The Climate Action Planning Institute Adaptation Program
What is the The Climate Action Planning Institute Adaptation Program
The Climate Action Planning Institute Adaptation Program (or CAPI Adapt) is an optional component to the original CAPI program consisting of two deliverables, a 1) Climate Vulnerability Assessment, and 2) Climate Adaptation Chapter. The Climate Adaptation chapter can be included in a climate action plan, a climate vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan, or can be a stand-alone plan.
HVRC is providing technical assistance to 15 CAPI Adapt cohort participants in partnership with ICLEI. The Hudson River Estuary Program (HREP), the program’s funder, is also supporting the program with climate-related technical knowledge. Municipalities will be examining their vulnerabilities and assets to determine which assets are most critical. they will be identifying the most serious climate threats to the region and outlining solutions to help protect local vulnerable assets. Cohort members will be learning from experts in the resiliency field, and other municipal participants, to create plans that are informed by the latest climate science and are highly local in nature. Relevant funding opportunities as a result of these planning efforts will be discussed.
CAPI Adapt began in February 2024 and runs for 12 months. It is only open to communities that participated in the initial CAPI program.
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 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:
Which municipalities are participating in CAPI Adapt?
Dutchess County
City of Poughkeepsie
Town of Pleasant Valley
Town of Poughkeepsie (adaptation chapter only)
Town of Rhinebeck
Village of Rhinebeck (adaptation chapter only)
Village of Wappingers Falls
Dutchess County
Westchester County
City of Peekskill
City of White Plains
Town of Ossining
Village of Hastings-on-Hudson (adaptation chapter only)
Village of Irvington
Village of Ossining
Village of Tarrytown
Westchester County
How do I learn more about CAPI?
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.
Resources:
- Changing Climate, Changing Communities: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation
- CAKE - Adaptation Database and Planning Tool
- ICLEI's Climate Adaptation Clearinghouse
- The European Climate Adaptation Platform Climate-ADAPT
For more information on CAPI Adapt or the original CAPI program, please contact Mary Lambert <mlambert@hudsonvalleyrc.org>.
CAPI Adapt is a project of the Hudson Valley Regional Council. This site was prepared for the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent those of NEIWPCC or NYS DEC, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or causes constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
