In episode 112 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts for the third time, famed climatologist Dr. Michael Mann . Mike comes on to discuss his recent sabbatical in Sydney, Australia, just as the bushfires raged out of control. We discuss the conservative media in Australia and how the continent is uniquely susceptible to the impacts of climate change. We also discuss how the anti-science response to the Covid19 pandemic mirrors much of what he’s encountered in the climate denial movement. We also...
May 18, 2020•51 min•Ep. 112
In episode 111 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Linda Shi , an Assistant Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University. Doug and Linda talk about coastal development and adaptation economics; what happened to the 100 Resilient Cities Initiatives; urban inequality; racially just adaptation; transformative adaptation and much more! Topics covered : Issues for equity, adaptation, and climate change Urban planning and climate justice. Spatial inequality Co...
May 05, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 111
In episode 110 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts two adaptation professionals, Shaun Martin of World Wildlife Fund and Emily Wasley of WSP to discuss how they are focusing on their jobs during a pandemic. Both share the changes in their work environment and how they are able to maintain their adaptation efforts in these trying times. Also, Dr. Gabriel Henderson comes on to share a paper he wrote that looks at early efforts to develop climate adaptation legislation during the Carter administ...
Apr 20, 2020•45 min•Ep. 110
In episode 109 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts climate legend Christiana Figueres , head of Global Optimism and Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Doug and Christiana talk about the coronavirus and what lessons the climate movement can learn from the pandemic response; what’s next for the Paris Climate Accords; can the US jump back in after the election; Christiana’s political family history in Costa Rica and much more! Topics covered : Christiana under ...
Apr 06, 2020•52 min•Ep. 109
In episode 108 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Jisung Park , assistant professor at the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA. The two talk about Jisung’s research, showing how increased temperatures can negatively impact student academic performance. Also, rising temperatures can lower worker productively, seriously impacting the labor market. As the world warms, what will that mean for the world’s economy. We also discuss the positives and negatives of adaptation solutions (air co...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 108
In episode 107 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Shalini Vajjhala of re:focus partners to talk about the one in a generation opportunity to invest in community infrastructure needs in light of climate change. Shalini discusses how re:focus partners works with cities and states on investing now to avoid future costs associated to climate impacts. Doug also talks with Caleb Stratton , the Chief Resilience Officer of Hoboken, New Jersey and how they worked with re:focus partners to invest ...
Feb 25, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 107
In episode 106, a ‘rewind’ of episode 76 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons takes a journey with the Freedom to Breath bus tour on location in New Orleans. During his visit, Doug attends a town hall on women and minority groups talking about climate resilience; a visit to Africatown to learn about the legacy of racism and environmental pollution and a visit to a protest community that is also serving as a gateway for refugees fleeing storm events and climate change. Women, tribal members, people o...
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 106
In episode 105 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Ian Galloway and Tom Flannigan of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Harvard’s Dr. Jesse Keenan . All three join Doug on the podcast to discuss the Fed’s Community Development Investment Review . This issue of the review focuses on climate adaptation and shares examples from across the country on how the community development sector is tackling this emerging issue. Jesse sticks around to talk about the “climate intelligen...
Jan 27, 2020•52 min•Ep. 105
In episode 104 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. Ladd Keith , Assistant Professor in Planning and Chair of Sustainable Built Environments at the University of Arizona. Doug and Ladd discuss what is extreme heat in the context of climate change; how urban heat will get worse and what cities are doing to plan for it; what extreme heat means for social and climate justice; how urban planning is evolving to include adaptation; how to integrate extreme heat planning into emergency ...
Jan 13, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 104
In episode 103 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Anita Van Breda of World Wildlife Fund, Emily Wasley of WSP and Dr. Meredith Wiggins of Historic England. In this end of the year showcase, Doug and his guests list their top climate stories; the diversity of adaptation professionals; podcast listening habits; top America Adapts episodes of the year and their recommendations for the pod in 2020! Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here ! Topics dis...
