Table 2.
Breakout Group Discussion Questions
Background. In addressing climate change, we want to take advantage of positive impacts, minimize negative
impacts, and ensure compatibility among various interests. Each change, impact, intervention mode, and
adaptation option poses opportunities, challenges, and barriers. In answering the questions, please consider the
following:
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Responsibility. Who does what, when, where, how, and why?
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Cost.
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Time frame -- short-term action? long-term investment?
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Adequacy of existing institutional framework -- legal, management structure, programs, and policies.
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Availability and adequacy of engineering and technical infrastructure.
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Impact on Great Lakes governance.
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The extent to which adaptation options and mechanisms exist (including those for other stressors) and
can be utilized.
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Socio-economic considerations, including consequences and incentives.
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Consequences of implementing adaptation options on competing interests.
Changes. The white paper identifies projected climate changes.
1.
Based on your experiences, what changes do you foresee in the short, medium and long term?
Impacts. The white paper identifies impacts, both positive and negative, on the Great Lakes. Considering
impacts in the broadest possible terms, including but not limited to food web alteration, human health, social,
and economic ...
2.
What impacts have you experienced?
Planning and Intervention. Addressing climate change can be either reactive -- in response to -- or planned --
in anticipation of an impact. Also, there are a number of ways to intervene, for example, technology, education,
economic incentives, official development plans, emergency planning, health advisories, stream rehabilitation.
3.
Based on your experiences, how can we anticipate and plan in advance, and to what end point?
4.
Based on your experiences, how can we intervene in order to adapt?
Adaptation. The white paper identifies specific adaptation options.
5.
How have you adapted? Were your choices correct? What constraints did you encounter? What
consequences did maladaptation pose?
Overcoming Barriers. A number of factors conspire to limit our ability to act, for instance, surveillance and
monitoring, technology, infrastructure, lack of perceived relevance to our health and well being. Based on your
experiences:
6.
What are the knowledge and information gaps, infrastructure and institutional limitations, program and
research needs? How can these be filled? What are the priorities?
7.
In an ideal world, what specifically would you like the Board to do to help you address climate
change? A “top 10” list. Please be specific in your advice and recommendations.
4