Climate Risk Assessment & Resilience Plan Development

The North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS) is collaborating with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) and the Climate Change Interagency Council  in the development of an NC Climate Science Report (NCCSR). The NCCSR will provide a comprehensive report on the state of the science for North Carolina and will serve as the scientific contribution to the North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resiliency Plan, as mandated by Section 9 of Executive Order 80, North Carolina’s Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy. The NCCSR will also aid state policy and decision-makers in understanding the state of the climate science, and identifying associated risks and opportunities for North Carolina.

NCICS facilitates climate-related research across the UNC system and its partner organizations. The primary federal sponsor for NCICS is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Asheville, North Carolina; as such, NCICS conducts innovative research to support and advance NOAA’s mission goals. More information on NCICS’ research and expertise can be found on the NCICS website (https://ncics.org/about/about-ncics/).

About NCICS

North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS), part of North Carolina State University, is a unique center of excellence showcasing a partnership between universities, the private sector, non-profit organizations, community groups, and the federal government. As an inter-institutional research institute of the University of North Carolina system, NCICS facilitates climate-related research across the UNC system and its partner organizations. The primary federal sponsor for NCICS is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Asheville, North Carolina; as such, NCICS conducts innovative research to support and advance NOAA’s mission goals. More information on NCICS’ research and expertise can be found on the NCICS website (https://ncics.org/about/about-ncics/).

Several NCICS staff work with NOAA’s Technical Support Unit for the National Climate Assessment, with extensive expertise in climate science, science writing and technical editing, climate data and analysis, data visualizations, and technical report production. This same NCICS group of staff also produced NOAA’s State Climate Summaries.This expertise will be leveraged in the production of the NCCSR.

Climate Science Advisory Panel

NCICS has also formed a Climate Science Advisory Panel (CSAP). The CSAP is comprised of climate science experts from multiple NC academic institutions who will serve as potential co-authors and reviewers of the report.  CSAP members were chosen based on published research in climate science and expert recommendations.

Key Milestones

• March 2019   Initial Engagement with DEQ to Confirm Scope and Roles  
• April 2019   First Engagement with Cabinet Designees
• May-June 2019   Needs Gathering and Validation 
• June-July 2019   Onboard Climate Science Advisory Panel 
• June 2019   Draft Outline of Report
• July 2019   Final Outline of Report 
• August - September 2019   Develop Draft Report Content 
• October-November 2019   Review and Revise Report 
• December 2019   Report Production
• January 2019  Report Delivery

Key Aspects of the Report

• Report based on the latest scientific and technical inputs of the extensive peer-reviewed National Climate Assessment, the North Carolina State Climate Summary, and climate science experts
• Analysis based on input and requirements identified by NC cabinet designees
• Updates to be provided by the NC DEQ and the NC Climate Change Interagency Council
• Transparency of process, science and data
• An extensive review process involving climate science experts

In an effort to gain stakeholder input for the NC Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan, DEQ, in conjunction with its sister cabinet agencies and interested community partners, will be hosting Regional Resiliency Workshops in the Mountain and Piedmont regions of the state.  The purpose of these workshops will be to convene stakeholders to:

• learn about some of the latest climate science available for the state,
• share regional climate change and resiliency challenges,
• generate strategies that could be implemented at the local level,
• generate recommendations that could be implemented at the state level, and
• prioritize regional vulnerabilities to be addressed in the North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan

Expected attendees of these workshops include:

• Local Government Officials
• Elected Officials
• Town/County Managers
• City/County Planners
• Emergency and Floodplain Managers
• Public Works Staff
• Community, Tribal, and Faith-Based Organizations
• Agricultural Representatives

Anticipated Timeline

• Jan. 2019 – May 2019:  State climate assessment and hazards assessment performed by subject matter experts
  • Natural Working Lands group work is underway. Learn More
  • Division of Coastal Management Workgroup met in February to plan summer workshops for local government input on building coastal resilience. 
  • Division of Coastal Management Workgroup hosted Northeast and Southeast Regional Resilience Workshops for Local Governments in Elizabeth City (5/2) and Wilmington (5/14). Workshops were designed to better understand recent climate-science and implications for the region, examples of approaches and strategies to build resilience, local impacts of natural hazards/stressors, and how the state should support local efforts. Workshop materials and presentations are available here.
• June 2019 – Aug 2019:  Vulnerability and risk assessment conducted through stakeholder meetings
• Aug. 2019 – Oct. 2019:  Explore options/solutions and prioritize feasible actions
• Oct. 2019 - Nov. 2019: Mountain and Piedmont Regional Resilience Workshops