As we draw near the end of 2024, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments and milestones of the past year. At ASAP, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with diverse partners, fostering growth, and making significant strides in climate adaptation and resilience. None of this would have been possible without the invaluable contributions of our dedicated membership.

Your collective efforts have driven innovation, expanded our impact, and strengthened our shared mission. Take a moment to reflect on the incredible achievements of your peers and the progress we’ve made together.

Here are some highlights from our journey over the past 12 months:

ASAP Projects

Coastal Inundation Community of Practice 

In collaboration with  NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (“OCM”) and the National Sea Grant Office (“NSGO”), ASAP organized an in-person workshop that brought together 100 coastal flooding practitioners representing diverse trans-disciplinary perspectives. This event facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas aimed to build and enhance resilience against coastal inundation. 

---

Forest Service

Between October and December, the collaborative project between the Forest Service Office of Sustainability and Climate (“OSC”) and the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (“ASAP”) focused on implementing key activities for Years 2 and 3 of the project. Major accomplishments during this time include:

1. Learning Programs for Key Audiences – Learning Programs have been developed and finalized for three key target groups: Climate Coordinators, Specialists, and Line Officers. These programs are tailored to address the specific knowledge and competency needs of each group. The finalized versions of these documents are expected to be published in the first part of 2025.
2. Baseline Assessment and Methodology – A comprehensive Baseline Assessment and a Methodology document has been completed. This resource provides a clear framework to guide role-specific training and development.
3. Knowledge and Competency (K&C) Framework Deliverables – ASAP has engaged three contractors (Ingrid Dabringer, Joshua Moses, and Sharon Hausam) to focus on the development of the Knowledge & Competencies Framework.
4. Funding and Finance Project – ASAP has made significant strides in advancing the Ready to Fund Resilience project. Key activities include: organizing focus group data and engagement with Member-Led Interest Groups.

---

LEAP Program 

After nearly 2 years, ASAP successfully wrapped up with the Leading with Equity in Adaptation (“LEAP”) Program. Partnered with Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), we recruited and trained teams of community and climate adaptation practitioners. Together, they implemented community-led adaptation projects, with a special focus on the Gulf Coast – a region home to 10% of ASAP’s membership that will greatly benefit from increased adaptation action.

---

Supporting Environmental Justice through TCTAC

This year, ASAP developed a comprehensive database of technical support providers to support the National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center. This resource was designed to connect communities with expertise to advance environmental justice initiatives. Through this database, ASAP successfully fulfilled requests for technical assistance in multiple regions, including Regions 3, 5, and 9.

The database includes a diverse array of providers, primarily representing private entities, non-profit organizations, and universities, ensuring a wide range of skills and perspectives to meet community needs.

In October, ASAP Staff participated in a strategic planning meeting in Philadelphia. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for reflection on the progress made, the challenges encountered, and the lessons learned. The team also worked collaboratively to outline priorities and set a clear roadmap for the next steps in supporting thriving communities and fostering environmental justice initiatives across the country.

---

ASAP Peer Learning Groups and Affiliate Groups

Adaptation and Vulnerability

• Assisted with AdaptEd & SDG application – Letter of Support and volunteered to assist with a win for our stakeholders.
• Helped prepare the second largest attended NAF presentation: “Achieving Climate Ambition at Corridor Scale – Uniting Cities, States, and Indigenous Nations” and “Stories from Frontline Alaska Native Villages and National Policy Recommendations”
• Curated a database of adaptation tools, frameworks, and resources focused on building community resilience and addressing vulnerabilities. 

Funding and Finance

• Developed key ASAP funding resources, including the Ready-to-Fund Resilience Toolkit, general funding list, and resilience funding tracker
• As part of ASAP’s grant with Climate Resilience Consulting and GLISA, the Funding & Finance and Policy Practice Group teams supported a focus group and incorporated updates to be made to the RTFR Toolkit.

Nature Based Solutions

• The ASAP-led NBS session was the 16th most attended session at the conference (out of 100 total)

Policy Practice Group 

• The Policy Practice Group played a pivotal role in developing and updating ASAP’s policy priorities
• The group has coordinated responses to federal agency requests for information on behalf of ASAP.
• Hosted a webinar with esteemed nationally recognized speakers, such as Massachusetts’ first-ever Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, to foster an insightful discussion on climate adaptation.

Rural Resilience Collaboratives

• Restructured the group from rural-centered to rural-focused communities and built connections through members individually for rural-focused work.
• Hosted regular peer-learning discussions with leading rural-centered experts.
• Consultation for AmeriCorps grant project

CALE – Community Adaptation Learning Exchange

• CALE has been instrumental in engaging the ASAP network through offering and learning opportunities. 
• This year, CALE led sessions at annual conferences and provided growth opportunities for members interested in organizational leadership. 
• CALE is currently planning for 2025 sessions, exploring in-person gatherings and online knowledge-sharing events.

Climate Migration and Managed Retreat

• In 2024, this group designed, conceptualized, planned, and facilitated a full session on climate migration at NAF this year! This session included different modalities of expression (e.g., photography, discussion, community voices) to bring to light different perspectives on land back, climate displacement, and relocation.
• Hosted monthly peer learning discussions and dynamic speakers featuring topics such as the NASEM Gulf study, beauty in the built environment, sister cities and moving/adapting within cities, and Pacific Island migration.

Private Sector

• Created Private Sector initiatives, including optimizing ASAP technology platforms, and pursuing collaborative projects with other ASAP groups. 
• Developed thoughtful business development strategies with a focus on establishing relationships that can result in teaming and hiring among the broader ASAP Private Sector family
• The idea around joint authoring a white paper needs leadership within the group

Professional Opportunities in Adaptation

• Continuously provided a landing spot for people who are new to ASAP, new the the field, looking for jobs and trying to build their careers. While other groups cover the “subject matter” of adaptation, this group gets into the nuts and bolts of the skills you need to get a job in adaptation. 

R*ECO*NNECT

• Offered healing space and connected ASAP members with a broad sampling of people working on climate who share feelings, concerns, and commitments 

JEDI

• Hosted an intimate, free-flowing, and discussion-based three-part series to reconvene all of ASAP membership to reflect on and reinvigorate ASAP’s commitments to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• Opened call for those who might be interested in joining the leadership team. Reach out to Geoffrey Habron (habrong@equitablecommunityresilience.org) to learn more.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for 2025, we’re excited to introduce our new board, expand our network of technical assistance providers, and gear up for new projects.  

With gratitude for the past year and anticipation of what’s to come, we thank all of our members and partners for their decision and passion. Together, we will continue to build a resilient and equitable future. 

Stay connected with the Slack channel, YouTube, and LinkedIn.