Jami Boudinot's Page

The matter of climate change has become central in governmental relations over the last few years. We may decide not to believe that this is occurring, ignoring the fact that governments all over the world, with their scientists and specialists, do think there is a problem. We all know how large the cogs of government are and how long change takes, so for us to decide in a matter of years that there is a significant problem, shows how much of a threat this must be. Change is taking place faster than we would have expected. New standards are already called for from the US General Services Administration. President Obama made statements of action at the UN Climate Change Summit on Sept. 22, and the DOT, DOE, and EPA have all made new rules and regulations within the last month.
Copenhagen is meant to be a stepping stone for strategies that are to be implemented here in the US. With the amount of pressure that other countries can now put upon the US, things are going to change, and change fast.
Projections on climate are just the beginning. We have an aging workforce, changing forest composition, biodiversity decline, increasing viral transmigration, cold water fish decline, drought, heat wave, severe storms, increasing lightening strikes, migration northward of mutations and pests, change in food supply, crop failures, surface water concerns, habitat fragmentation... and the list goes on.
This may seem too big to handle all at once. If we apply this in Sig Sigma terms, the first step would be to accumulate the data, once the problem is defined. In this instance, we neither can define the problem in its entirety, nor can we collect all the data. We have as much information on what the problems might be that we can have a starting point, though. We have enough data on what the possible outcomes may be, that we can establish a risk scenario and also a hazard model.
Viewing this from a project management approach, We could look at this as though it is a project, albeit a very large one. The process would be one of initiating a process (decide to start a planning and preparation forecast), planning how this will take place, who the members of the group should be, and what their roles would be; execution of the planning and preparation model, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
We are at the initiating stage in most communities. We must decide that there is a need for forecasting, or back casting; whichever model is decided to best serve the community. Each community needs to come up with their own model and their own strategies. Every community is different in its needs, composition, resource availability, economic impact, development projections, visions, and citizenry.
Once communities can come to the decision that this should be done (and do not let cost expenditure play any part in the decision making process at this point), the next step is assembly of relevant people. This should be a broad range of knowledgeable individuals from many different factions. Economic development, forestry and conservation, transportation, city government, health care, waste treatment, police and fire, local emergency management, zoning, educational institutions, and many other members depending upon the composition of your community.
Creating a mind map of individuals would be a great place to start. Local NP Os should be included as well as state and country officials. Some of these original member may be determined that they do not need to meet regularly at the meetings.
Just keep in mind this is the first step, and many ideas about what should be the approach and the subjects will be discussed at the first meetings. The subjects may want to be discussed by priority, and each group member should be an active participant in this. If there seems to be an issue of “follow the leader”, than smaller meetings without the “leader” will be necessary. This is imperative to success. Without this, items of concern may be looked over or neglected and ideas that may have been solutions will never be heard.
Once ideas are heard and a deliberation/ dialogue has taken place between the members of the group, a project leader or action person needs to be put in place. The role this person serves is to organize meeting with different groups to establish projects or tasks for each sector group to achieve. For instance, to adequately define the role that waste treatment facilities will serve, what their goals are, and what their hazard strategies are, the project leader will coordinate meeting with this group and come by steps to set up operating capacity outlines, emergency procedures, and develop a list of goals this group has.
These are small inexpensive steps communities can take towards preparation. This is inexpensive and can be done at a grassroots level if funding is a concern.
Tackling the problem of climate change does not have to be as daunting as we think. One small step at a time still means forward progress is being made. Taking a proactive approach saves much more time, money and resources than reacting to a problem, economics 101.
I hope you have enjoyed my little blurb, and I would love to hear your opinions. Some of the information has been condensed and shortened due to length.
Jami Boudinot