towards a more sustainable Buffalo Niagara Climate Change Action - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

towards a more sustainable Buffalo Niagara

Climate Change Action Working Team

Bill Smith, Chair (BNMC) Himanshu Grover / Lynda Schneekloth, Facilitators (UB School of Architecture and Planning)

• Welcome, Introduction and Process

Update

• Presentation of Draft Climate Adaption

Plan

• Discussion and Synthesis of Plan in relation to

goals and strategies of Climate working group

• Strategy Development: Actions/Lead

Agenda/Tmelines/etc

• Summary and Next

Steps

Agenda

Working Team Process and Timeline

Climate change adaptation plan response plan

REPORT ORGANIZATION

• Introduction

– Vision Statement – What does this plan provide? – Planning goals – Plan Organization

• Reality of Climate Change

– Projected impacts in Upstate New York

• Community Profile

– Local authority – Demographic analysis – Socio-economic composition – Greenhouse gas Emissions

• Vulnerability Assessment

– Social vulnerability assessment – Physical Vulnerability Assessment – Specific Concerns – Infrastructure and general environment

• Recommended Adaptation Strategies

– Strategies for effective action – Broad Adaptation Strategies – Targeted Adaptation Strategies – Integration with other planning initiatives

• Appendices

– Methodology for community self assessment – Methodology for organization self- assessment – Checklist for new development in a changing climate – List of resources that provide more details

• n climatic changes

– List of available financial incentives

GOALS

• 1. Provide appropriate guidance and information

to ensure that local communities are better prepared in face of changing climatic trends in the region.

• 2. Identify important areas of concern across that

will need to be addressed across different sectors to enhance community resilience.

• 3. Evolve a comprehensive methodology for

climate change vulnerability assessment that can be implemented across the region.

GOALS

• 4. Outline a balanced approach to addressing

climate change through a combination of – Conservation, Mitigation, Adaptation, and Awareness strategies.

• 5. Encourage strategies with tangible benefits

across multiple sectors that will also contribute to local economic growth and wealth creation

• 6. Identify actions that will support continued

sustainability of Great lakes and other natural resources in the region

Objectives

• 1. Assess existing risks and vulnerabilities from

climate change

• 2. Promote Green House Gas (GHG) mitigation

efforts and energy conservation initiatives

• 3. Promote attention to climate change issues

within other planning initiatives and sectors, including the regional, and local land use plans.

• 4. Seek opportunities to inform the community

and decision makers on potential climate change impacts

Objectives

• 1. Promote collaborations to raise awareness

about climate change impacts

• 2. Seek opportunities to develop an

environmentally sustainable economy

• 3. Maintain and add to the city‘s urban tree

canopy and increase tree diversity within urbanized areas

• 4. Support protection of the Great Lakes

NOTABLE IMPACTS

Expected Changes in Climate

IMPLICTAIONS FOR OUR REGION

• Increased frequency, duration, and intensity of

heat waves

• Increased extreme weather conditions
• Increased rain events – more stream flow,

increase erosion and run-off, flood-risks

• More stress on aging infrastructure
• Lake levels
• In-migration from the Coasts and the Mid-

west

RESPONSE STRATEGIES

A combination of Technical and Working Group Reccomednations

BROAD STRATEGIES

• CONSERVATION

– Plan, design, develop an manage our region for energy efficiency and conservation to reduce our carbon footprint

• MITIGATION

– Invest in renewable energy production, specifically from wind, solar, hydro-electric, and geothermal sources by developing progressive policies and funding mechanisms

BROAD STRATEGIES

• ADAPTATION

– Anticipate and prepare to adapt to the already inevitable impacts of climate change under way now

• AWARENESS

– Promote outreach and engagement efforts to educate people and decision makers about the implications of climate change for our region, and ways it can be addresses through mitigation, and adaptation

BROAD STRATEGIES

• WEALTH CREATION

– Use energy policy and climate change response strategies as economic impetus to create jobs and support local industries and businesses

• GREAT LAKES CONSERVATION

– Protect great lakes which is an integral part of western New York, and an enormous fresh water resources for the region and beyond

TARGETED RECCOMENDATIONS

• Drainage and Flood Protection Infrastructure

– Updating of Flood Maps – Use of 500yr floodplain boundaries in new development review – Stronger Flood management ordinances in all communities – Increase in the flood protection elevations – Improvement to storm water master plans – Incorporation of Green Infrastructure in Storm water management – Developing Independent Storm water Utility Districts (SUD)

TARGETED RECCOMENDATIONS

• Drinking Water

– Water supply assessment – Implement a water loss control program – Water demand management – Retrofitting plumbing systems

TARGETED RECCOMENDATIONS

• Waste water

– Target new development in existing sewer districts – Implement combined sewer overflow (CSO) abatement programs

• Built Environment

– Improved energy efficiency standards for buildings – Encourage passive design systems

• Environmental quality and human health

– Prepare public health plans for the region – Enhanced programs for controlling the disease causing vectors

SUGGESTED INDICATORS

• Net-energy consumption per-capita
• Green energy generation per-capita
• Energy savings through energy efficiency projects
• Transit trips per-capita
• Vehicles miles travelled per-capita
• Change in per-capita urban area
• Alternative fuel stations
• Length of total bike lanes
• Developed land per-capita

TODAY’S TASK

Review list of proposed strategies and identify potential actions, implementation time-frame, potential sources of funding , and prioritize.