Browsing by Author "Dalton, Max"

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    Resilient Ramsey County Building Internal Capacity for Climate Adaptation
    (2019-05-15) Dalton, Max; Guerrero-Combs, Maia; Peterson, Kai; Rank, Hannah
    Ramsey County and its residents face increased physical, social, health, and financial risks due to climate change. The State of Minnesota and Ramsey County have both conducted climate change vulnerability assessments in the past five years. Each concluded that the risks posed by climate change are greatest for vulnerable populations that include people of color, those experiencing poverty or homelessness, those without access to a car, and those who lack air conditioning at home. Ramsey County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan defines resilience as “the capacity to respond, adapt, and thrive under changing conditions” and identifies resilience as a priority.3 The 2040 Comprehensive Plan states that “Ramsey County’s resiliency strategies will focus on mitigation and adaptation,” yet Ramsey County currently lacks a strategic approach to build resilience to adapt effectively to climate change. This report provides a road map for Ramsey County to build its internal capabilities to proactively address climate-related risks and its associated impacts on residents’ health and well-being. It also provides a timeline for implementing these changes. Our recommendations align with Ramsey County’s four goals and its eight 2019 strategic priorities and are based on learnings from Ramsey County staff and case studies. Most importantly, given the connection between climate impacts and vulnerable populations, our recommendations promote racial equity in Ramsey County.
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    Resilient Ramsey County: Building Internal Capacity for Climate Adaptation
    (Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2019) Dalton, Max; Guerrero-Combs, Maia; Peterson, Kai; Rank, Hannah
    This project was completed as part of the 2018-2019 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with Ramsey County. In 2011, Ramsey County set goals to reduce energy use and incorporate renewable energy into its operations. In its most recent Strategic Energy Plan, Ramsey County formally established goals to reduce carbon emissions across county operations by 30 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. However, the County lacked a strategic approach to achieve these goals. Ramsey County project lead Mary T'Kach worked with a team of students in Fred Rose's PA 8081: Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Capstone Workshop to explore potential strategies and policies County departments could use to incorporate climate resilience and adaptation strategies into their programming, operations, and budgeting. The students' final report, presentation, and a handout and poster summarizing the project are available.
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    Water Conservation in the City of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
    (Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2016) Johnson, Anna; Dalton, Max; Wyatt, Jessi; Harapan, Jackie
    This project was completed as part of the 2016-2017 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Brooklyn Park. With a growing population, Brooklyn Park is considering the future and searching for ways to reduce the use of potable water in the city. The goal of this project was to assess current water usage, determine barriers to water conservation by businesses and residents, and evaluate how city development practices may be impacting future water supply. Brooklyn Park project lead Jon Watson worked with a team of students in PA 5721: Energy and Environmental Policy, to develop recommendations related to water billing structure, irrigation practices, and education and outreach. The students' final report and presentation are available.