ASAP Begins:

Professionals across the United States are working to prepare for the impacts of climate change and make their communities, regions, states, and the country more resilient to those changes. For each, the story is different but similar. These individuals realize that climate change is one of the most critical issues of our time and that it will affect many aspects of their jobs and our communities. They work within their sector and across sectors. They focus on climate science, public health, natural resources, governance, urban planning, transportation, forestry, water resources and more. They realize that while their individual efforts can make a difference, they cannot do it alone. They look for a place to find and share information, enhance promising practices, and collaborate on building a healthy and vibrant future.

In many ways, their work is the foundation from which ASAP was formed in 2011. It’s a story worth remembering….

It was a dark night and the fittingly named Dark Horse Saloon in Boulder, Colorado. And yes, like Guy Noire, a group of two dozen of the Adaptation Vanguard were asking themselves some of life’s most persistent questions:

What are we going to do here that is worthwhile?

What is the state of the field in Adaptation?

What’s working?

What’s not working?

And, how can they make it better?

This group had spent a long day trying to lay the groundwork for a climate preparedness and learning network, the latest in a sporatic series of meetings going back to 2009. They had made some progress but not been successful. Then, like many inspirational ideas before, the concept (and the name) of the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) was drawn on a napkin.

“The People People”

Huddled around a few tables, the group agreed what was needed was a home for people working on climate change adaptation. In fact, the longer they talked, the more they came to believe that at the heart of all innovation and change are people. Key people. Dedicated people. Smart people. Connected people. And that’s how ASAP became “the people people.”

Professionals need a place to connect with each other, share information, and build on successes while moving away from approaches that aren’t working. They need a professional society that could help bridge the geographic and sectoral gaps that naturally develop, especially in the diverse, dynamic, and emerging field of climate adaptation. No longer would individuals be isolated working on their own to make a difference. No longer would the sectors be so fragmented in their approaches to building resilience. No longer would communities, regions, or states need to start from scratch to build and prioritize their strategies to increase climate resilience.

Thanks to the generous support of the Kresge Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Institute for Sustainable Communities, that vision is now a reality. ASAP is the only organization that focuses solely on connecting and supporting the people who are building climate resilience across the country. Whatever your field, background, or expertise, ASAP is the premiere place to meet and connect with other professionals, get tips and updates on promising practices, stay up to date on the latest in climate adaptation, and share what you are learning from your work to build resilience.

JOIN US!