Climate Friendly Parks from around the country are leading the way in the effort to protect our parks' natural and cultural resources and ensure their preservation for future generations. The Climate Friendly Parks program is a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service.As a participant in the Climate Friendly Parks program, Kenai Fjords National Park belongs to this network of parks that are putting climate friendly behavior at the forefront of sustainability planning in national parks. By conducting an emission inventory, setting an emission reduction target, developing an Action Plan, and committing to educate park staff, visitors, and community members about climate change, Kenai Fjords National Park is serving as a model for climate friendly behavior within the National Park Service. The NPS Climate Change Response Strategy provides direction to our agency and employees to address the impacts of climate change. It describes goals and objectives to guide our actions under four integrated components: science, adaptation, mitigation, and communication. The staff of Kenai Fjords National Park is committed to addressing the challenges of climate change. These are some of the steps we have taken. Science
Science: "Conduct scientific research and vulnerability assessments necessary to support NPS adaptation, mitigation, and communication efforts. Collaborate with scientific agencies and institutions to meet the specific needs of management as it confronts the challenges of climate change. Learn from and apply the best available climate change science" (Climate Change Response Strategy September, 2010).
Communication: "Provide effective communication about climate change and impacts to the public. Train park staff and managers in the science of climate change and decision tools for coping with change. Lead by example." (Climate Change Response Strategy, September 2010).
Mitigation: "Reduce the carbon footprint of the NPS. Promote energy efficient practices, such as alternative transportation. Enhance carbon sequestration as one of many ecosystem services. Integrate mitigation into all business practices, planning, and the NPS culture" (Climate Change Response Strategy, September 2010).
Adaptation: "Develop the adaptive capacity for managing natural and cultural resources and infrastructure under a changing climate. Inventory resources at risk and conduct vulnerability assessments. Prioritize and implement actions, and monitor the results. Explore scenarios, associated risks, and possible management options. Integrate climate change impacts into facilities management" (Climate Change Response Strategy, September 2010).
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Last updated: October 10, 2019