{ Erin Gill, City of Knoxville Director of Sustainability ETQG - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Climate Resiliency in East Tennessee

Erin Gill, City of Knoxville – Director of Sustainability ETQG PlainTalk Conference 2016

…the ability to meet our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Sustainability

…a state of readiness to respond to a disaster, crisis, or any other type of emergency situation.

Preparedness Preparedness

…capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

• 100 Resilient Cities

Resilience

• East Tennessee
• Aging Infrastructure
• Lack of Affordable Housing
• HazMat Accidents
• Changing Demographics
• Health Crises
• Air Quality
• Congestion
• Legislative Changes

Our Region Faces Many Stresses

Plan East Tennessee Regional Playbook

Tennessee Department of Transportation, www.tdot.tn.gov

ET Index Livability Report Card 2015, Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission

ET Index Livability Report Card 2015, Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission

ET Index Livability Report Card 2015, Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission

• East Tennessee
• Flooding
• Drought
• Severe Storms
• Heat
• Water Availability
• Tornados
• Pests
• Erosion/

Runoff

Some Stresses are Related to Climate & Weather

Photo Credit: http://www.enr.com/articles/39001-tennessee-rockslides-close-interstate-75-in-both-directions

Photo Credit: http://wate.com/2015/02/17/kub-works-around-the-clock-to-restore-power-to-thousands-after-mondays-ice-storm/

Photo Credit: http://wate.com/2015/05/04/tornado-warnings/

Photo Credit: Knoxville News Sentinel, 2011

Photo Credit: The Mountain Press, What’s Eating the Park, July 19, 2014

Our Region’s Climate is Changing

The Changing Climate Will Deepen Challenges We Already Face

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2014 National Climate Assessment

Hotter Summers

• Heat-related health impacts
• Increased allergens and pollutants

(including ozone)

• Increased and new pest populations
• Unwanted

spread

• f

non-native species

• Reduced agricultural productivity
• Reduced labor productivity
• Increased energy use and utility

costs

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2014 National Climate Assessment

Warmer Winters

• Increased winter precipitation
• Increased and new pest populations
• Unwanted

spread

• f

non-native species

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2014 National Climate Assessment

More Extreme & Variable Precipitation Events

• Increased risk for flooding
• Strain
• n

water management systems

• Potential for drinking water access

issues and conflicts

• Increased

financial costs from stronger, more frequent storm events

Because of Climate Change, Will…

• More families struggle with the cost of

energy or home repairs?

• Tourism be impacted?
• Infrastructure costs be higher?
• Population increase faster (or more) than

expected?

• More businesses want to locate here?
• Worker productivity decrease?
• Global changes disrupt local supply chains?

• Our region has some natural buffers to potential

risks.

• But, we’re not invincible.
• And, we can be affected by conditions elsewhere.
• We can’t predict conditions on any given day.
• But, we do know trends. And conditions are changing.
• Many of our systems are working well.
• But, business as usual may not be sufficient.

Proactive, cross-system planning is an imperative, not an option.

The Reality is:

• Understand climate & non-climate stresses
• Identify where municipal systems and

communities are vulnerable

• What can we learn from the past, or from regional

experiences?

• Evaluate & pursue strategies to:
• Reduce vulnerabilities
• Increase adaptive capacity

This is a job for all of us. BUT, we also must think across systems.

How Do We Build Resilience?

• Emergency Responder Training &

Innovation

• Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness

Program

• Tree Canopy Expansion & Diversification
• Energy Efficiency Programming for

Vulnerable Citizens

• Green Infrastructure Use
• 311 Property Damage Claim Aggregation

Resilience Thinking Allows Us to Find Win-Wins

Resiliency Example: Urban Forestry

Tree Canopy Improves Resiliency

• Reduces stormwater runoff,

erosion

• Reduces heating/cooling costs
• Abates Urban Heat Island effects
• Improves air quality
• Increases wildlife habitat

Resilient Tree Planting

Don’t just plant for aesthetics. Plant to maximize multiple benefits. Plant to withstand stresses.

• Anticipate Requirements.
• Federal programs are beginning to require climate considerations for funding, approvals.
• Look ahead, not back.
• Yesterday’s experiences (and weather) may not reflect the future.
• Emphasize win-wins.
• Address resiliency alongside other needs, opportunities.
• Think across systems.
• What vulnerabilities or opportunities exist beyond your organization? Beyond your

city?

• Leverage existing (and free!) resources.
• US Climate Resilience Toolkit: https://toolkit.climate.gov/
• Data
• Planning tools
• Case studies

Take Away Themes

Thank you! Erin Gill Director of Sustainability City of Knoxville 865-215-4430 | egill@knoxvilletn.gov

Questions & Discussion