  Create economic opportunity, while considering all costs and benefits.  Focus investments in a phased-in approach.  Do not further disadvantage already disadvantaged populations.

Task Force Principles Continued  Reduce the vulnerability of the natural and built environment.  Engage the public to take action.  Sustain the state’s resources.  Integrate accountability and adaptability into the Plan’s implementation.

Adaptation If not now, when? If not today, then… What happens tomorrow?

Southwestern NH – October 2005

Central NH - May 2006

Eastern NH - April 2007

Deerfield Flooding April 23, 2007

VT and Upper Valley July 2007

Presidentially Declared Storm-Related Disasters Year of Storm Event

Presidentially Declared Storm-Related Disasters Year of Storm Event

Adaptation Focus Areas  Public Health and Wellness Two specific recommendations Two specific recommendations  Natural Ecosystems - protect and buffer impacts  Built Environment - resilience to impacts  Economic Development

Adaptation Actions  Develop and Distribute Critical Information on Climate Change (ADP Action 1)  Promote Policies and Actions to Help Populations Most at Risk (ADP Action 2)  Charge and Empower Public Health Officials to Prepare for Climate Change (ADP Action 3)  Strengthen Protection of New Hampshire’s Natural Systems (ADP Action 4)

Other Adaptation Actions  Increase Resilience to Extreme Weather Events (ADP Action 5)  Strengthen the Adaptability of New Hampshire’s Economy to Climate Change (ADP Action 6)  Establish a Permanent Climate Change Advisory Council (ADP Action 7)  Develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the State of New Hampshire (ADP Action 8)

Moving Forward  Action Plan Released - March 2009  Task Force replaced by the NH Energy and Climate Collaborative to coordinate actions Six members from the business community. Six members from the business community. Six members from the public sector. Six members from the public sector. Six members from the education and nonprofit sectors. Six members from the education and nonprofit sectors. Legislative liaison committee. Legislative liaison committee.

Continuing Forward  Current research being conducted by universities looking at impacts of future flooding (culvert size, tidal rivers and sea level rise)  Adaptation Plan creation – have current grant funding for creating a Public Health Adaptation Plan - part of final Adaptation Plan  Implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan - Budgetary considerations

Lessons learned  Get more people to the table  Executive Order was written for mitigation; Adaptation was something we intuitively knew to include  Don’t assume Task Force members are including their staff (who are actually doing the work)  We were a seed that sprouted; there needs to be cultivation

Gaps and Opportunities  Funding for Government Programs  Collaboration barriers imposed by funding  Leaders for implementation  Emerging Awareness and Partnerships Health and Human Services + Emergency Managers + Municipal Planners Health and Human Services + Emergency Managers + Municipal Planners  Develop an integrated education, outreach and workforce training program  Obama’s stimulus package for municipalities- energy efficiency/green jobs

NGOs and Government  Help to lead Government  Work with others who have similar goals and outcomes (in state and regional networks) Build social capitol Build social capitol Municipal zoning and building codes Municipal zoning and building codes  Education and Awareness Consistent messages Consistent messages

If not now, When? If not today, Then, What happens tomorrow? Sherry Godlewski NH Department of Environmental Services