Georgia: Anna McQuarrie

• Yes Group Response

Melanie Wilson, Executive Director and CEO, Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission

The impacts of climate change (flooding, SLR, higher temperatures) are generally accepted. Individual studies, plans, and research projects focus on climate change, but no bold actions, including financial actions, have been taken to address climate change comprehensively.

Many climate stressors are currently at mild impacts but expected to be moderate or severe by 2050 and 2100.

• GHG plan
• Adaptation actions
• HMP plan
• Other

Community has a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan (will adopt reduction targets for MPO in Summer 2024, 100% Savannah Plan) and 100% Savannah Plan.
Community has implemented adaptation actions (35 ft wetland buffer)
Other community efforts: Sea Level Rise and Stormwater Report, BRIC grant for Springfield Canal drainage, Coastal Empire Resilience Network (CERN), Tree Ordinance updates, Tybee Island SLR Adaptation Plan, Tide to Town/Truman Linear Trail, CORE MPO Road Vulnerability Tool (Flooding and SLR), CORE MPO Vulnerability Assessment (in progress), Chatham County-Savannah Disaster Preparedness Plan for Historic and Cultural Resources (in progress)

Coastal Empire Resilience Network (CERN) Goals:
•Align regional goals and facilitate formal collaboration to identify and apply for regional grants
•Compile best practices for the region and help eliminate duplicate efforts
•Implement more local environmental and social justice initiatives
•Focus on relationship building and collaborate with local jurisdictions to demonstrate the need for climate resilient and sustainability policies

2040 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources Goals:
•Protect the public health, safety, and welfare of residents from flood hazards
•Enhance water, flooding, and hazard related public education and outreach efforts
•Monitor projections for changing future conditions and implement plans, policies, and property protection to reduce potential damages
•Preserve and protect potable water sources to ensure adequate drinking water supplies for existing and future residents
•Protect and preserve existing tree canopy and require planting of additional native trees during the development process to mitigate negative impacts of stormwater runoff and the heat island effect of large areas of impervious surfaces, in addition to improving air quality
•Increase communities' adaptive capacity and resiliency
•Manage the impacts of climate change as it relates to land use and development through mitigation and adaptation measures
•Proactively manage stormwater runoff
•Plan for the mitigation and redevelopment of brownfields for productive uses
•Identify and address climate resiliency strategies in the Chatham County-Savannah Disaster Preparedness Plan for Historic and Cultural Resources

Those working on climate change are aware of resources, and there are many different tools available. The public is less likely to be aware of resources or understand how best to navigate them to create change in their neighborhood.

• Lack of affordable housing
• High levels of homelessness
• Inadequate transportation systems and/or infrastructure
• Shortage of well-paying jobs
• Limited access to healthy, affordable food
• Poor air quality
• Insufficient education system
• Contaminated sites/brownfields
• Other (please describe below)

•Warehouse development encroaching in residential/natural resource areas
•CGIC website: https://www.coastalgaindicators.org/indicators
•Non-English-speaking communities

• Supportive local elected officials
• Engaged community process
• Stakeholder/partner relationships (e.g., businesses, organizations, other jurisdictions/agencies)
• Community leaders/champions focused on climate
• State or local climate policy/mandates
• Previous efforts to address these challenges in the community have increased awareness of issues
• Sufficient staff capacity and time to address climate-related issues
• Other (please describe below)

At Coastal Empire Resilience Network (CERN) partner meeting in September 2023, participants recognized the following as needs to become a more resilient region:
•Funding opportunities
•Access to CERN Resiliency 101 Course for elected officials & completion certificate (Actively working on course for elected officials with SINERR/Brittany Dodge)
•Inventory of grants and assistance to coordinate & leverage partnerships
•Educational and learning opportunities with graphic representation for quickly and effectively communicating resilience
•Greater connection with public and elected officials
•Working alongside each other to align missions & strengthen the infrastructure that already exists
•Compensation individuals for time and expertise regarding environmental and social justice
•Demonstrate the need for municipalities to engage in environmental and social justice
•Establish “point-person” for cities and counties
•Targeted messaging for different sectors of population

• Lack of supportive local officials
• Lack of community engagement
• No state or local policy mandate
• Resilience not a community priority (other issues more pressing)
• Politically unpalatable
• Insufficient staff capacity and time to address climate-related issues

Lack of supportive local officials (generally concerned, but need financial support)
Lack of community engagement (there is engagement, but can be increased)
No state or local policy mandate (no climate action plan in Georgia or Chatham County)
Resilience is not a community priority (need bold action to demonstrate it is a priority)
Politically unpalatable (increasing development and economic growth > resource conservation)
Insufficient staff capacity and time to address climate related issues (Need to create a climate resilience office in City of Savannah in addition to Office of Sustainability and increase staffing in County Resilience Program.)

No, unaware of CDRZ program.

General information on website, but unsure of how this will be implemented and meaning for MPC.

Began to build through CERN and want to gain more political and financial support to undertake activities.

MPC presented Resilience 101 course and information at: Georgia Municipal Association 2021 Annual Convention, GADNR CRD 2021 Climate Conference, and 2021 Chatham County Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Symposium.
MPC staff members contributing to education on resilience and presented information about CERN to Chatham County Commission and Savannah City Council in September 2023. Staff are working to create a planning and resilience course with Sapelo Island NERR for Fall 2024.

Many community-based organizations in this region are committed to social equity, and it is becoming an increasing priority for local governments.

Going above and beyond ordinance standards is site-plan and developer independent. Nature-based solutions are part of the Chatham County-Savannah Plan 2040 and CORE MPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan. There is an opportunity for jurisdictions to adopt new design standards within ordinances.

Coastal Empire Resilience Network: http://www.coastalempireresilience.org/
Mission: CERN will engage regional community partners, municipal staff, and policymakers to coordinate equitable strategies to address the physical, economic, and social challenges Coastal Georgia communities face due to a changing climate.
Formed as part of a GDNR CRD Coastal Incentive Grant.