2014/07/16 Council Agenda Packet

L-2: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION Introduction to the Considerations of Adaptation to Climate Change in the Long -Range Transportation Planning Process INTRODUCTION The impacts from the transportation sector on climate change, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions produced from mobile sources, have been addressed throughout the Transportation 2040 planning process and continue to be discussed and analyzed at the local, regional, state and national level. Another important consideration, however, is the impact to the transportation sector from climate change. Addressing and responding to these impacts is commonly referred to as "adaptation." This is an emerging area of study, and there have been relatively few national studies conducted specific to transportation infrastructure and long-range planning. The most notable study conducted has been the 2008 Federal Highway Administration Study, "Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study, Phase 1." Research is being conducted in Washington State and the central Puget Sound region, as well as nationally, regarding adaptation for other sectors, such as water supply, agriculture, etc. The Washington State Department of Ecology (hereafter referred to as Ecology), in coordination with the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (UWCIG), has published several documents related to adaptation to climate change, and is currently working on the requirements of Senate Bill 5560, which calls for the Washington State Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources and Transportation to develop a statewide strategy by December 2011. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the issues of adapting to climate change for the transportation sector, within the context of long-range planning. This is an information -gathering exercise, with thoughts on potential next steps for the region to pursue. This paper is not intended to be a policy statement, but rather a precursor to a possible future work program for additional research and analysis. The paper introduces the topic of adaptation to climate change, both in broad terms and specific to transportation planning. The central Puget Sound region is briefly described, including information on floodplains and historic temperatures. An illustration of inundation from the sea level rise scenarios crafted by the UWCIG is presented, including information on potentially affected infrastructure. Information is also presented regarding past flooding events in the region and their impacts to the transportation system and the region's economy. Current related planning efforts are described in the field of emergency management and agency coordination. Finally, the report concludes with an introduction to the possibilities for future planning efforts and other potential next steps the region and the state could pursue related to adaptation to climate change for the transportation sector. SECTION 1: BACKGROUND This paper will not describe or define "climate change," or discuss the emission of greenhouse gases from the transportation sector. These issues have been discussed and described in many other documents and presentations. The purpose of this paper is to describe and present information regarding the "adaptation" to climate change, specific to transportation infrastructure. Research conducted by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Environmental Protection Agency and many other scientific organizations indicates that the levels of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere will require some level of adaptation to climate change, regardless of future reductions in emissions. The IPCC has stated that "adaptation will be necessary to address impacts resulting from the warming which is already unavoidable due to past emissions.i6 Adaptation to climate change may cover many sectors of the economy. "The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment: Evaluating Washington's Future in a Changing Climate," updated by the UWCIG in 2009, is a comprehensive assessment of the projected impacts from climate change in Washington State. This assessment covers eight sectors - forestry, agriculture, water resources, coastal areas, stormwater, energy, salmon and human health - and uses climate model projections to more fully evaluate potential impacts. 6 "Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability," Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007 L-13 Appendix L: Climate Change Background