Dec 20, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 103
In episode 102 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Judge Alice Hill at the Council of Foreign Relations. Judge Hill co-authored the book “ Building a Resilient Tomorrow ” with Leonardo Martinez-Diaz . Judge Hill shares insights on the book: making financial markets work for climate resilience; climate equity; funding adaptation projects; the emerging adaptation profession; the Green New Deal; adaptation vs. resilience; national security implications of climate change and much more! ...
Dec 10, 2019•57 min•Ep. 102
In episode 101 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. Samantha Montano , a disasterologist/Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska in Emergency Management and Disaster Science. Samantha, along with her colleague Amanda Savitt , evaluated the disaster and adaptation policies of the 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates . Doug and Samantha discuss what makes for effective disaster policies and where the candidates stand on these issues. Samantha also recommends how these ...
Nov 26, 2019•32 min•Ep. 101
In episode 100 (a true milestone!) of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. AR Siders , an assistant professor at the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware. Dr. Siders defines what is ‘managed retreat’ and also the policy challenges of getting communities to undertake this adaptation action. Doug and Siders also discuss: is it happening in an equitable way; the various emerging managed retreat models; successful case studies; the need for a National Seashore; Preside...
Nov 12, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 100
In episode 99 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Rob Moore , the Director of the Water and Climate Team at NRDC , the Natural Resources Defense Council. Doug and Rob talk about flooding and the bureaucratic inertia of flood management. They also discuss the psychology of rebuilding in flood zones. Rob also explains attempts to reform federal flood policies and the challenges of finding funding to help people with buy outs. Also: nature based solutions to flooding; being an adaptati...
Oct 28, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 99
In episode 98 of America Adapts , which is a re-release of episode 64, Doug Parsons talks with Margaret Peloso , of the law firm Vinson and Elkins. Margaret shares insights from her book Adapting to Rising Sea Levels: Legal Challenges and Opportunities . Doug and Margaret dig into topics such as the conversion of private land to public land as the oceans rise; adaptation and the public trust doctrine; coastal Superfund sites and corporate responsibility; will eminent domain drive coastal plannin...
Oct 15, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 98
In episode 97 of America Adapts , which is a re-release of Episode 47, Doug talks with noted climate change skeptic, Marc Morano of Climate Depot. Doug and Marc discuss his motivation to be a contrarian voice on climate change and his history working on environmental issues, from being a reporter for Rush Limbaugh, to being chief spokesman for noted climate skeptic Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma. We also talk about the current state of climate affairs. In the second part of the episode, Dr. Ra...
Sep 23, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 97
In episode 96 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Bob Inglis , former Congressman from South Carolina and now Executive Director of RepublicEN. Doug and Bob talk about his history of being a climate advocate in the Republican Party; why the current GOP is so skeptical of climate science; how evangelicals’ attitudes about climate change are influenced by their support of President Trump. Also, Doug talks with John Sweeney, Chelsea Henderson and Rouzy Vafaie of RepublicEN. They talk o...
Sep 05, 2019•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 96
In episode 95 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons hosts Peterson Toscano , host of the podcast Citizens Climate Radio . Doug and Peterson talk climate activism, how adaptation can learn from the response to the AIDS crisis and much more. Doug also interviews America Adapts listeners to get their feedback on the podcast and what role it plays in their careers and they share their recommendations for future episodes. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here ! T...
Aug 20, 2019•54 min•Ep. 95
In episode 94 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons visits New York City! This is THE episode on urban forestry and climate adaptation. Doug travels across the city, visiting parks and interviewing experts on such topics as: How forests add to the overall resilience of New York City; Cool Neighborhoods program and public health; urban forestry and climate adaptation; extreme heat in urban areas; public health and urban forests, social and ecological resilience; tree equity and social resilience ...
Aug 06, 2019•2 hr 24 min•Ep. 94
In episode 93 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Carolyn Kousky , the Executive Director at the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the University of Pennsylvania. In this lively discussion, Doug and Carolyn discuss: how wildfires in California drove their utility into bankruptcy and what policy reforms are needed to prevent this from happening again; who owns the legal risks of climate change; needed disaster aid reform; the dysfunctional nature of flood i...
