About ACCAP
Vision
To build healthy and thriving Alaskan communities, economies, and ecosystems in a changing climate.
Mission
To conduct innovative and collaborative research and engagement to inform climate policy, decision-making, and action for a just and sustainable future.
What does ACCAP do?
ACCAP has been working in Alaska for over 15 years to improve the ability of Alaskans to adapt to a changing climate. We strive for a partnership model, building meaningful relationships and working together to meet partners' information needs.
Focus areas
- Extreme events - we use an integrated approach to analyze historic and projected extreme events, such as flooding, storms, and wildfire. We use these analyses to document socio-economic impacts and produce resources and tools to meet climate science needs.
- Tribal resilience - we work with Tribes, Tribal regional non-profits, and Indigenous communities to build capacity for climate adaptation. This includes investigating boundary spanning and knowledge co-production as well as, workforce and economic development and adaptation planning.
- Outreach and engagement - we share climate and weather information to a wide audience through webinars, radio, local newspapers and social media. We prioritize network and relationship building to be a trusted source for information throughout Alaska.
ACCAP is part of the NOAA Climate Program Office
ACCAP is one of 11 NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships formerly known as RISA (Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments) teams.
Climate Adaptation refers to both the applied and integrated science produced by the network and also the active nature of working directly with decision makers.
Partnerships refers to relationships between researchers and stakeholders, as well as larger connections among regional teams that support peer-to-peer learning and leverage knowledge and expertise for national impact.
Alaska region
The climate is warming in northern latitudes at over twice the rate of other parts of the globe. Alaska is also experiencing significant shifts in the intensity and frequency of extreme climate events related to temperature, sea ice, and coastal erosion, with high confidence for future continued change also in precipitation and marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Rural and Alaska Native communities throughout the state, many of which are accessible only by air or water, are among the most vulnerable. These communities face threats to key areas of concern such as food security, community infrastructure, and traditional knowledge.
