Browsing by Subject "climate preparedness"

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    A Changing Climate on Minnesota’s North Shore: Identifying Values, Concerns, & Actions for the Protection & Restoration of Water
    (2019-12) Rutledge, Annamarie
    Community resilience along Minnesota’s North Shore depends upon freshwater ecosystems and the services they provide. Climate change threatens many ecosystem benefits and there is uncertainty regarding how water resources will be affected by a changing climate. By conducting a community design charrette on the North Shore, we identified values, concerns, and actions for water resources through three activities: a pre-survey, Q sort, and collage exercise. The collage exercise brought in human-inspired ideas such as fragility and the North Shore as an identify, a home, and place of work. Based on the results of the Q sort, the study group resonated with the biospheric typology the most, followed by altruistic. The Q sort also generated three narratives that assist in understanding opinion clusters: protection realist, cultural preservationist, and provisioning utilitarian. Consensus statements from the Q sort included natural systems and processes to be sustained and habitat for native fish and wildlife to survive. Out of four water program funding areas, safe drinking water and healthy fish and wildlife populations were identified as top priorities. These findings provide insight into the perspectives of North Shore stakeholders and can be used to inform action and investments in water resources and build productive, collaborative relationships.
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    Examining Decision-Makers’ Perspectives on Climate Change and Climate Preparedness in the Lake Superior Basin of Minnesota
    (2017-05) Meier, Holly
    This study explores characterizations of climate change and climate preparedness within two subwatersheds of the Lake Superior basin. Twenty-seven key informant interviews were conducted with local decision makers, resource managers, and other leaders active in the subwatersheds. Study participants’ experiences, beliefs, and attitudes were documented and analyzed using qualitative methods. Findings indicate strong convergence around climate change beliefs and concerns and divergence on perspectives on climate preparedness. Further analysis revealed specific challenges and current actions associated with climate preparedness. A better understanding of climate change beliefs and perceived preparedness will provide insight into the resources and activities that can be leveraged for further climate preparedness. This study also reveals challenges that may need to be addressed to make efforts more effective. Study findings offer a framework for climate preparedness planning and provide evidence for a strategic approach to building adaptive capacity in the study communities. Findings will inform community engagement, outreach, education, and communication programming on climate preparedness.