Engaging Stakeholders in Embracing Uncertainty in Climate Projections for Adaptation Planning

At the 2017 National Adaptation Forum, members of the nationwide Climate Science Center network debuted a new workshop designed to introduce participants to the challenges and opportunities in using future climate projections for adaptation planning. The workshop was developed in response to the confusion, concern, or lack of awareness about uncertainties inherent in future climate projections that users of these projections often experience. This confusion and concern can impede the proper use of future climate projections in adaptation actions, potentially resulting in maladaptive or ineffective outcomes. The Climate Science Center team created an interactive training session aimed at building participant confidence in using an ensemble of climate model projections in their decision making processes. The training was also designed to help participants understand the benefits of working closely with climate scientists and boundary organizations to select the climate projections most relevant to their decision problem.

The workshop, titled “Using Future Climate Projections in Adaptation Planning: A Layman’s Guide,” consisted of a short presentation-style introduction to sources of uncertainty in future climate projects and a small-group activity in which participants applied future climate projections to a real-world management challenge. Further adaptations of the workshop are currently in development in response to requests for replicating the exercise for several organizations.

This presentation will discuss how the session was developed, how it played out in practice, and key lessons learned by the participants and facilitators. The presentation’s key points would be drawn from a summary report already drafted by the session designers. By offering a new approach to engaging practitioners in the use of climate projections, we hope to provide a useful resource for researchers, practitioners, and communications professionals as they navigate the use of climate information.