Related Information
| Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative |
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Emerging scientific research indicates that the Western U.S. will be disproportionately impacted by climactic variability and change. This is due to the natural topographical and geographical diversity of the region combined with increased population growth and a changing economy. In particular, research has found that water resources, natural ecosystems, agriculture and tourism could be significantly impacted by any increase in average temperature. The dominance of federal land coupled with complex water adjudications has complicated the ability of the region to reach consensus on adaptation policies. Western Governors have adopted resolutions that specifically speak to Regional and National Policies Regarding Global Climate Change and Supporting the Integration of Climate Change Adaptation Science in the West. In the latter resolution, the Governors encouraged Congress and the Administration to create a National Climate Service, which is now being pursued within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Governors support streamlined coordination of federal agnecies that respond to climate adaptation and greater cooperation with state agencies, and they agreed the new entity should undertake, coordinate and communicate necessary research and modeling with respect to climate change and adaptation. The new service should also provide relevant decision-making tools for local and state governments in addressing climate change and adaptation issues; connect social, health and economic trends to climate change (and vice versa); and include in its mission public education and outreach.
Climate Adaptation Work Group In their policy resolution 09-2 Western Governors called for the formation of a Climate Adaptation Work Group whose purpose is to 1) determine appropriate uses of climate adaptation modeling in informing natural resource and economic infrastructure planning and policies, and 2) to identify and fill existing gaps in climate adaptation efforts within WGA. This work group may also review current and future climate legislation to assess the impact to states and their efforts to adapt to a changing climate and report their findings to the WGA Staff Council. The Work Group is currently comprised of representatives from WGA projects related to water, wildlife, forests and air. At their winter meeting, the Western Governors convened a session on climate adaptation. David Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, headlined the session with a presentation on federal activities relating to climate adaptation. David discussed the impacts of climate to Western lands, the Secretary's Order on Climate Change Response and the development of Regional Science Centers and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives. Hayes expressed DOI's commitment to working with Western states to respond to climate impacts (view presentation). The panel also included on-the-ground resource managers in the Western United States, who discussed impacts to their resource sectors: David Behar, Water Utility Climate Alliance; Del Walters, California Department of Forestry; Robert Model, Boone and Crockett Club; Elliot Mainzer, Bonneville Power Administration.
The Governors are advocating for creation of a comprehensive national drought policy. Such a policy would support a proactive approach toward drought and water shortages at all levels of government and the private sector. Given that droughts are predicted to be more frequent and with greater intensity in the West under climate warming scenarios, a national drought policy would provide a sound basis for adaptation.
Forestry and water agencies are in a unique position to not only help guide the development of these programs, but also assist in program delivery at the local level. Funds to support state climate mitigation and adaptation efforts should recognize the many important roles state forest and water agencies play in encouraging carbon friendly forest management. Forests play an important role as we can capitalize on the potential of forests to sequester carbon and increase the production of renewable energy through the use of small diameter wood products. Sustainably managed forests are a strategic asset for meeting national goals for producing renewable energy and fuels. Utilization of forest biomass to provide renewable fuels will also give land managers more options to reduce hazardous fuels, improve forest health and improve carbon sequestration rates. The WGA Forest Health Advisory Committee has developed a subcommittee specifically working on Climate Change/Adaptation, focusing on forest lands. The subcommittee is identifying priorities and action items to address the concerns of the governors in the area of forest and rangeland health.
Large intact and functioning ecosystems, healthy fish and wildlife populations, and abundant public access to natural landscapes are a significant contributing factor to the West's economic and in-migration boom as well as quality of life. Critical wildlife migration corridors and crucial wildlife habitats are necessary to maintain flourishing wildlife populations, however many of these areas have not been identified, or are not identified in ways that are available to decision-making in development processes. The Western Governors formed the Western Governors’ Wildlife Council to work in partnership with federal agencies, industry and NGOs, to identify key wildlife corridors and crucial wildlife habitats in the West and make recommendations on needed policy options and tools for preserving those landscapes. Included in this identification should be research to understand climate change impacts to crucial habitat and wildlife corridors, and necessary steps should be taken to support adaptation to climate change.
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The Partnerships, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, involve diverse stakeholders in their process. They are currently doing small-scale testing of geological and terrestrial sequestration. Transportation Fuels
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The Governors released the report 
Western Governors brought together experts from around the region in 2008 to develop a roadmap for advancing and deploying alternative transportation fuels. While the major impetus is to address concerns of oil shortages, price spikes and national security, the Governors believe fuels reduce global warming impacts from transportation. The Governors' accepted the roadmap report and adopted policy to encourage implementation. 
