Support for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Tribal Leaders Summit on Climate Change

Start Date

2015-03-10

End Date

2015-03-11

Release Date

2015

The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Tribal Leaders Summit on Climate Change was held on March 10-11, 2015, in Portland, Oregon. The Summit gathered tribal leaders to discuss climate change impacts; share tribal strategies, plans, and policies; discuss tribal climate change needs and funding; and identify strategies to promote tribal adaptation and resiliency to climate change. The DOI Northwest Climate Science Center provided support for this summit as a part of their efforts to better understand the specific vulnerabilities of Tribes to climate change and to help them adapt to these impacts. Through this Summit, ATNI Leadership addressed larger goals, such as: 1. Ensure ATNI member Tribes are engaged and aware of the federal government's trust responsibility to Tribes and the obligation to consult with Tribes on a government-to-government basis regarding climate change adaptation; 2. Develop ability and support to engage Tribes in conservation planning and collaboration in defining conservation goals, and assist Tribes to increase their knowledge of climate change and potential effects on tribal resources; 3. Manage and evolve program and service support to ensure Tribes are in positions to meaningfully participate in addressing climate change issues; 4. Allow for ATNl's entry and participation into strategic and programmatic operations to address national and regional climate adaptation and mitigation issues, including but not limited to: A) White House Climate Change Task Force of Climate Preparedness [under Pres. Obama's Climate Action Plan]; B) Dept. of the Interior (DOI) Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (Climate Science Centers and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives), National Fish Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy, and other federal/regional adaptation strategies and programs (e.g., CEQ, Ocean Policy Council); C) BIA NW Regional Office Program and Central Office Program Coordinator and the DOI Climate Change Initiative Implementation Team to stay abreast of climate change policy evolution and ensure Tribal consultation, involvement, and that tribal needs and concerns are addressed; D) Regional and national climate change initiatives including the USDA Climate Change HUBS, NOAA Regional Integrated Science and Assessment Programs, PNW Tribal Climate Change Network, the National Adaptation Forum working groups, and others; E) Federal, regional, state, and private sector opportunities to develop large and small scale renewable energy projects.

ScienceBase WMS

• National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers
• Northwest CASC