Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Network:
Can vulnerability assessment tools across a network sustain effective partnerships for climate adaptation?
Coproducing climate information improves Great Lakes cities' adaptation to climate change, but how can these partnerships be sustained long-term?
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Cities around the Great Lakes increasingly face the impacts of climate change, from more frequent and intense storms to increased high heat days. But as city managers begin to prepare plans to adapt to these changes, they struggle to find the right types of climate data to inform their decision-making. The information generated by universities and research institutes is not translating into action on the ground. This case study shares a successful model that has linked a number of organizations together to provide Great Lakes cities with the information they need to adapt. It highlights the formation of the Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Network (GLCAN) and the development of a common “Vulnerability Assessment” template that combines climate and socioeconomic data to help communities identify vulnerable populations and infrastructure. By sharing lessons learned and emerging questions, this case provides insights into the organizational structures that can help connect producers of environmental information with those who need the information to make decisions and better plan for the future.
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