Welcome to CAPI Adapt!
What is the adaptation component of CAPI, aka CAPI-Adapt?
The CAPI Adaptation project (CAPI Adapt) is an optional component to CAPI consisting of two deliverables, a : 1) Climate Vulnerability Assessment, and 2) Climate Adaptation Chapter (or stand along plan). The Climate Adaptation may be a chapter in your Climate Action Plan, or a stand-alone Climate Adaptation Plan.
The Hudson River Estuary Program (HREP), ICLEI and the Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) will be providing technical assistance to cohort participants.
What is a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) and why is it important?
Climate adaptation or resilience begins with understanding hazards posed by a changing climate and identifying community vulnerabilities. The Climate Smart Communities program recommends that local governments complete a CVA as one of the first and most foundational steps in developing an effective strategy for adapting to climate change at the local level.
Assessing local vulnerabilities and risks helps identify and prioritize actions to reduce risks to the community. In conducting a CVA, the local government must consider current and future conditions. For example, in assessing the risk of flooding along tidal coastlines, a community should include conditions associated with projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100.
What is a Climate Adaptation Plan and why is it important?
The goal of creating a Climate Adaptation Plan is to address vulnerabilities uncovered in your CVA and from past planning gap analyses. (See PE7 Action: Evaluate Policies for Climate Resilience as recommended preparation for your Climate adaptation planning.) The Climate Adaptation Plan outlines a vision and set of strategies to improve a community’s resilience to climate change based on its local physical, economic, and social vulnerabilities. Strategies will address the vulnerable community assets identified in your CVA.
What is the time commitment to complete these plans?
Time estimates for work completion is difficult to assess. There is some preparatory work recommended in researching similar or related municipal documents, uncovering planning gaps, and analyzing relevant work to date, as well as a public engagement component. On timeframe and resources, Climate Smart Communities writes: “Local governments can anticipate a timeline of approximately six months to one year or more to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation plan.”
Our best estimates are as follows:
- Climate Vulnerability Assessment: The expected time commitment is approximately 4 meetings (in addition to the current cohort meetings), each lasting about 1.5 hrs, as well as approximately 68 hours across three persons.
- Climate Adaptation Chapter: The 4 additional meetings (see above), plus approximately 32 hours across three persons for the adaptation chapter.
We are planning for 8-10 months for completion of both deliverables. Note that less municipal administration involvement is generally required for the adaptation component than for the mitigation component.
What do these plans look like?
Examples of Climate Vulnerability Assessments:
- Town of Pound Ridge
- Town of Hyde Park and City of Poughkeepsie
- Village of Hastings-on-Hudson
- Town of Pleasant Valley
Examples of Climate Adaptation Plans:
- City of Schenectady Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Report
- Warren County Hazard Mitigation Plan and reference to Climate Adaptation Strategies
- City of Kingston Climate Adaptation Plan
Where can I learn more?
For more information, see PE7 Action: Climate Vulnerability Assessment and PE 7 Action: Climate Adaptation Plan, as well as PE7 Action: Evaluate Policies for Climate Resilience.
Which municipalities have signed up for CAPI Adapt?
| Climate Vulnerability Assessment | Climate Adaptation Report or Chapter | ||
| Dutchess County | |||
| 1 | Town of Pleasant Valley | No | Yes |
| 2 | Town of Poughkeepsie | No | Yes |
| 3 | Town of Rhinebeck | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Village of Rhinebeck | No | Yes |
| 5 | Village of Wappingers Falls | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Dutchess County | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | City of Beacon | No | No |
| 8 | City of Poughkeepsie | No | No |
| 9 | Town of Amenia | No | No |
| Westchester County | |||
| 1 | City of Peekskill | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | City of White Plains | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Town of Ossining | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Village of Ossining | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Village of Hastings-on-Hudson | No | Yes |
| 6 | Village of Tarrytown | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Village of Irvington | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Village of Pelham | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Westchester County | Yes | Yes |
Total Climate Vulnerability Assessments: 11
Total Climate Adaptation Reports: 15