Sea Level Rise and Adaptation

Daniel Spandau, DJS Consulting
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This is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.

Summary

Understanding the implications of Sea Level Rise (SER) on coastal communities and the coastal hazards associate with SER. Using a risk based approach, clients need to understand the effects of doing or not doing a proactive step in addressing SER. Each approach needs to be evaluated in a broader context - how will this approach affect other variable in my community. We have never had to deal with SER before - how will we project what and where our community will be in 50 years.

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Learning Goals

The intent of the introduction is to deliver information on SER and the implications to a community. The science will be reviewed and risk based alternative will be discussed. The exercises will be used to help each group understand that any decisions that are made will have both positive and negative implications for short and long term goals. In some cases there will be no successful strategic alternative to "fixing" a problem, and the conclusion may be to sacrifice parts of the community or abandon a community. These are emotional decisions that need to be made in the context of a pure business view - what is best for the community.

Context for Use

This type of program can be completed with small groups or larger groups - up to ~ 40 people. When doing this with larger groups, there will be exercises that will require the larger group to be broken up into 5-6 people teams. Handout will be distributed with a SER scenario for a specific type of community or business. Groups will discuss options and created a plan to deal with specific issues.

Description and Teaching Materials

SER scenario is customized to the intended group.

SER Draft Exercise (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 16kB Apr9 14)

Teaching Notes and Tips

Assessment

Discussion points should determine understanding - group thought and development of concepts

References and Resources