Jul 23, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 93
In episode 92 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews the CEO of Grist, Brady Walkinshaw. Grist is the long time, online environmental news group. Doug and Brady discuss the presidential politics of climate change; the race to define what the Green New Deal really is. They also discuss how the Green New Deal address climate adaptation and Grist’s own coverage of the issue. They also discuss the challenges of covering environmental news in a non partisan way, and sharing some of the Gris...
Jul 09, 2019•56 min•Ep. 92
In episode 91 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons goes to the 2019 National Adaptation Forum in Madison, Wisconsin! During this adaptation-palooza, Doug interviews a variety of conference participants. Discover the topics and themes covered at this event and learn how diverse the adaptation community has become. Hear what presentations stood out and how adaptation professionals see this sector growing. Doug also interviews several listeners of the podcast and gets their feedback on the confere...
Jun 11, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 91
In episode 90 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons travels to beautiful Saint Augustine, Florida for the Keeping History Above Water conference. Doug interviews experts on the threat of sea level rise to cultural resources. Learn the innovative, proactive approaches the city of St. Augustine is taking to address sea level rise. The conference highlights the specific examples of adaptation planning that are happening at the local community level. Discover how historic preservation will be a key ...
May 21, 2019•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 90
In episode 89 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Yale-Nus College Asst. Professor of Environmental Studies Dr. Matthew Schneider-Mayerson about his recent literacy research on how “Cli-Fi”, or climate change science fiction, can influence a reader’s behavior. Doug is joined in this interview by Cli-Fi expert, Dr. Amy Brady, a previous guest on America Adapts. In a bonus conversation, Doug interviews Laur Hesse Fisher, host of a new podcast, Today I Learned: Climate ( TILClimate ), ...
May 05, 2019•55 min•Ep. 89
In episode 88 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Marcy Rockman , cultural resource and climate adaptation expert. Marcy, until recently, was the Cultural Resources Adaptation Coordinator for the National Park Service and is now the IPCC Team Lead with the International Council on Monuments and Sites Climate Change and Heritage Working Group. Marcy and I discuss her time at the Park Service, developing the first of its kind cultural resource and climate change white paper. We al...
Apr 22, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 88
In episode 87 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Kyle Powys Whyte . Kyle is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Community Sustainability and a faculty affiliate of the American Indian & Indigenous Studies and Environmental Science & Policy programs at Michigan State University. Kyle is also an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation . Kyle and I discuss how indigenous people define urgency in the face of climate change, managed retreat for tribal communiti...
Apr 08, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 87
He’s back! In episode 86 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews famed climatologist Dr. Michael Mann . Dr. Mann is the author of the famous ‘hockey stick’ climate research that has become one of the iconic images in the climate movement. This is Dr. Mann’s second appearance on America Adapts. In this episode, we discuss: winning the Tyler Prize (the environmental equivalent of the Nobel Prize); the quickly emerging issue of climate adaptation; Trump’s climate policies being worse than ...
Mar 27, 2019•34 min•Ep. 86
In episode 85 of America Adapts – a true event episode - Doug Parsons interviews the hosts of some of your favorite climate change podcasts! Warm Regards, Climactic, No Place Like Home, Climate Ready, Climate One, The Climate and Security Podcast, MIT’s Climate Conversations and Reversing Climate change all join Doug on the pod to share their stories. Learn what inspired them to start their podcasts, the types of guests they host and their insight on why podcasts are a great platform to create a...
Mar 11, 2019•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 85
In episode 84 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Jesse Keenan , from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Jesse recently published a book Climate Adaptation Finance and Investment in California. Also, Jesse answers questions from listeners on the general “State of Adaptation.” Topics covered in this episode: adaptation finance, understanding ‘maladaptation’, differences between finance and funding; social equity and much, much more! Donate to America Adapts Other Topics covered...
Feb 25, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 84
In episode 83 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews planner Deanna Moran and environmental lawyer, Elena Mihaly , from the Conservation Law Foundation . Deanna and Elena come on to talk about their new report, Climate Adaptation and Legal Liability. Other topics include: current court cases relevant to adaptation and climate change; using legal liability as a tool to affect policy decisions; the need to update building codes to reflect climate threats; what industries and sectors are ...
Feb 11, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 83
