Global Climate Change

There are few issues, if any, that match global climate change in terms of complexity, magnitude, and potential consequences for society and the planet on which we all live. After a time of scientific debate, the focus of the world’s attention is now turning to the development of what are hoped to be actionable and effective strategies to mitigate global warming and the impact it is having on ecosystems throughout the world.

TRG’s Role in the Response

Over the past several years, TRG has had the opportunity to work closely with numerous individuals and organizations that are directly engaged in efforts to understand and respond to global climate change. These organizations include

government agencies and regulatory bodies charged with developing policies and programs
international agricultural research organizations seeking to support farmers and farm productivity in developing countries
government and non-government organizations promoting sustainable forestry
non-profit organizations devoted to protecting and conserving the environment.

Our work with these organizations has included strengthening internal leadership and management, supporting the development of strategic plans that incorporate a response to climate change, strengthening and facilitating processes to engage stakeholders, and a variety of other services.

Examples of Our Experience

US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Atmospheric Programs. TRG has provided a range of consultancies and trainings for over 22 years for offices within the EPA, including several within the Office of Air and Radiation, that have direct responsibility for helping develop and implement policies and programs to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. EPA’s work involves a wide range of activities that include analysis of the economic, social, and health costs associated with climate change; developing and sustaining domestic voluntary programs with industry designed to reduce GHG emissions and increase the use of clean energy programs; working with states and localities and tribes to help mitigate and adapt to climate change; working internationally with a range of developing countries on policies on how to mitigate GHG emissions; and implementing measures through regulation that reduce a range of pollutants, including those that harm the stratosphere and are GHGs. TRG’s activities have focused on helping individual programs, branches, groups, divisions, laboratories, and offices work more effectively through a range of consultancies and trainings. Examples of TRG’s work with the EPA include assisting in organizational change and restructuring; organizing and facilitating strategic planning and budgeting meetings and retreats; providing training on team leadership, team behavior, conflict management, decision-making, running effective teams, and facilitating for consensus; providing executive coaching for senior leadership; conducting development assessments for individuals and groups; and facilitating stakeholder meetings on technical topics.

USAID, Capitalizing Knowledge, Connecting Communities (CK2C) Project. CK2C is a Task Order which aims at accelerating the integration of natural resource management (NRM), economic growth, and governance objectives into development strategies through more effective use of NRM. TRG staff provide support in conceptualizing and implementing the ENRM Learning Initiative, an innovative competency-linked approach aimed at updating and improving technical skills, awareness and capacity of USAID staff in the core competencies needed for state-of-the-art Environment and Natural Resources Management programming. As part of this “learning approach”, TRG staff design and facilitate blended (e-learning and face to face) core-competency training courses and participate in the design and implementation of a virtual learning management system. The trainings and materials target both USAID Environment Officers and a broader group of U.S. and foreign nationals, and project and general development staff, all of whom manage natural resources management and related portfolios in the field. To date, TRG has been working with a group of subject matter experts to create two five-day blended courses, one face to face course for new Foreign Service Officers (DLIs), one specialized module on NRM, conflict and Land Tenure and Property Rights, and four e-learning learning programs: Environment and Natural Resource Management Foundations (Foundations), ENRM Earmarks and Directives, and ENRM Applications: Integrated Programming for ENRM. These blended and e-learning only programs have been offered to a broad range of staff at USAID located across the globe. Over 10 courses with online components have been delivered over the past two years.

International Development Research Center. TRG provided support for IDRC’s Climate Change Adaptation in Africa Team in Senegal to foster enhance teamwork, to take stock of current CCAA orientation and how this related to key program areas, and to develop a common understanding of key programmatic activities in each of CCAA’s program areas - Monitoring and Evaluation, M&E, Knowledge Sharing, Capacity Development, and Demand-led Adaptation.

US Agency for International Development. TRG has extensive experience collaborating with USAID staff from various Bureaus on the design and delivery of major technical workshops on Global Climate Change, natural resource management, and water resources management. TRG facilitated a 4-day training workshop on Global Climate Change for USAID and State Department representatives that brought together senior representatives from USAID and the State Department to discuss both the science and policy issues related to Global Climate Change. The workshop provided an opportunity for State and USAID staff to identify specific opportunities to work together more collaboratively on GCC issues and related areas.

National Audubon Society. TRG facilitated the May 2007 National Audubon Global Warming Leadership Conference for over 130 Audubon staff and volunteers from across the U.S. The conference was designed to engage staff and volunteer leaders in the issues of global warming, create opportunities to help shape Audubon's global warming strategy and roll out, and provide training packages and other outreach tools. TRG has also been facilitating a strategic planning process for the top leadership of National Audubon since 2007, one objective of which is to integrate global warming initiatives into State programs and the programs of the many Audubon Chapters and Audubon Centers across the U.S.

United States Forest Service. TRG has conducted numerous technical workshops for the U.S. Forest Service International Programs both domestically and internationally. Examples of our work include:

Peru Forest Sector Initiative. TRG is supporting the U.S. Forest Service's program of technical cooperation, the Peru Forest Sector Initiative, to assist the GOP to comply with the obligations detailed in the Environment Chapter and Annex on Forest Sector Governance of the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) and the associated US-Peru Environmental Cooperation Agreement. TRG is collaborating with Peruvian government agencies in the forest sector in the design of capacity building and workforce training plans for each institution. TRG conducted assessments of each institution, identified capacity needs, and designed capacity building plans for each institution and the design of a curriculum for each of the course/topical areas of interest.
Sustainable Hunting Management Workshop. TRG conducted a three-day workshop in Lebanon over sustainable hunting management with participants from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Internal Security, the Federation of National Hunting Clubs, the Federation of Guns and Ammunitions Dealers and Manufacturers, and national environmental NGOs. The purpose of the workshop was to agree on the next steps to operationalize a national hunting law that was enacted in 2004 but has not yet been implemented.
International Seminar on Climate Change and Natural Resource Management. TRG provided adult learning consultation and helped facilitate a three-week seminar for international participants on climate change and natural resource management at the global and national level. This included such topics as the science behind the climate change dynamics; the impact of climate change on natural habitats; new research and measurement technologies; field monitoring; adaptation measures; the role science can play in the policy development world; and building local mitigation strategies with key community stakeholders.
International Seminar on Watershed Management. Since 2007, TRG has facilitated the annual three-week seminar for international participants over a broad range of issues pertaining to watershed management. Topics include watershed planning and management; climate change; alliances and partnerships; watershed monitoring; environmental conflict resolution; payment schemes; and community participation.