The role for Cooperative Extension educators to address adaptation to and mitigation of climate change impacts is a challenge of optimization. We understand the causes and consequences of a warming world and experience its impacts today in increasingly frequent and more intense weather phenomena. We also know the importance of leading at a speed at which people can follow. Not only must people be aware of and acknowledge a problem in order to act, they must also have the means to take action. As more Extension programming in sustainability and energy issues is initiated and supported, there are more opportunities for Extension educators to incorporate adaptation and mitigation actions into their programs. Extension educators in water, forestry and agriculture have research-based climate tools and resources and adaptation management practices that can be discussed and presented to their clientele as well. Still, the issue of climate change remains political and controversial; many of us tread lightly as county educators because we fear clientele may take umbrage and take their case to university administrators and state legislators. For example, in roundtable discussions conducted by the presenter in 2015, 35 Extension educators at the National Extension Energy Summit and the NACAA Climate and Agriculture Super Session were surveyed: Forty-five percent considered political controversy to be the biggest challenge they face in addressing climate change and climate science in their program area. While Extension educators do address best management practices, which may be appropriate actions for climate change adaptation or mitigation, most do so without emphasizing climate change. This may be our comfort zone, but is it optimal? When we look back fifteen to twenty years from now, will we be satisfied when we ask ourselves “Did I do enough?”
