Climate change and its effects are a high priority for the foreseeable future. The Met Council recognizes the crucial role that the Regional Parks and Trails System plays in efforts to mitigate climate change, while adapting to its impacts on the region. Regional park implementing agencies are already doing work to counteract the effects of climate change. Regional parks and trails provide a central opportunity for educating visitors about climate change impacts in the region and how the parks and trails system is both mitigating and adapting to those impacts. It is the Met Council’s responsibility to support this work while finding areas to create innovative solutions and achieve desired outcomes including:

• Build public awareness of the climate work being done in the Regional Parks and Trails System and encourage communities to become intentionally involved
• Foster an equitable parks and trails system and landscapes within the system that can withstand the impacts of climate change
• Develop innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while incorporating ways to connect recreation and adapt to the changing climate.

One of the Met Council’s primary roles is to convene the regional park implementing agencies to coordinate efforts at a regional scale. The Met Council will work in partnership with the regional park implementing agencies to identify common goals and collaboration opportunities that would benefit from a coordinated, regional effort. By supporting and coordinating climate work at a regional scale, agencies may share learnings and resources with one another, and the Regional Parks and Trails System may be better positioned to seek additional funding resources. Other areas that the Met Council will explore include:

• Long-Range Planning: Continue to work with implementing agencies as the Met Council explores the addition of climate resiliency dimensions to the long-range Plan requirements listed in the Regional Parks and Trails Planning Handbook
• Operations: Convene frontline parks staff (operations, maintenance, naturalists) from the implementing agencies to share best management practices, lessons learned, and coordinate climate work across agency boundaries. Other efforts may include developing regional initiatives to improve operations and exploring workforce development opportunities for naturalists.

Prioritize research that accurately quantifies the Regional Parks and Trails System’s impact on mitigating and adapting to climate change. This research will help regional park implementing agencies identify aspects of the system that are working well and areas for improvement. Conduct research to capture a wide range of data, including:

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventory from facilities and operations
• Inventory that calculates the level of carbon sequestration from completed restoration and potential sequestration of future restoration work
• Measurable metrics that show the positive impact regional parks and trails have on climate mitigation and adaptation (flood control, cooling, etc.)
• Exploring additional opportunities for tracking water quality in regional parks and trails.
• Monitoring the effects on emissions of actions taken by implementing agencies such as land restoration and efficiency improvements made in buildings and facilities.

One of the Met Council’s primary roles is to convene the regional park implementing agencies to coordinate efforts at a regional scale. The Council will work with implementing agencies to discuss communication strategies to build awareness of the Regional Parks and Trails System’s role in climate change. In addition to highlighting the adaptation and mitigation capabilities of the system, we will also provide accurate information that explains the long-term benefits of certain actions, including:

• Water quality and quantity: Work with Environmental Services and implementing agencies to educate the public about the impact of algal blooms and water pollution
• Habitat restoration: Explain native habitat restoration, its benefits, and how controlled burns contribute to the ecosystem
• Adaptation: Educate people about the many ways parks can be used to adapt to climate change through flood control, planting drought resistant vegetation, and growing shade
• Programming: Focus on increasing awareness and involvement of communities through coordinating climate-oriented programming, such as data collection, restoration work, and education.

The Met Council will incorporate more diverse voices into climate work, identifying areas of improvement for the Regional Parks and Trails System. By focusing more on the impacts of climate change on overburdened communities, we can start to minimize harm, support reparative action, and build community autonomy.

This policy plan includes a wide range of actions to encourage more feedback from more diverse audiences, including:

• Define what “areas not well served” means for the locating and acquisition priority of “geographic distribution”
• Inform programming and marketing to invite new visitors into regional parks and trails
• Guide the acquisition and development of parks to reduce the impacts of green gentrification and displacement to nearby communities.