Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Integrating Information from Climate Scientists and Resource Managers: Informing Preparedness and Adaptation to Extreme Event Impacts on Air and Water Quality in California
EPA Grant Number: R835194Title: Integrating Information from Climate Scientists and Resource Managers: Informing Preparedness and Adaptation to Extreme Event Impacts on Air and Water Quality in California
Investigators: Bedsworth, Louise W , Tebaldi, Claudia , Duffy, Philip B.
Institution: Public Policy Institute of California , University of California - Davis , Climate Central
Current Institution: Public Policy Institute of California , Climate Central , University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2015 (Extended to May 31, 2019)
Project Amount: $710,529
RFA: Extreme Event Impacts on Air Quality and Water Quality with a Changing Global Climate (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Water Quality , Climate Change , Air , Water
Objective:
This project had several components designed to integrate information from air and water quality managers with that from climate scientists to better understand and support resource management decisions in the face of a changing climate.
Based on the information gathered in the first phase of the research, we modified our planned engagement with the climate research community in subsequent steps, as described below.
This project relied on a series of surveys and interviews, as well as development of new datasets using bibliographic search tools. Each of the surveys used Qualtrics, which proved to be a reliable and effective survey tool. The software allows for thoughtful design of the survey and for customization for survey recipients.
We also undertook two analyses that required assessment of the state of relevant climate science literature: one to understand the disconnect between available research and resource managers’ needs and another to construct a survey sample of climate change researchers working on issues relevant to California. The latter had some limitations in that we were unable to identify research products not included in the peer-reviewed literature. At this time, it is not clear how to best capture this larger body of research.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Phase 1: Analysis of Air and Water Quality Managers Practices and Perceptions
The goal of the first phase of this project was to establish a baseline understanding of the perceptions, actions, and barriers facing air and water quality managers in California in the context of a changing climate and, in particular, an increase in extreme events. Research methods included surveys and semi-structured interviews.
Surveys of Air and Water Quality Managers: We completed surveys of air and water quality managers in California. Survey samples were developed using publicly available information on air and water quality management districts. We published the findings from each of the surveys in peer-reviewed journals. For each survey we prepared summary results and conducted statistical analysis of the survey results using descriptive data for the surveys. All surveys were conducted using Qualtrics, an online survey software.
Phase 2: Assessment of the Availability of and Resource Manager Use of Climate Science Information
The survey results showed, in some cases, a disconnect between available climate information and resource managers’ actions. To further explore this apparent disconnect, the second phase of the project sought to: :
- Develop a more complete understanding of the potential disconnect between resource managers needs and available information, and
- Develop a systematic way to characterize resource managers’ interactions with climate science and research.
To achieve these goals, we undertook two analyses that built from the survey findings. In both cases, we focused in on water resource managers, as the dataset was larger and more robust.
Phase 3: Survey of California Climate Science Community
The first two phases of this project contributed to a more robust understanding of resource manager information needs and interactions with the research community, contributing to a growing body of literature. This work revealed a gap in understanding of the scientific community’s engagement with policy- and decision-makers, including motivations and interests for engagement and barriers to this engagement. The work highlighted that much less is known about the climate research community approaches engagement with policy and decision makers.
The final phase of the project included a comprehensive survey of the California climate change research community. The objectives of the survey were to better understand the climate change research community’s motivation for engagement with policy- and decision-makers. We developed the survey sample using information from the California’s government-funded climate change assessment and a database constructed using Scopus, a database of research publications and authors. The survey sample size was over 3000.
Conclusions:
Generally, the information collected from the water quality managers proved to be a richer dataset, showing larger variation across respondents. Given the larger sample size of this group, we were able to further explore differences in how utilities are addressing climate change, including differences in capacity, perception of the risk, and competing priorities.
Characterizing the Balance of Resource Manager Needs against the Landscape of Scientific Information:The surveys provided information on resource managers’ perspectives on how extreme events affect water quality and which of these are expected to worsen with climate change. Responses showed that managers clearly link many extreme events to water quality concerns and that climate change is expected to worsen them. However, the survey results also showed that very little action has been taken to plan for or otherwise incorporate climate change considerations in decision-making for water quality. When asked about barriers, one that was commonly cited is the lack of available scientific information.
The overall approach to this research, while quite labor intensive is not particularly costly to implement. The surveys used in this work could easily be adapted to other disciplines or geographic locations. However, the surveys on their own provide only a partial picture, which can be further augments by interviews. While not planned at the outset of this research, this project benefited greatly from the addition of an Environmental Sociology doctoral candidate (Z. Baker). His expertise introduced new frameworks for conducting this work. Each survey went through the Institutional Review Board process at UC Davis and adhered to our commitments to protect all survey respondents.
The motivation for this research was to marry top-down (i.e., research community) and bottom-up (i.e, resource managers) perspectives on climate change science as it relates to air and water quality management in California. Linking these approaches, the goal was to inform how to support decision making in the face of a changing climate.
Some main findings that emerge from this analysis have several valuable contributions to environmental management and resource decision making in light of a changing climate. In particular, as resource management agencies and organizations take steps to prepare for changing climate conditions - either voluntarily or through mandate - the following findings should be considered:
- Resources and Capacity Constraints Matter
- Experience Shapes Actions and Perceptions
- Importance of Translators or Boundary Organizations
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 15 publications | 6 publications in selected types | All 6 journal articles |
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Klassic M, Fencl A, Ekstrom J, Ford A. Adapting to extreme events:small drinking water system manager perspectives on the 2012-2016 California Drought. CLIMATIC CHANGE 2022;170(3-4). |
R835194 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
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Moser S, Ekstrom J, Kim J, Heitsch S. Adaptation finance archetypes:local governments' persistent challenges of funding adaptation to climate change and ways to overcome them. ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY 2019;24(2). |
R835194 (Final) |
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Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
- 2017 Progress Report
- 2016 Progress Report
- 2015 Progress Report
- 2014 Progress Report
- 2013 Progress Report
- 2012 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
6 journal articles for this project