Chocolate Friday is a research and idea-sharing event sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC). Typically, each Chocolate Friday features presentations from NEMAC staff, UNCA faculty, student researchers, and visiting professionals. The event is open to anyone who is interested. This academic year, Chocolate Fridays are scheduled to be held from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Chestnut Ridge Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. The spring schedule includes a variety of themes, and will attract individuals from our greater community.
And yes, chocolate is served!
October 3, 2008
Theme: Climate Change
3:00 – 5:00pm
New Venue: Chestnut Ridge Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville
Planning for Climate Change: A Handbook for Rural and Urban Area Planners
Joan M. Walker, CERO Summer Intern, NEMAC/NCDC
Climate change is a global problem that will be solved largely at the local level. The ways in which communities plan for the future will determine not only their impact on climate change, but also how resilient these communities will be to the effects of climate change. "Planning for Climate Change,” a cooperative effort by the National Environmental Modeling Center, National Climatic Data Center, and the Environmental Quality Institute, and is geared towards preparing local planners for the effects that climate change will have on their communities, ways that they can adapt to these impacts, as well as outlining strategies for mitigating green house gas emissions at the local level.
Joan M. Walker is a recent graduate of the Environmental Studies Department at UNCA. Her degree concentration is Environmental Management and Policy, and she also holds a minor in Economics. Along with several other dedicated students, Joan participated in acquiring the student Green Fee, the first student fee specifically intended for sustainability projects on campus, co-founded the Student Environmental Center at UNCA, where she served as research assistant and director. Joan is currently working at the Land of Sky Regional Council as part of Americorps' Project Conserve.
Climate Change and the Local Economy
Scott Shuford, President, Shuford Planning Services; author of Planning for Climate Change: A Handbook for Urban and Rural Area Planners
Economic development impacts resulting from climate change may well prove to be one of the most significant issues of concern for local economic development in the future. Industries and people have always migrated because of climate. Water supply problems, difficulties in finding affordable insurance, availability of cheaper shipping, and other factors affected by climate change may cause businesses and industries to relocate to more advantageous places. Migration, therefore, has enormous implications for local economies, creating different issues depending upon whether business is moving in or is moving out. Additionally, the dependence of much of our local economy on global economic conditions increases our vulnerability to changing markets, resource limitations, social unrest, and other global factors that may also be strongly influenced by climate change.
Scott Shuford worked in a variety of local government planning programs for over 25 years before starting his planning consulting firm, Shuford Planning Services, in 2007. He has worked in senior planning positions in Asheville (where he served as Planning and Development Director for the eight years prior to establishing Shuford Planning Services), in the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater in Florida, in Brevard County, Florida, and in Wilmington and Carolina Beach in North Carolina. His experience in a wide range of local government settings attracted the attention of UNC Asheville’s NEMAC and NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, leading to a collaborative project designed to bring climate change science to urban and rural areas through the creation of a practical handbook for professional planners. Scott received his Master of Regional Planning degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
The Climate Crisis: Turning Information into Action
Mary Lynn Manns, Associate Professor, Management and Accountancy, UNC Asheville
Most people will agree that climate change is an important issue and it is a good idea to take actions that will have a positive effect on the environment. But “good” ideas often fail. Even when people nod their heads to convincing information, it can be difficult to persuade them to take action. Mary Lynn Manns will discuss why the climate crisis is a unique and challenging problem in “change.” She will present the relevant issues in “change theory” and suggest strategies that scientists and other communicators can use to encourage the general public to make lifestyle choices and persuade decision and policy makers to support climate change initiatives.
Mary Lynn Manns is an Associate Professor in the Management and Accountancy department at UNCA. Her concentration in management information systems includes a specialty in change leadership. She is co-author of the popular book, Fearless Change: Patterns for Introducing New Ideas and does many presentations on this topic.
For more information on Chocolate Fridays:
http://orgs.unca.edu/nemac/
Did you know…
UNC Asheville's NEMAC engages students in paid undergraduate research and community internship projects year round. NEMAC is always on the lookout for faculty in various departments who are willing to serve as mentors for these students. For further information please contact Susan Weatherford at sweather@unca.edu.
