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Although climate change is all over the news, most discussions focus on reducing carbon emissions. While such steps are critical, communities and natural systems will still face significant climatic impacts for many decades to come - even if net emissions fall drastically.
As a result, people must begin adapting to climate change now.
Rising Waters is a collaborative effort to protect people and nature in the Hudson Valley from threats associated with climate change. The effort will bring together diverse Hudson Valley interests to identify common solutions to the consequences of climate change. By developing strategies together, we will also build the support necessary for implementation.
The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern New York Chapter is spearheading Rising Waters with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University, and Sustainable Hudson Valley.
Global Challenges, Local Consequences
Climate change and sea level rise threaten the Hudson River Estuary watershed’s rich biological and cultural heritage through higher sea levels, more frequent floods, and drought. How we respond to these impacts can create problems, too. For example, the usual response to floods is construction of levees and sea walls. Does anyone want to see the Hudson converted to a 153-mile long culvert lined with 20’ levees?
The effects of climate change on different interests will vary, but the root problems remain the same, and solutions that help one interest can be designed to benefit many. Planning now will allow us to find strategies that protect people, the environment, and our region’s economy. Reacting after damaging and expensive storms risks short-sighted “solutions” that benefit few and create new problems that we will have to solve later.
Rising Waters will bring together representatives of many different interests, including wastewater treatment plant operators, railroad companies, waterfront business owners, emergency rescue workers, riverside landowners, insurers, and wildlife managers.
Solutions for People and Nature
Using a series of scenarios designed by workshop participants and climate experts, Rising Waters will explore the expected effects of climate change on communities and the environment, and identify strategies that we can implement to protect both.
Rising Waters will center on three, two-day workshops. Between the workshops, smaller working groups of experts and leaders will integrate the technical detail necessary for informed decision-making in the workshops.
The first workshop, which is by invitation only, will be held on April 8-9, 2008 at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY. The second workshop will take place during the summer of 2008, and the final will be held in the spring of 2009. The project will be completed in June, 2009.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © David VanLuven (flooded yard); Photo © Joshua Paul (dilapidated house).
