An emergency declaration for a border wall as a measure for national security is not an incongruity lost on many Americans. It becomes troubling to learn, however, that some of the money being diverted to fund a border wall will come from construction funding to strengthen the resilience of US military bases--thereby diminishing capacity for national security.
The Trump administration aims to grab $3.6 billion from Defense Department Military construction funds. Concerns abound across the political spectrum that this will negatively impact previously prioritized projects, such as military family housing, schools, and service animal treatment facilities and other critical upgrades and base improvements. This has direct bearing on adaptation and resilience capacity for numerous military construction projects.
For example, military bases on the South Carolina coast are at risk for annual flooding events to nearly double in the coming decades. In Florida, the Tyndall Air Force base has already sustained severe damage from last year’s hurricanes, and future funding remains uncertain. The House Appropriations Committee identified nearly $311 million at risk of diversion in Hawaii, including $45 million for improvements at Pearl Harbor and another $123 million for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
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The irony that diverting funds from military construction projects to pay for a security measure that actually undermines security is stark. As Rep. Kendra Horn, Member of the House Armed Service Committee simply states,
“Pulling from our military housing does not make us safer. In fact, it makes us more vulnerable.”
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Nevertheless, we find it heartening that this may afford an opportunity to reach across the political aisle and forge some unlikely allies. Consider this your call to action to reach out to elected officials today and advocate for resilience.
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Fall 2018 Resilience Dialogues Synthesis Report Now Available
The synthesis reports for the Fall 2018 Resilience Dialogues communities are now available online. The Fall 2018 dialogues are supporting climate resilience action in  Beaumont, TX, Bradford County, FL, and Winters, CA. Highlights include: strengthening emergency preparedness in the Beaumont community; increasing social cohesion to address the needs of vulnerable residents in Bradford County; and Winters residents are establishing baseline resilience measures and increasing agricultural resilience.
Thank you to all of the ASAP member Resilience Dialogues volunteers!
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Let's have another look at those "emergency" diverted funds numbers:
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$3.6
BILLION
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Funds diverted from Defense Department military construction projects under the emergency declaration |
70
DAYS
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Number of flood event days Charleston, SC is projected to have annually |
128
BASES |
Military bases at risk for coastal submersion from sea level rise |
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Register Today for the ASAP & Georgetown Climate Center Webinar!
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 | 12 p.m. ET | Webinar
ASAP and the Georgetown Climate Center Adaptation Clearinghouse have been collaborating on an interactive digital resource that will soon be accessible to all ASAP members. In this webinar you will learn how to use your ASAP Digest to seamlessly connect to vetted, curated information from leading providers including Georgetown Climate Center (GCC), U.S. Forest Service, and Climate Access. Register now for the webinar. This webinar will be recorded.
2019 New Member Led Interest Groups Orientation
Friday, March 8, 2019 | 2:00 p.m. ET | Webinar
All member groups are invited to an initial meeting for an orientation. This meeting is an opportunity for group members and leaders to learn about each other’s goals for the coming year and learn about how ASAP staff can help to build successful group experiences. This orientation also offers members a chance to find out more about leadership opportunities in the new interest groups. Register for the orientation.
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Bay Area Hub Adaptation Salon
March 18, 2019 | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. PDT | @SPUR in San Francisco, CA | RSVP
Join colleagues in the San Francisco Bay Area for an Adaptation Salon! The Bay Area Hub is hosting an Adaptation Salon for folks to engage with one another in facilitated substantive conversations about critical issues in the field. Since the enlightenment, salons have been recognized as a catalyst for intellectual development and insights leading to significant social change and cultural advances. We invite you to join us in discussion in this exciting time! Space is limited, please RSVP. For more information please contact ASAP Members Katharine Pan or Hannah Doress, Co-founder ASAP Bay Area Hub (415)450-0110 (call/text).
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Events, Conferences, & Workshops
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ASAP Workshop at the 2019 Climate Leadership Conference
March 20 - 22, 2019 | Baltimore, MD
Join us in Baltimore to connect with the nation’s thought leaders and decision-makers at the 8th annual Climate Leadership Conference (CLC). ASAP is hosting The Field of Climate Adaptation and Applications to Your Work workshop on Wednesday, March 20 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. View the program agenda and current speaker line-up to engage and network with the nation’s leaders on climate. ASAP Members receive a 15% discount off registration for the Climate Leadership Conference! Register today with discount code CLC-ASAP-15.
