Abstract

GIS for Developing Local Climate Projections for Community Preparation Planning
Track: Climate Change and Conservation
Authors: Cindy Williams

Despite the tardy realization by non-scientists that climate change is real, significant change already has occurred and globally is causing loss of over 300,000 lives each year. These changes are predicted to become even more severe during the rest of the 21st century. While resources dedicated to global and national climate planning are increasing, resources available for regional scales are sparse and virtually absent for local and individual scales.

Through ClimateWise, the Geos Institute offers regional and local health and human services providers an analysis of what climate projections suggest might happen to environmental conditions at these levels. Armed with such projections, these providers can develop strategies for adapting to changes likely to confront them.

This presentation will identify some of the regional projections that have been developed by ClimateWise, and delineate
some strategies to reduce suffering that have been developed by providers armed with these projections.