U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

Coastal communities increasingly realize the need for adaptation strategies, but many are unsure where to begin. Attend this two-day, instructor-led course to gain a thorough grounding and practical skills for incorporating adaptation strategies into planning processes. Time in class is provided to practice applying what you’ve learned, and opportunities for local collaboration and next steps are emphasized through discussion, participant activities, and local speakers and examples. The course is designed for planners, public works staff, floodplain managers, hazard mitigation planners, sustainability managers, emergency managers, community groups, members of civic organizations, and coastal resource managers. Participants are eligible for continuing education credits through the American Institute of Certified Planners and Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) professional certifications.

This manual describes a method developed by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University for climate vulnerability mapping that can be applied to any geographic area. The manual was designed for a five-day training course for GIS analysts in the framework, data, and methods to develop a vulnerability map using the spatial index approach. The primary focus is on the methods needed to process and transform the raw spatial data in order to develop a spatial vulnerability index (and constituent indices for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) using a combination of ArcGIS and R statistical computing software. Developed with Tetra Tech ARD under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research, and Economic Development (PREPARED) and the African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) projects. Best used as a guide for training courses, though can be used by individuals to develop vulnerability maps.

This workshop process—developed through The Nature Conservancy's Coastal Resilience network (coastalresilience.org)—fosters collaboration with and among community stakeholders to advance education, planning, and ultimately implementation of priority resilience actions. The freely downloadable Workshop Guide provides instructions on how to lead your community towards resilience, illustrating the essentials of the process as well as “before” and “after” workshop steps to help ensure that immediate goals, outcomes, and strategic direction are realized within your community. Also available from the website are workshop support materials, including a risk matrix, invitation language, community survey questions, and suggestions for participant affiliations.

Communities experiencing increasing incidents of coastal flooding are looking for relief. This online guide shows spatial analysts how to incorporate nature-based solutions, or green infrastructure, into their GIS work. A GIS work plan is provided, along with examples, process guidance, case studies, and templates.

This training module is designed to increase understanding of the causes of climate change, its potential impacts on water resources, and the challenges water resource managers are facing. Optional supplementary information on climate change impacts in the United States is included at the end of the course. This module is one of the core modules for the Watershed Academy Certificate Program. Completing this course entitles EPA employees to one Continuous Learning Point (CLP); non-EPA professional certifications can be used as described on the course's webpage.

This training will teach and reinforce awareness of heat-related illness among coaches, athletic trainers, students, school nurses, parents, and teachers. It will also promote the development and implementation of guidelines by these participants.

This is an active, hands-on training to help natural resources managers incorporate climate change considerations into their own real-world ecosystem management projects (not only forests). Participants are guided through the steps of the Adaptation Workbook to define their management objectives, identify relevant regional and local effects of climate change on forest ecosystems, identify challenges and opportunities for management, and develop actionable steps to adapt ecosystems to changing conditions. Participants are encouraged to access post-training support from the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, and to share their stories online as “adaptation demonstrations” at www.forestadaptation.org.

EPA’s Local Government Climate Adaptation Training helps local officials, municipal staff, and community leaders understand the changing climate and threats posed by climate change to local government services. The module covers climate impacts to water and wastewater services, air quality, public health, contaminated site management, and emergency response. The training also highlights some communities that have taken adaptation actions and provides a list of resources to support climate adaptation planning and implementation in local communities.