Welcome to the Carpe Diem West Academy Discussion Forum. This feature allows Academy users to share information, thoughts, questions and suggestions with each other creating virtual conversations between water manager on water-climate issues in the American West. We hope this feature facilitates the richessness of peer-to-peer learning and interaction and creates a venue to build relationships and connections.
Past Webinars
Archive
Getting Through the Bottleneck: Vulnerability Assessment
Aired: March 21st, 2012, 1:00 pm PT/2:00 pm MT
Presenters: Laurna Kaatz - Climate Scientist, Planning Division, Denver Water
Curt Baranowski - Team Lead, Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative USEPA
Dr. Holly Hartmann - Carpe Diem West Academy Director & University of Arizona
Dr. Kiyomi Morino - Research Associate, University of Arizona
Description
In the Academy’s first webinar, we talked about the “adaptation bottleneck,” where decision-makers have awareness of the broader impacts of climate change but are finding it difficult to move forward in the development of adaptation policies. In these cases, climate change knowledge is too general to be practically applied. More specific information is needed.
This is where vulnerability assessment comes in – it has three main objectives: 1) to identify who or what has the most exposure to climate change; 2) to determine the range of tolerance for these entities; and 3) to characterize the ability of the system, including social and institutional factors, to accommodate climate change.
With this information in hand, decision-makers can begin to formulate adaptation policy and proceed with collecting climate change information relevant to their organization, leaving the bottleneck behind!
Join us as we learn from experts in the field about how to do vulnerability assessments, key lessons, and how to best share the findings with decision makers.
Getting Out on the Dance Floor:
Embracing Uncertainty & Scenario Planning
Aired: January 31, 2012
Presenters: Dr. Armin Munevar, P.E. - Global Technology Leader, CH2M Hill
Wally Wilson - Lead Hydrologist, Tucson Water
Holly Hartmann - Carpe Diem West Academy Director & University of Arizona
Dr. Kiyomi Morino - Researcher, University of Arizona
Description
On Carpe Diem West Academy’s November 8, 2011 webinar, we addressed some of the challenges in using projections of climate change downscaled from global climate models. Downscaled projections have a place in preparing for climate change but, especially at longer timescales, the uncertainties related to future emissions trajectories will not be reduced, even with better science. Further, other forces that affect water resources can be as important (such as regulations, regional development, costs) and as uncertain. How can we handle such large levels of uncertainty?
On this webinar, we’ll look at scenario planning, a framework for thinking about climate and impacts information in a different way — not trying to reduce or precisely quantify uncertainty, but rather how to ensure that decisions can succeed in spite of great uncertainty. Scenario planning methods are ideal for helping to rapidly scope problems, identify the importance and consequences of key uncertainties, assess and prioritize feasible decision options, and identify key decision points. Scenario planning also provides flexibility to concurrently consider non-climatic concerns.
Downscaling, Upscaling + A Few Things in Between: Assessing Climate Risk, Making Decisions
Aired: November 8, 2011
Presenters: Brad Udall - Western Water Assessment
Laura Briefer - Salt Lake City Public Utilities
Dr. Holly Hartmann - Carpe Diem West Academy Director & University of Arizona
Dr. Kiyomi Morino - Researcher, University of Arizona
Description
This webinar explores the proverbial million-dollar question: When should western water managers and decision makers use which downscale climate models, and why?
Learn more about:
- How to more effectively assess which downscale models to use
- The relationship between modeling and scenario planning
- Where the science is headed
- Stage appropriate tools
Running the Climate Rapids: Using the Iterative Risk Management Roadmap
Aired: September 27, 2011
Presenters: Dr. Holly Hartmann – Carpe Diem West Academy Director & University of Arizona
Dr. Kiyomi Morino – Researcher, University of Arizona
Description
This webinar explains how the robust Iterative Risk Management Framework (originally developed by the United Kingdom Climate Impacts Program and endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences) can help western water managers, NGOs and agency staff to:
- Recognize and evaluate risks posed by a changing climate
- Make best use of available information about climate change
- Find stage-appropriate tools
Have questions, comments or suggestions? Email us!
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