Global Warming Adaptation Guidebook
Prepared talking points of Executive Sims
Global Warming Adaptation Guidebook
News Conf. Talking Points
10 a.m., August 2, 2006
Good Morning.
I’d like to introduce two new King County partners:
- Dr. Amy Snover and Lara Binder, both with the Climate Impacts Group;
- Michelle Wyman, Executive Director, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
We have disrupted our global climate patterns—with the cars that we drive, the lands that we develop, and the lifestyle choices we make. We have disrupted the global climate to such a degree that we have already begun to live and breathe the consequences—of hotter temperatures, drier soils, warmer rivers and less predictable oceans, destructive weather patterns, and declining snow pack and glaciers.
On this current path, the picture of our communities in the year 2050 is even more daunting.
I have said that in order to know what the year 2050 will bring, we must listen to scientists, not politicians. And we do listen. I convened the King County Climate Conference in October 2005. Over 650 people from many different organizations attended—they were from Indian tribes, businesses, community groups, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Among this diverse group were research scientists from the Climate Impacts Group.
For the Pacific Northwest, they told us of declining snow packs, warmer and wetter winters, a rise in sea level, an increased risk of flooding and a declining water supply.
But I am a person of hope and optimism.
We will not give up the fight to stop global warming. But we must begin to adapt to it -- and prepare ourselves for what is to come.
We must find new ways to engage leaders on the issues of global warming.
I believe we have reached a tipping point. Nationwide and worldwide, thousands of leaders like me are dealing with on-the-ground impacts of global warming: flooding, heat waves, drought. The prospect of hunger looms in Africa, exacerbated by global warming’s impacts on soil moisture, water supply for irrigation, and incidence of destructive agricultural pests.
For a problem of this magnitude, we need solutions to match. We need partnerships that are strong and focused and incredibly creative. And so I am standing here today with two people who are joining with King County to bring strength, focus, and creativity to the problem of global warming.
I am very pleased to announce that the King County Executive Office, including myself and my global warming team, and the Climate Impacts Group are co-authoring a guidebook on global warming adaptation.
I used to joke with colleagues that King County and the Climate Impact Groups ‘wrote the book’ on coping with global warming. Now, it will literally be true!
The book will be published this fall by the U.S. branch of the international non-profit group ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. It will be distributed to nearly 200 governments throughout the nation as a component of training in ICLEI’s Climate Safe Communities program, funded by NOAA.
Our goal is to help other local governments take the mystery out of planning to adapt to the predicted changes brought on by global warming. It would be irresponsible to not heed what scientists tell us is coming and do everything we can to protect our people, environment and economy. Yet many leaders don’t know where to start.
I am extremely pleased that the Climate Impacts Group agreed to co-author this guidebook. The Climate Impacts Group is based at the University of Washington and is one of eight regional climate assessment groups across the nation funded by NOAA. It has earned international distinction for its work on global warming in the Pacific Northwest.
Their scientific assessment has led us to review our infrastructure, policies and practices in light of new climate information based on predictions for 20, 30, and more than 40 years down the road.
The guidebook uses examples from King County and other local governments to highlight how planning for global warming can occur in day-to-day activities. It draws on the Climate Impacts Group’s experience in researching and communicating information on climate impacts and planning to decision-makers in our region.
Dr. Amy Snover, one of the nation’s leading scientists in the field of global warming will speak on behalf of the Climate Impacts Group.
Dr. Snover speaks
In 1990, the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future was held at the United Nations in New York. ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability evolved out of that group and today has a U.S. office based in Oakland, California and more than 190 members representing 60 million people in the United States. Internationally, its members represent over 300 million people.
ICLEI has led the way in helping communities nationwide to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions—to stop global warming, through its Cities for Climate Protection campaign.
ICLEI’s unique ability to engage and connect local government officials makes this partnership to publish a guidebook a strong coalition for change. It helps us to ensure that -- through the activities of communities throughout the United States -- this country is meeting the challenge of preparing for global warming impacts.
We are very pleased to have agreement with ICLEI to publish and distribute this first-ever guidebook for adapting to global warming. It won’t be gathering dust on a shelf, it’ll be used in a nationwide program for local governments.
It’s my pleasure to introduce ICLEI’s Executive Director for the United States, Michelle Wyman.
Wyman speaks
In your press kits you will find more background on our partners and about the guidebook.
Now, we’d be glad to answer your questions.