RINGO is the official constituency for civil society observers from Research and Independent NGOs within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Member organizations are �engaged in independent research and analysis aimed at developing sound strategies to address both the causes and consequences of global climate change� (http://www.ringos.net/node/4).  This constituency advocates solely for the use of the best current data and research in policy development, thus serving a bridging role between science and policy.  The body of knowledge related to mitigation, risk reduction in infrastructure and health systems, development of resilience, and adaptation in agriculture and conservation is vast and growing, but key information is not always translated down to the end-users (planners on the local level, farmers, etc.).  Effective practices are not always shared amongst those working on adaptation.  At COP18 (2012) the steering committee for RINGOs initiated dialog with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to identify ways in which academics and members of non-profits with appropriate expertise can help share and translate the reams of highly technical information for a range of stakeholders at the regional and community levels.  State climate committees and local planning commissions are faced with developing recommendations and prioritizing projects in a tough economic and political environment.  Thus, it is important to engage a wide range of audiences, including the public, in dialog to enhance climate literacy, to share information and best practices, and to help ensure that the most current science is used to guide policy development at the state and local levels.  Recommendations and examples for how members of the scientific community can do this will be discussed.

Adapting lessons from the international stage to address climate change at home

248th National Meeting (2014)

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