Climate research priorities for policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists in Georgia, USA

• Authors: Murray Rudd, Emory University; Althea F. P. Moore, Emory University; Daniel Rochberg, Emory University; Lisa Bianchi-Fossati, Southface Energy Institute; Marilyn A. Brown, Georgia Institute of Technology; David D'Onofrio, Atlanta Reg Commission; Carrie A. Furman, University of Georgia; Jairo Garcia, City of Atlanta Office of Resilience; Ben Jordan, Emory University; Jennifer Kline, Georgia Department of Natural Resources; L. Mark Risse, University of Georgia; Patricia L. Yager, University of Georgia; Jessica Abbinett, Emory University; Merryl Alber, University of Georgia; Jesse E. Bell, North Carolina State University; Cyrus Bhedwar, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance; Kim M. Cobb, Georgia Institute of Technology; Juliet Cohen, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper; Matt Cox, The Greenlink Group; Myriam Dormer, The Nature Conservancy in Georgia; Nyasha Dunkley, Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Heather Farley, College of Coastal Georgia; Jill Gambill, University of Georgia; Mindy Goldstein, Emory University; Garry Harris, Center for Sustainable Communities; Melissa Hopkinson, University of North Georgia; Jean-Ann James, Turner Foundation; Susan Kidd, Agnes Scott College; Pam Knox, University of Georgia; Yang Liu, Emory University
• Journal Title: Environmental Management
• Volume: Volume 62, Number 2
• Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany) | 2018-08-01, Pages 190-209
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-018-1051-4
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Adaptation; Climate change; Horizon scanning; Mitigation; Research priorities; SEA-LEVEL RISE; GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS; PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS; UNITED-STATES; SOCIAL VULNERABILITY; GLOBAL CHANGE; CARBON SEQUESTRATION; MANAGEMENT POLICY; MARINE ECOSYSTEMS; CHANGE IMPACTS

Abstract

Climate change has far-reaching effects on human and ecological systems, requiring collaboration across sectors and disciplines to determine effective responses. To inform regional responses to climate change, decision-makers need credible and relevant information representing a wide swath of knowledge and perspectives. The southeastern U. S. State of Georgia is a valuable focal area for study because it contains multiple ecological zones that vary greatly in land use and economic activities, and it is vulnerable to diverse climate change impacts. We identified 40 important research questions that, if answered, could lay the groundwork for effective, science-based climate action in Georgia. Top research priorities were identified through a broad solicitation of candidate research questions (180 were received). A group of experts across sectors and disciplines gathered for a workshop to categorize, prioritize, and filter the candidate questions, identify missing topics, and rewrite questions. Participants then collectively chose the 40 most important questions. This cross-sectoral effort ensured the inclusion of a diversity of topics and questions (e.g., coastal hazards, agricultural production, ecosystem functioning, urban infrastructure, and human health) likely to be important to Georgia policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists. Several cross-cutting themes emerged, including the need for long-term data collection and consideration of at-risk Georgia citizens and communities. Workshop participants defined effective responses as those that take economic cost, environmental impacts, and social justice into consideration. Our research highlights the importance of collaborators across disciplines and sectors, and discussing challenges and opportunities that will require transdisciplinary solutions.