ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING TOOLS

ITEP Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template

This toolkit is a collection of templates and other resources developed by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) to assist tribes in their climate change adaptation planning process. The materials provided are not "one-size-fits-all" solutions, and users are encouraged to modify the materials to better represent the needs and priorities of their own tribe. The primary users of these materials will be the tribe’s climate change working group.

Access the tool: http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/docs/resources/TribalCCAdaptPlanningToolkit_2020.zip

Background and guidance for users: http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/Resources/adaptation

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: tribal climate change adaptation planning

TRRG Planning Resources

The Tribal Resilience Resource Guide (TRRG) is a one-stop-shop for Tribes and partners to find resources related to both Tribes and other resilience programs in a single format across agencies, regions, Tribes, and groups. TRRG has compiled a list of planning resources to benefit tribal climate resilience efforts.

Learn more: https://biamaps.doi.gov/resourceguide/planning/index.html

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: adaptation planning and vulnerability assessments; adaptation strategy prioritization and implementation; capacity building; mitigation, renewable energy development, and energy efficiency; emergency planning and disaster risk reduction (DRR); relocation and coastal management

Tribal Climate Adaptation Guidebook

The Tribal Climate Adaptation Guidebook supports Tribes in their efforts to prepare for climate change. The Guidebook provides a comprehensive framework for climate change adaptation planning that explicitly recognizes the distinct circumstances of Tribal governments, culture, and knowledge systems while highlighting exemplary efforts by Tribes to adapt to climate change.

Access the tool: https://tribalclimateadaptationguidebook.org/

Background and guidance for users: https://tribalclimateadaptationguidebook.org/about/

Geographic coverage: North America

Topics: tribal climate adaptation

Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning (ICCAP) Toolkit

The objective of the Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning (ICCAP) Toolkit is to provide a suite of user-friendly tools, resources, and key considerations to support Indigenous individuals and communities interested in undertaking climate change adaptation planning. The intent is for the toolkit to be used by communities at all different stages of the adaptation planning process, including communities with little or no prior experience.

Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu (TAM)

Many climate adaptation planning tools fail to address the unique needs, values, and cultures of Indigenous communities. The Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu, developed by a diverse group of collaborators representing tribal, academic, intertribal and government entities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, provides a framework to integrate indigenous and traditional knowledge, culture, language, and history into the climate adaptation planning process.

Access the tool: https://glifwc.org/ClimateChange/TribalAdaptationMenuV1.pdf

Background and guidance for users: https://www.icrn.us/tribal-climate-adaptation-menu

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: customizable

NIACS Adaptation Workbook

The Adaptation Workbook is a structured process to consider the potential effects of climate change and design land management and conservation actions that can help prepare for changing conditions. The process is completely flexible to accommodate a wide variety of geographic locations, ownership types, ecosystems and land uses, management goals, and project sizes.

Access the tool: https://adaptationworkbook.org/

Background and guidance for users: https://adaptationworkbook.org/about

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: customizable

Climate Resilience Evaluation & Awareness Tool (CREAT)

CREAT assists water sector utilities in assessing climate-related risks to utility assets and operations. It guides users through five modules designed to help them complete a climate change risk assessment. The results generated by CREAT provide decision-support outputs to assist in the selection and justification of investments in climate change adaptation.

Access the tool: create an account and log in using the link below

Background and guidance for users: https://www.epa.gov/crwu/climate-resilience-evaluation-and-awareness-tool-creat-risk-assessment-application-water

Geographic coverage: United States and Puerto Rico

Topics: clean water services, drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, water sector utilities

Climate Change Adaptation Checklist for Climate Smart Projects: A Tool for Natural Resource Agencies

This tool is designed to help you determine if, given climate change, your project will continue to deliver intended benefits. The Checklist supports your ability to: explicitly evaluate the implications of future conditions on project function, longevity and impact; build climate consideration directly into funding, permitting and planning phases; reduce liabilities or avoid actions that will be ineffective under future conditions.

Access the tool: https://sites.google.com/ecoadapt.org/adaptation-checklists/home

Background and guidance for users: https://sites.google.com/ecoadapt.org/adaptation-checklists/home

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change adaptation

Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Adaptation Principles into Practice

This guide will help conservationists and resource managers incorporate climate change considerations into their work. The report demystifies the discipline of climate adaptation by offering a common-sense approach to adaptation planning and implementation that breaks the process into discrete and manageable steps.

Access the tool: https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Global-Warming/2014/Climate-Smart-Conservation-Final_06-06-2014.ashx

Background and guidance for users: https://www.nwf.org/climatesmartguide

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change adaptation

USDA Climate Hubs Vulnerability Assessment Resources

The US Department of Agriculture’s Climate Hubs program maintains a list of Vulnerability Assessment resources and examples that focus on various exposure units, are applied at different spatial scales, and are relevant to different locations.

Access the tool: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/actions-and-resources/vulnerability-assessment 

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change vulnerability assessments

NPS Climate Change Scenario Planning Showcase

The US National Park Service maintains resources related to climate change scenario planning, including examples and guidance from US National Parks.

Access the tool: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/scenarioplanning.htm 

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change scenario planning, US National Parks

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit is a website designed to help people find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience. The Toolkit offers information from all across the U.S. federal government in one easy-to-use location.

Access the tool: https://toolkit.climate.gov/

Background and guidance for users: https://toolkit.climate.gov/content/about

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: built environment, coasts, ecosystems, energy, food, health, marine, transportation, Tribal Nations, water

Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a decision-making tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological changes resulting from climate change. The USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers program maintains online information and resources related to the RAD framework.

Access the tool: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/science/resist-accept-direct-rad-framework

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change, decision-making, resist-accept-direct (RAD)

Wisconsin Flood Resilience Scorecard

The Flood Resilience Scorecard (FRS) is a comprehensive flood planning checklist developed by the Wisconsin Climate and Health Program and UW Sea Grant. It aims to help local and regional governments assess past, current, and projected flooding impacts in their community and identify effective actions to protect communities.

Access the tool: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p03396.pdf ​

Background and guidance for users: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/flood/frs.htm

Geographic coverage: Wisconsin

Topics: flood planning, flood resilience

Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool

The Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool is designed to inform and inspire local action to protect the Commonwealth’s natural resources in a changing climate. It was developed for local decision-makers, conservation practitioners, large landowners, and community leaders across the state.

Access the tool: https://climateactiontool.org/

Background and guidance for users: https://climateactiontool.org/content/user-guide

Geographic coverage: Massachusetts

Topics: conservation planning, fish and wildlife, forests and forestry practices, land protection, landscape connectivity