Building on its success on catalyzing climate leadership in the Northeast, Clean Air-Cool Planet is conducting an intensive effort to strengthen the ability of northeast communities to adapt to impending climate-induced change. We are developing a network of adaptation "practitioners." and providing two-way access to resources, technical assistance and information.

Our work involves the following:

• Identifying community-level barriers, resources, and planning needs essential to implement adaptation strategies.
• Collaborating with select communities on adaptation planning, implementation strategies, and outreach to citizens and businesses, and creating and disseminating tools that can be utilized by Local Energy Committees.
• Linking members of a new CA-CP Northeast Adaptation Network to federal resources and to federal programs focusing on adaptation issues.

The science of climate change tells us that there is already enough "energy in the system" - carbon and heat in the oceans and atmosphere - to cause changes to our climate that pose challenges beyond the scope of most local and regional planning agencies. We know that communities must respond now to address climate change impacts-impacts as diverse as sea level rise; natural resource management; regional tourism impacts; infrastructure vulnerability; public health systems; public water supplies; and drought and flood responses-within our lifetimes.

While the need to adapt grows, however, a lack of understanding of and support for adaptation strategies persists. We can only meet this challenge through effective, informed, coordinated collaboration, and that's what CA-CP's new adaptation initiative is working to provide.

For further information about CA-CP's Adaptation Program, contact Program Coordinator, Jennifer Andrews.