1. Model: Expanding Climate-smart Policies and Policymaker Engagement
- Develop a task force to develop internal competency in having dialogue with policymakers
- Engage with NEDA and state program leadership
- Start training faculty on policymaker communication
- Facilitate community conversations
- Assess active Extension work on climate policy – lay the groundwork
- Create a national meeting for implementers
- Build boots-on-the-ground capacity for Extension climate policy engagement
- Develop an Extension climate fellowship
- Conduct detailed needs and gap assessment for climate policy work
- Build Extension climate-policy capacity via professional development, new positions, deeper targeted engagement with specific government agencies
2. Model: Implementing A Climate Response
- Develop templates and showcase success stories
- Increase integration between research and Extension faculty
- Connect with NECI and other events to identify collaboration potential
- Reallocate resources for climate programming and secure dean-level support
- Increase interactions between climate change experts and Extension faculty
- Conduct a landscape assessment of programs and funding sources
- Coordinate climate programming across all events
- Secure planning grants and hold a Climate Extension Conference
- Develop regional pilot plans/teams
- Increase Extension personnel climate literacy
3. Model: Fostering Climate Resilient Communities
- Build Capacity and Expertise:
To be effective, CES must scale up its workforce by hiring climate resilience specialists and building stronger relationships with federal programs and NGOs. Dedicated staffing will ensure that community climate resilience plans are properly implemented.
- Engage Youth and Disadvantaged Communities:
CES should focus on engaging younger generations through innovative technologies like AI and video games while ensuring that disadvantaged communities have access to sustainable energy and climate solutions. This dual approach will create a stronger, more inclusive movement toward climate resilience.
- Leverage Existing Resources and Networks:
With a wealth of existing resources available—such as NOAA CAP/RISA, USDA Climate Hubs, and the Climate Resilience Toolkit—CES can immediately begin leveraging these tools to accelerate climate action. Partnering with organizations like FEMA and DOE will further extend CES’s reach.
- Address Long-Term Sustainability and Funding:
CES should explore long-term funding options through grants, state legislatures, and private partnerships to ensure that climate resilience projects continue beyond initial funding cycles.
- Foster Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
Breaking down silos within CES will be crucial for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Engaging experts from multiple fields—such as agriculture, education, and social sciences—will bring a comprehensive approach to building resilient communities.
4. Model: Advancing 21st Century Community Well-being for All
- Expand Proven Programs: Climate Stewards and UGA’s mental well-being program are both successful initiatives that can be scaled nationwide to broaden CES’s climate education efforts.
- Strengthen Data Collection and Partnerships: Leveraging data from existing Census and housing condition resources will be crucial in understanding how to guide housing and community resilience efforts. A central data hub would streamline CES’s access to critical information.
- Engage in City and County Planning: CES has a significant opportunity to formalize its role in city and county-level planning processes, particularly in areas like zoning, housing retrofitting, and infrastructure adaptation.
- Pilot Key Initiatives: By piloting projects like community hubs and retrofitting efforts in low-income housing, CES can demonstrate the viability of these initiatives and use lessons learned to scale them nationally.
- Address Gaps in Training and Representation: Existing training programs (e.g., SDH) must be integrated with climate-focused content, and CES should ensure that human well-being is a central consideration in all climate-related planning efforts.