Webinar: Integrating Climate and Resilience with Equity

Event Date: December 6, 2024
Host: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB)
Moderator: Dr. Lisa Wainger, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Introduction

The ICPRB hosted the eighth webinar in its ongoing series to explore sustainable land use practices, focusing on integrating climate resilience and equity. This event highlighted tools, data, and strategies that address climate change impacts while prioritizing social equity in resource management and funding allocation.

Key Themes and Objectives

  1. Understanding Climate Resilience:
    • Participants explored climate resilience in the context of water resource management, with a focus on equitable outcomes.
    • The webinar aimed to share tools and insights for effectively deploying resources in vulnerable communities.
  2. Equity Integration:
    • Addressing the disproportionate burden of climate impacts on underserved populations.
    • Ensuring that resilience planning includes social vulnerability metrics.

Presentations

  1. Dr. Ned Gardiner (NOAA): Climate Resilience Toolkit
    • Overview:
      • Gardiner introduced NOAA’s Climate Resilience Toolkit, emphasizing a structured, five-step approach to resilience.
      • The toolkit supports understanding climate risks and implementing equity-focused actions.
    • Key Example:
      • A case study from Southeast Michigan showcased a data-driven method to assess and address social vulnerabilities related to flooding and access to essential services (e.g., hospitals and grocery stores).
    • Additional Resources:
  2. Dr. Benjamin Gurrentz (U.S. Census Bureau): Community Resilience Estimates (CRE)
    • Overview:
      • Gurrentz highlighted the CRE tool, which provides detailed, census-tract-level insights into social vulnerability.
      • The tool uses ten indicators, including poverty, disability, and broadband access, to identify high-risk populations.
    • Key Features:
      • Incorporates small-area modeling for precise and reliable estimates.
      • Provides statistical flags to compare local vulnerabilities against national averages.
    • Equity Component:
      • Introduced the CRE for Equity tool, which contextualizes vulnerabilities with additional socioeconomic data.
  3. Terrell Tiendrebeogo (EPA): Funding Integration Tool for Source Water (FITS)
    • Overview:
      • Tiendrebeogo discussed FITS, a comprehensive resource consolidating federal funding sources for source water protection.
    • Utility:
      • FITS connects users to funding opportunities for watershed protection, emphasizing resilience planning for vulnerable communities.
    • Case Studies:
      • Real-world examples of successful multi-funding strategies were shared, illustrating practical applications.

Q&A Highlights

  1. Comparison of Vulnerability Tools:
    • The CRE was compared to tools like EJSCREEN, with emphasis on its use of microdata and small-area estimation for household-level precision.
  2. Tool Longevity Amid Political Change:
    • Panelists addressed concerns about the sustainability of federally supported tools, emphasizing bipartisan support for safe drinking water and disaster readiness.
  3. Resource Allocation:
    • Panelists highlighted the importance of prioritizing vulnerable communities in funding and resilience planning.

Key Takeaways

  1. Data-Driven Decision-Making:
    • Tools like NOAA’s Climate Resilience Toolkit, the Census Bureau’s CRE, and the EPA’s FITS enable stakeholders to make informed decisions tailored to community needs.
  2. Equity as a Central Component:
    • Addressing social vulnerability requires a nuanced understanding of risk factors and targeted resource allocation.
  3. Collaboration Across Agencies:
    • Interagency tools and frameworks provide integrated solutions for climate resilience and equity challenges.

Conclusion

The webinar highlighted the importance of integrating climate resilience with equity. It underscored the value of using advanced tools and interagency collaboration to address climate-related challenges while prioritizing the needs of underserved communities. During the webinar, ICPRB and its partners provided actionable insights and resources for practitioners, laying the groundwork for effective and equitable resource management in the Potomac River basin and beyond.

Additional resources and links: Tools & Resources for Integrating Climate and Resilience with Equity

For more information, contact ICPRB or the individual agencies represented in the webinar. Previous webinars can be found on ICPRB’s YouTube page.

Contact us for more information