Many coastal Tribes in Washington and Oregon have developed climate change adaptation plans and vulnerability assessments to respond to rising sea levels and wildfire risks, but a new report details the experiences and obstacles they face when trying to carry out their plans. Led by Amelia Marchand, Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison for the Northwest CASC and Meade Krosby, University Director of the Northwest CASC and Senior Scientist of the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, the report draws from six Tribal listening sessions throughout the Northwest. These sessions, each 2.5 hours long, involved 40 participants from 13 Tribal nations in the region. They met in small groups with a moderator to discuss specific situations, frustrations, and needs for climate change preparation and action. The sessions revealed key common obstacles faced by Tribes, such as fragmented federal funding that limits the ability to initiate long-term projects that require stable support, challenges in staffing and finding technical expertise, and difficulties in forming partnerships due to a lack of understanding of Tribal processes and priorities.  

The report raises awareness among funders, policymakers, and other climate service providers about the challenges faced by Northwest coastal Tribes in adapting to a changing climate.