Adaptation: What do we need?

The science of climate change adaptation was created before its practitioners existed. International bodies working to identify the effects of climate change and to create legal frameworks for solutions deemed it to exist. Today, there is no time for a methodical evolution of the field as the count-down for the world as we know it has started. Of course the planet is not going to blow-up when it reaches zero but there will be an increasing number of changes with fewer and fewer opportunities to choose ways to adapt to them. The way forward currently needs its own stimulus package as there is no master plan afoot to make adaptation happen. A lot of work has already been done and many people are trying to make the change we need a reality. What we need specifically today are pilot projects to share field experience and show what adaptation might look like on the ground, tools to access state-of-the-art information on past disturbances and on future projections, and a vibrant peer network to discuss options.

Pilot projects!
There are lots of people starting to tackle the reality of climate change in their conservation and resource management work. Some people are doing this because they have long-term vision and anticipate that acting now will be better (success- and cost-wise) than acting later. Others are doing this because the reality of climate change is staring them in the face. For example, if you manage one of the three species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because of climate change you’re obligated to think about it. If you live in a coastal community or manage a coastal reserve and you already see the effects of sea level rise and salt water intrusion you need to change the way you manage water resources and zone development. Learning how other people are taking on these challenges can not only motivate you to act but you can learn from there practical experience, glean the details, find the information you’ve been looking for or learn how to make decisions even when you can’t get what you want.

Tools!
There is a lot of climate data already out there. Unfortunately it’s often hard to find, hard to access, hard to understand or hard to determine how to use. As a result, a frequent fallback position by conservation practitioners and resource managers is that they say they need more data before they can take action. While it is always nice to have more data, the truth of the matter is that you will never have enough data to erase uncertainty and that, just like with insurance policies; we make decisions using best available data all the time. Yes, sometimes they are wrong, but sometimes they are right and the key is to develop ways of implementing management and conservation plans so that you can make corrections when you learn new things, rather than just waiting to act. Remember that countdown timer? Well, it is still running and the problem is likely to become more daunting, not easier.

Peers!
You don’t have to go it alone. There are plenty of people out there struggling with these issues. Some are boldly innovating, some are happening upon approaches they didn’t even realize they were trying and others have their fingers crossed. If these people start talking to each other, or at least occasionally check on what others are doing, we may observe some quantum leaps forward in how we reshape conservation and resource management in the age of climate change. Where do new ideas come from? People. Find some near you!

So why am I writing about all of this? There are is a new endeavor that has started up — CAKE (also known as the Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange) is your online adaptation destination, a place to find your way in the world of adapting your work to climate change. You’ll be able to find case studies through a georeferenced data base, important papers, reports and books through a virtual library, the names of “adaptationists” near you in the directory, a space for dialogue with others grappling with similar climate-related issues, and guidance about where to go to get more information. One of those places to get more information is Data Basin. Many of the case studies in CAKE will include mention of the methods and data that were used to create them. While it is nice to know they exist, it’s even nicer to easily find those data and use them yourself if they seem relevant. Data Basin allows you to do just that. In fact it aims to make data accessible to people who need to use them and to provide easy tools for preliminary analyses. We’re hoping CAKE and Data Basin help people bypass the step where they say there is not enough data and allow them to find the kind of information for innovation to get started.

OK, so when do we need these? IMMEDIATELY. Please make good use of these resources and give your input to the people creating them to make them what you need. Your opinion now can help create better tools for you and your colleagues. Remember, YOU are part of the solution.