Fostering Climate Resilient Communities Extension will accelerate education and adoption of climate-smart practices in service of climate change adaptation and mitigation for its diverse clientele. It will incorporate science-based information, best practices, as well as Indigenous knowledge into research activities, technical education and assistance, and shared expertise to help clients make informed decisions. Extension will further leverage its expertise in working with communities in place to strengthen local resilience and ensure economic prosperity through facilitated climate planning, listening sessions, demonstrations, and corresponding goal-driven action plans.
Table 2: Fostering Climate Resilient Communities
Inputs/Assets
Key Activities
Outputs
Short-Term Outcomes (1-3 Years)
Medium Term Outcomes (4-9 Years )
Long-Term Outcomes (10+ Years) -Reduced carbon emissions in the natural resource and agriculture sectors -Communities become climate- resilient as a result of Extension programming and resources -Communities experience reduced risk as a result of Extension programming and resources
Available Resources
Research and Assessment
-Tested outreach strategies for historically underserved populations -Workforce development partnerships -Improved onboarding processes for Extension faculty -National standardized reporting system -Agreed upon set of metrics for evaluating collaborator outcomes -Resource bank available to Extension for use in programming -Extension internships and Climate Conservation Corps mentorships
Capacity Building and Training
Climate-Smart Practice Adoption
-Extension personnel and expertise -Networks and organizations with which Extension partners -Expertise and frameworks for promoting equity/access (e.g. NextGen model) -32,000 employees – a presence in almost every county, and parish, and all territories
-Conduct a needs assessment spanning: anticipated climate impacts, climate challenges for farmers/ranchers/ foresters/ communities and identify how Extension can help fulfill these needs -Identify technical assistance providers and their needs, and identify technical service provider needs and those of their peers -Review available data, model policies, planning templates and maps Engagement and Collaboration
-50% of landowners and stewards in served communities will apply at least one new climate-smart practice for adaptation and/or mitigation for the next five years -25% of natural resource managers who engage Extension will apply at least one new climate-smart practice for adaptation and/or mitigation within five years Climate Technology Program Development and Collaboration -Production/Farm- Provide near- and long-term guidance that informs long- term, whole-farm planning related to the adoption of technologies and practices that provide operational
-Within the next 12 months, capacity funding will be secured and climate Extension personnel in at least 20 states are mobilized to do training on climate-smart practices -By 2025: Complete a pilot training that includes 5% of all Extension personnel to create interdisciplinary core teams in pilot states. Personnel will be trained to facilitate pilot counties/communities through the planning process. -By 2027: 40% of Extension personnel (interdisciplinary core teams in every state) will be trained to facilitate the planning process with counties/communities -Extension personnel will develop skills to facilitate community-level climate resilience planning -Extension personnel will become aware of Extension climate resilience resources
-Participatory Planning Models
-Extension volunteer resources (Master Gardener, Master Naturalists, 4-H Leaders, Climate Stewards, and other existing programs) -Extension associations (ANREP, ESP, NACAA, NACDEP, NAE4-HYDP, NAEPSDP, NEAFCS)
Collaboration and Networking
-Hold listening sessions with existing and prospective collaborators, including
-Build and strengthen a network to improve collaboration around
needs assessments that identifies challenges and
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