ASAP Member Discount for Climate City Expo (CCx)
March 29 - April 7, 2019 | Asheville, NC
Climate City Expo (CCx) offers professional and experiential tracks for individuals to explore innovation at the forefront of climate adaptation and resilience. The heart of the experience is CCx: Business, a convening of global leaders and visionaries in business, climate science, sustainability, data, and entrepreneurship, to discuss risks, opportunities, and solutions to humanity’s biggest challenge. For a 25% discount to CCx: Business, use the code CCxASAP.
2019 National Adaptation Forum
April 23 - 25, 2019 | Madison, WI
The National Adaptation Forum will gather adaptation practitioners in the Midwest’s beloved Madison, Wisconsin. Attendees will learn how to make their work climate-informed, share what they learned with others, and develop a stronger network of like-minded peers. There will be an ASAP session held on Wednesday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m., followed by an ASAP-hosted social event. Come join us for the ASAP-at-NAF Block Party! ASAP Members receive a $50 discount when you register for the National Adaptation Forum. Contact Dawn Nelson to request and receive your unique discount code.
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SWCS Annual Conference 2019
July 28-31, 2019 | Pittsburgh, PA
In the northeastern United States, food production has taken different forms over time, and management of soil and water has been accelerated by agricultural and urban dynamics. This rich and varied land use history makes the region a prime location to unite conservation experts to preserve our natural resources. Paths to meet current soil and water conservation needs look very different from the solutions that galvanized action after the Dust Bowl, and they will continue to evolve. Come to Pittsburgh and be part of that shared conservation future!
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Funding Opportunity: Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award
Rachel’s Network is a community of women at the intersection of environmental advocacy, philanthropy, and leadership whose mission is to promote women as impassioned leaders and agents of change dedicated to the stewardship of the earth. This program will provide women leaders of color support and recognition for their commitment to a healthy planet, and will award up to five winners each year with funding, mentorship and networking opportunities, and national recognition within the environmental, philanthropic, and women’s leadership communities. Application deadline April 15, 2019.
Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner Program
Adaptation for the conservation ecologists: The Society of Ecological Restoration ecological restoration practitioner certification program is for those who are designing, implementing, overseeing, and monitoring restoration projects. Application deadline April 19, 2019.
RFP: Pueblo of Laguna Vulnerability Assessments
The Pueblo of Laguna is requesting proposals for professional services to develop vulnerability assessments of infrastructure & the built environment and health & wellness, in order to initiate adaptation planning that will enhance the Pueblo’s resilience to extreme weather and related events. For a complete RFP contact Sharon Hausam, Planning Program Manager, at shausam@pol-nsn.gov. One pdf version of the proposal must be received by the Pueblo of Laguna Planning Program, as an attachment to an email to shausam@pol-nsn.gov, by 3 p.m. MST on March 1, 2019.
Maryland Resiliency Hub Grant Program
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has created a $5 million Resiliency Hub Grant Program (for FY 2019) to provide funding for the construction of community resiliency hubs with solar power and battery storage. The purpose of a resiliency hub is to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy during power grid outages and solar power investments in at-risk communities that can also serve to reduce the cost of electricity to the hosting site during normal grid operation. Application deadline is March 1, 2019.
The Kresge Foundation Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative
The Kresge Foundation has an open request for proposals for their Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative. Community-based, nonprofit organizations with a desire to accelerate work at the intersection of climate change, health, and equity in urban, low-income communities in the US are invited to submit an application for the planning phase of this strategy. Check the Kresge Foundation website to learn more about this RFP opportunity. Application deadline March 19, 2019.
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Jobs
Director, Climate Policy Analysis
Department of Environmental Conservation | Albany, NY
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking applicants for the position of Director of the Office of Climate Change (OCC). Governor Cuomo has established New York as a leader in the fight against climate change. Under the Direction of Commissioner Seggos, the Office of Climate Change plays a critical role in implementing New York’s climate leadership. Application deadline March 8, 2019.
Deputy Director for Climate Science and Risk Communication
Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR) | New York, NY
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency seeks a Deputy Director for Climate Science and Risk Communication to shape and advance integration of climate science into the City’s resiliency projects, working across ORR, City agencies, and the members of the New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC), a Mayor-appointed advisory board of climate scientists required by local law to provide updated climate projections every three years.
