The following information is included on this page:
Submissions are currently being reviewed. Decisions will be provided by mid-July (at the latest).
Instructions for Editing a Proposal
1. Click on the link above to go to the abstract submission portal
2. Click Edit Submission
3. Enter in your submission ID (this was in your email confirmation from OpenConf) and the password you set up when submitting the proposal
There are eight session formats at the National Adaptation Forum. Presentations are either based on the priority topic areas listed below or on a topic specified by the presenter.
Confused about what distinguishes one session from another? See the Session Decision Tree
Special sessions are designed to provide opportunities for presentations on new and emerging ideas and to recruit a broad array of participants at the Forum. More detailed descriptions on Special Sessions and calls for individual 15-minute oral presentations may be found here.
A 15-minute talk on research, practice, process, and unique case studies. The Program Committee will review and organize individual oral presentations into 90-minute concurrent sessions and assign session moderators.
A poster on display in the networking reception and Forum breaks to share a particular project, research, or tools. Accepted posters will - to the greatest degree possible - be arranged and displayed by priority topic area.
Present an online adaptation tool during the network reception and tool training session to educate, enlighten, and capture the imagination of fellow Forum attendees. Presentations can either focus on a specific tool or the tools that may be necessary to address a broader topic/challenge.
An interactive educational experience in which participants develop skills to apply to their work. When submitting a proposal, please describe how the session will actively engage participants and if the session will offer professional development credits. Trainings will be 90 minutes in length.
A meeting around a key challenge or emerging issue in order to lay a foundation for further action with a focus on developing tangible outputs on specific issues/challenges (e.g., paper, plan of action). When submitting a proposal, please describe the tangible outputs likely to emerge from the session and if the session will offer professional development credits. Working groups will be 90 minutes in length.
A session dedicated to crowdsourcing solutions to specific challenges faced by practitioners (e.g., institutional roadblocks, inconsistent public support). When submitting a proposal, please describe the specific project(s) and challenges you are facing that would benefit from group exploration and discussion and if the session will offer professional development credits. Solutions rooms will be 90 minutes in length.
A session featuring several presentations or moderated discussion on a key topic. Symposia organizers are responsible for recruiting presenters. When submitting a symposium proposal, you must list a minimum of three presenters (three separate authors). In addition, include a general presentation topic for each individual presenter within the abstract. Symposium sessions should include presenters from a variety of perspectives from more than one organization. If your session is accepted, abstracts for each presentation in your session will be required. Please note that presenters in a proposed symposium session do not need to submit a separate oral presentation submission. Symposia organizers should also consider ways to actively engage session participants such as through the sharing of adaptation experiences and stories. Symposia will be 90 minutes in length.
Submissions were requested for a range of topics focused on climate change adaptation, however the Forum planning committees encouraged submissions on the following prioritized topics:
Agriculture & Food Security
Biodiversity, Ecosystems, & Nature-Based Solutions
Built Environment
Climate Adaptation & Mitigation Intersection
Climate Justice & Equity
Climate Displacement & Gentrification
Communications & Youth Engagement
Decision-making Tools & Technology
Economics, Workforce Development, & Green Jobs
Energy Solutions
Extreme Events, Disasters, & Emergency Management
Faith-Focused Adaptation
Financing Adaptation
Public Health: Physical, Behavioral, & Mental
Implementation of Adaptation
Infrastructure, Transportation, & Land-Use Planning
Insurance & Risk Management
International Perspectives
Monitoring, Evaluation, & Adaptive Management
Natural Resources
Politics of Climate Change Adaptation
Public & Private Sector Partnerships
Research & Science of Adaptation
Rural & Island Communities
Social Resilience & Transformation
Tribal & Indigenous Perspectives
Water Resources
All proposals will be reviewed by members of our three planning committees. We encourage sessions that engage a variety of adaptation practitioners from beginners to seasoned experts. Proposals must be about adaptation and not just climate change. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
JUSTICE, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND DIVERSITY: Proposal provides details on if and how justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity are included in adaptation efforts, such as evaluation of the allocation of burdens and benefits of decisions, and the meaningful involvement of all people in decision-making regardless of race, color, national origin, ability, or income. Proposal includes diverse voices as presenters (e.g., community members, youth).
RELEVANCE: Proposal provides a sound and credible approach for addressing climate change adaptation and is relevant to practitioners, policymakers, or others working on adaptation.
CROSS-SECTORAL: Proposal provides details on a cross-sectoral approach to adaptation, such as multiple angles or perspectives on a theme (e.g., geography, sectors, demographics, disciplines, approaches, or engagement with other organizations), including presenters from different organizations and sectors.
CLARITY OF PURPOSE: Proposal provides a clear focus; defines a concept, approach, process, or subject area; and clearly demonstrates successes and/or failures of practices. The proposal clearly defines the goals, key objectives, expected outcomes, and what participants will learn or experience.
INNOVATION: Proposal provides details on how projects are inspiring change, breaking new ground, and testing new approaches and ways of thinking and doing.
COLLABORATION: Proposal provides details on how diverse perspectives from different communities, cultures, organizations, and sectors are integrated into adaptation efforts.
RESEARCH: Proposal incorporates research and data or reflects your understanding of the changes happening in your area of work, including the use of best available science, traditional knowledge, established methodologies, best practices, and established metrics for monitoring success or identifying maladaptive practices.
ACTIVE LEARNING: Proposal provides clear description of activities to promote active engagement among attendees (e.g., collaboration, exploration, group knowledge exchange). This criterion is weighted highly for interactive sessions such as Working Groups and Trainings.
Please note: The Program Committee expects to receive a large number of highly competitive proposals. In the interest of designing a conference program that is representative of the field, the Program Committee reserves the right to select proposals based on not only overall scores, but also on the topics addressed by the session. This will help ensure diversity in the program and that it includes frequently underrepresented content or sectors.
A special thank you to the members of our Program Committee, Equity & Climate Justice Working Group, and Steering Committee for their help in reviewing proposals.