The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate
Change Impacts (WICCI) is an organization that aims to generate and share
information that can limit vulnerability to climate change in
Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Formed in the fall of 2007, WICCI
is a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. It can be classified as a First Order
level of governance as it focuses on the action and implementation of
ideas on the micro scale.
Goals
WICCI's main goals are to assess and
anticipate climate change impacts on Wisconsin's natural resources,
ecosystems, regions and industries and develop and recommend
adaptation strategies that can be implemented by businesses, farmers,
public health officials, municipalities, wildlife managers, and other
stakeholders. WICCI combines citizens, decision makers and
scientists from the region to determine the significance of climate
change effects on Wisconsin and to come up with ways to better plan
for and adapt to climate change.
This video shows the effects climate change is having on Wisconsin
Structure
WICCI is a collaborative effort between
a Science Advisory Board, an Outcomes Advisory Board, Working Groups,
and a Coordination Team. The science advisory board identifies
scientific questions related to the mission of WICCI. They also
organize and coordinate Working Groups. The Outcomes Advisory Board
identifies information needs for planning and decision making.
Working Groups are made up of researchers, managers, and
practitioners with expertise in the topic area or geographic region
being assessed. These groups identify risks and vulnerabilities
within their topic or region, identify data and research to determine
projections, and recommend adaptation strategies. A couple examples
of Working Groups include topics such as Agriculture, Wildlife,
Forestry and geographic regions such as Milwaukee and Green Bay. The
Milwaukee Working Group gathers researchers, professionals, and
policy makers specializing in water resources, engineering, urban
planning and other disciplines. The group details the effects
climate change may have on the Milwaukee urban environment and
develops recommendations for adaptive management strategies.
Adaption and Mitigation
WICCI focuses on adaptation and being
pro-active by preparing for challenges before they arise. WICCI
realizes that adaptation can complement mitigation. An example they
provide is a working group that suggested the need for programs and
research on mass transit and vehicle technologies. They are adapting
to reduce ozone and greenhouse gases and mitigating poor air quality. Some other ways they are carrying out
adaptive measures include planting species of trees more suited for
longer, warmer growing seasons, and redesigning stormwater management
systems to handle increasing volumes of stormwater.
WICCI is a great asset to Wisconsin that recognizes climate change and is actively pursuing methods to adapt to the issues that may arise from climate change.
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