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship: Climate Change
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI
Post-doctoral Research Fellow sought to oversee analysis of a mail survey data regarding adaptation to climate change among individual forest landowners. The goal of the research is to describe and explain how individuals perceive and respond to local hazards and risks from global climate change. The post-doc will oversee a team of graduate and undergraduate students to quantitatively analyze mail survey data from owners of forested parcels in areas that have experienced climate impacts in the Upper Midwest. If you have questions contact Paige Fischer at apfisch@umich.edu.
Associate Director, Global Resilience Practice – North America
100 Resilient Cities, The Rockefeller Foundation | New York, NY
The Associate Director, Global Resilience Practice (AD) will play a key role in defining the impact of the 100 Resilient Cities Challenge by helping a portfolio of cities in the region leverage the 100RC network as they create and implement resilience plans. The AD will be the primary liaison between a current and future defined portfolio of approximately ten North American cities. S/he will ultimately become fluent in the resilience needs of the cities in his/her portfolio, as well local political and policy contexts, while establishing and implementing 100RC programs.
Engagement Manager, Global Commission on Adaptation
World Resources Institute | Washington, DC
Support the Global Commission on Adaptation in the development and execution of its global agenda and political strategy. You will play a key role in leading outreach and mobilization of the Commission’s co-leads, commissioners, convening countries, partners and other external audiences. The Global Commission was launched in October 2018 to make the case and accelerate global action on adaptation.
Communications Manager, Global Commission on Adaptation
World Resources Institute | Washington, DC
In this role as Communications Manager for the Global Commission on Adaptation, you will provide communication leadership and guidance for a new high-level initiative to accelerate climate adaptation worldwide. You will lead in the planning and implementation of ambitious, comprehensive communication strategies and engage with top-tier media, support high-level events with global leaders, and provide vision and leadership to expand the influence and reach of the Global Commission.
Policy Program Director, Green Communities
Enterprise Community Partners | Washington, D.C.
The Green Communities Policy Program Director will lead efforts in support of an Equitable Climate Resilience Initiative. This staff member will develop and execute a policy agenda in coordination with Enterprise Green Communities team and partners to advance the adoption of green affordable housing practices across the country. This staff member will regularly coordinate with Enterprise’s 11 local market offices to align the national agenda with state, regional and local policy needs and relationships.
Manager, Resilient Communities and Watersheds
Sonoran Institute | Denver, CO
The Sonoran Institute’s Colorado Growing Water Smart (CGWS) program helps communities bridge the gap between water management and land use planning to build a more resilient future. The Manager is responsible for education and outreach activities designed to promote community participation in CGWS and elevating the program’s profile among local and state officials. The Manager represents the organization at various partner meetings, conferences and other public venues and will contribute content and editorial review for social media, online resources, and various publications.
CIRES/NIDIS Communications Coordinator
University of Colorado-Boulder | Boulder, CO
CIRES and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) seek an engaging communicator to strategize and implement external and internal communications for multiple audiences across the nation. The Communications Coordinator fulfills a critical role in the implementation of NIDIS, a federal multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, and planning and information at national, state, and local levels. Its mission is to help the nation to move to a more proactive approach to managing drought risks and impacts, and to improve long-term drought resilience.
CIRES/NIDIS Regional Drought Information Systems Coordinator
University of Colorado-Boulder | Boulder, CO
The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) are seeking a full-time Regional Drought Information Systems Coordinator to work as part of an interdisciplinary team as the coordinator for selected regional NIDIS drought early warning information systems. NIDIS is a federal interagency and interstate effort to establish a national drought early warning information system in the U.S.
Outreach Program Manager
University of Wisconsin-Madison | Superior, WI
The Outreach Program Manager is responsible for providing coastal stakeholders with outreach and applied research relevant to the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center (ASC) mission and administering a multi-county outreach program based at the Lake Superior Field Office. ASC administers the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute and the Wisconsin Water Resources Institute which support multidisciplinary research, education and outreach for the protection and sustainable use of Wisconsin's water resources.
Coasts Communications Manager
Audubon | New Orleans, LA
The Communications Manager will work with staff and partners along the coasts and across the Gulf region as well as nationally to help position Audubon as a leader in conservation and restoration working to address ongoing environmental challenges for birds and people including recovery from the BP oil spill, hurricanes, habitat loss, climate change, and more. The position will leverage effective storytelling, media relations, social media and marketing strategies, and online advocacy to reach target audiences with Audubon’s key messages and priorities for the Gulf in compelling and innovative ways.
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