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Upcoming ECI Activities

View Past Events here. ECI frequently co-sponsors lectures and events with affiliated departments. IInterested in co-sponsoring a seminar with ECI? Contact Marty Downs.

View the whole calendar of upcoming seminars and events.

Highlighted events for 2011-2012 academic year:

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February 28 at 4 p.m.
Kassar House Auditorium
151 Thayer Street, Providence

Barriers to Adaptation:  The Challenges of Managing Climate Risks and How Local Communities Can Overcome Them

Susanne Moser, Ph.D., Director and Principal Researcher Susanne Moser Research & Consulting in Santa Cruz, California

About Susanne Moser:As a leading US expert on adaptation, science-policy interactions, decision support, and climate change communication, I emphasize practical, collaborative, solutions-oriented work. I have extensive experience working in the US and in Europe, in coastal, forest, and conservation sectors, and in urban and rural communities. I have led and participated in projects which assess the impacts of climate change; examine the vulnerabilities and preparedness of communities and ecosystems; and identify barriers to adaptation to help develop strategies to overcome them. My focus on policy analysis, governance, communication, and human behavior stems from my commitment to putting the best available science to work in policy and management arenas. I can help find the most effective ways to constructively engage the public in decisions about their future. The goal of my work is to help increase resilience, reduce vulnerability, and transform the ways we interact with our environment and each other to sustain a livable planet and live peaceful, satisfying lives.

Abstract: Adaptation to climate change has risen sharply on the scientific and policy agendas in recent years. How communities can adapt to the projected impacts of climate change, and what may hinder them from doing so is both of academic interest and pressing practical concern. This presentation will take a close look at the efforts of communities in coastal California (San Francisco Bay) in understanding, planning, and preparing for expected climate change risks, the barriers they face, and the strategies they pursue to overcome those obstacles. The implications of the research findings are both challenging some conventional notions of adaptive capacity, especially in wealthy nations such as the US, but also offer practical insights for assisting local communities as they try to manage the consequences of climate change locally.

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