In episode 172 , Judge Alice Hill from the Council on Foreign Relations returns to the podcast! Alice discusses the recent floods in Pakistan and how the aftermath could be a national security threat. We also discuss Puerto Rico and Hurricane Irma and the challenges of getting on the ground resilience funding on the island. Alice and I discuss how bureaucracies can have difficulty supporting adaptation planning and funding and why a National Adaptation Plan would help with adaptation coordinatio...
Oct 02, 2022•57 min•Ep. 172
In episode 171 , Dr. Jesse Keenan of Tulane University returns to discuss the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act and how adaptation and resilience are built into the legislation. We discuss the misleading adaptation coverage in the media and why the Act represents a significant investment in climate resilience. Jesse takes a deep dive and explains how adaptation is built into tax policies, clean energy credits, community investment and much more in the legislation. Joining the podcast in a ...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 171
In episode 170 , Lisa Craig of The Craig Group joins the podcast to discuss how her company supports local governments, community groups, cultural organizations, and state, national and tribal partners in adapting to climate change. We also discuss the challenges of adapting cultural resources in a changing climate. Doug and Lisa discuss the implications of suing a local government to adapt to climate change. Lisa shares stories of working with communities and describes in detail how they get ve...
Sep 07, 2022•57 min•Ep. 170
In episode 169 , we’re doing a mid year adaptation review extravaganza! Doug is joined by Shaun Martin of World Wildlife Fund and Monika Serrano , of Turner Construction. The three discuss the top climate stories of the past year; their favorite America Adapts episodes; future recommendations for the podcast; how to stay connected to the adaptation universe; their favorite resilience and adaptation resources; where will adaptation be in ten years and much more! It’s a fun and informative discuss...
Aug 20, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 169
In episode 168 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts David Kuhn and Ben Jordan . David is the lead for corporate resilience at World Wildlife Fund and Ben is the Senior Director of Packaging and Climate at The Coca-Cola Company. We discuss why engaging the corporate sector is so important to WWF and why the private sector will be so important for the emerging adaptation sector. We also discuss sustainability and its longer history with corporate America and how adaptation can complement the work...
Aug 08, 2022•54 min•Ep. 168
In episode 167 , Doug Parsons hosts Francisco Sanchez Jr ., Associate Administrator for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance . Francisco shares what is the office of disaster assistance. We also discuss how climate change is requiring them to evolve their mission. SBA is actually a major funder of disaster preparedness, an increasingly important part of any adaptation response for communities. We also learn about Francisco’s previous experiences doing similar disaste...
Jul 25, 2022•46 min•Ep. 167
In episode 166 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts adaptation experts from Colorado. We learn how extreme storm events have been a major driver in adaptation planning in the state. Discover the most pressing climate impacts facing Colorado. We hear from the state climatologist about Colorado’s unique climate and what challenges it brings to adaptation planners. We also hear about on the ground examples of resilience planning from city and local governments. Colorado is learning quickly how to ...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 166
In episode 165 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Katharine Mach . Katharine is a Professor at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and is a lead author for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report . Katharine explains the process of drafting the report; how the media succeeds and fails at communicating the urgency of the report; Doug and Katharine also discuss a need to rethink the role and purpose of the IPCC report to help elevate the urgency of the me...
Jun 20, 2022•58 min•Ep. 165
In the latest episode of America Adapts , we are talking with citizen activists impacted by repeated flooding and what actions they are taking in response. The podcast is joined by representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Anthropocene Alliance . We also talk to four citizen activists who have experienced flooding first hand and the steps they are taking to make their communities more resilient to future extreme events. We share stories of citizen adapters and the advice...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 164
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Erin Sikorsky , the director of The Center for Climate and Security . Erin and Doug discuss: how to elevate the urgency of climate change through national security; why climate change is considered a top threat to the U.S.; how it’s impacting the core duties of the U.S. military; where are global ‘hot spots’; how climate change could lead to further political polarization in the U.S.; the value of a National Adaptation Plan and more! T...
May 23, 2022•57 min•Ep. 163
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Ladd Keith and Dr Sara Meerow to discuss their new book, Planning for Urban Heat Resilience . Sara is an Assistant Professor at the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University and Ladd is an Assistant Professor in Planning and Chair of Sustainable Built Environments at The University of Arizona. Ladd and Sara discuss: the complexities of urban heat; heat equity; planning tools; case studies of cit...
May 09, 2022•47 min•Ep. 162
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Leo Goldsmith of ICF and Dr. Michael Mendez , Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning and Policy at the University of California, Irvine, to discuss their new paper, Queer and Present Danger : Understanding the Disparate Impacts of Disasters on LGBTQ+ Communities. Mike and Leo discuss the unique vulnerabilities of this community in disaster relief; the myth of gay affluence; how faith-based groups have a history of discriminatory...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 161
In the latest episode of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Michael Mendez , Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning and Policy at the University of California, Irvine. Michael shares his research on how undocumented immigrants are particularly vulnerable to wildfires and climate change; why FEMA doesn’t provide disaster aid to these workers; what is a “worthy disaster victim” and how adaptation planners can incorporate climate equity into their plans. These topics and much more! Topic...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 160
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Elizabeth Mattiuzzi of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco . Lizzie’s latest research unpacks the ways low- and moderate-income communities are vulnerable to climate risks. Learn the role of housing insecurity in communities’ climate vulnerabilities. Her research also uncovers awareness levels among organizations dealing with climate risk and what impacts they perceive are affecting their community members. It’s important res...
Mar 28, 2022•57 min•Ep. 159
In the latest episode of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Crystal Skillman , an award winning playwright, who has written a new climate themed play, Rain and Zoe Save the World . The show is co-hosted by regular guest, “cli-fi” expert, Dr. Amy Brady . Amy and Doug discuss with Crystal what inspired her to write a climate themed play, why the arts are so important in climate communication and how the theater has driven societal change in the past. It’s an exciting and unusual episode for Americ...
Mar 14, 2022•53 min•Ep. 158
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Cameron Adams , a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, in the office of Senator Chris Coons (Democrat) of Delaware. Cam is the primary author of a new bi-partisan bill that would create a position of Chief Resilience Officer , who would be responsible for developing a National Adaptation Plan . Cam shares the history of the legislation; why Congress should work with the Executive Branch on adaptation issues; its prospects for passage; the deta...
Feb 27, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 157
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Laurie Schoeman , the National Director for Climate Risk Reduction and Resilience at Enterprise Community Partners . We discuss: affordable housing and climate change; standardizing resilience in building codes; what’s problematic about the subject of managed retreat; Resilience21; and a new, important FEMA housing policy change. Topics discussed: Affordable housing and climate change. Resilience should be as well understood by the pub...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 156
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Alizé Carrère , a National Geographic Explorer, filmmaker, and PhD student researching and documenting human adaptations to environmental change. Alizé discuses her four part adaptation series she did with PBS. We also discuss her doctoral research on “climatopias”, the forward-looking plans that architects, designers and futurists are drawing up in response to imminent environmental change. Doug and Alizé discuss how the adaptation se...
Jan 31, 2022•58 min•Ep. 155
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Cal Inman , founder of ClimateCheck , an online real estate climate risk data tool, that identifies current risk exposure to climate impacts such as drought, floods and sea level rise. Cal shares why climate data is so important to the real estate sector in helping consumers make climate smart decisions on home buying. We also ground truth the ClimateCheck tool on two vastly different home locations to see what their future impacts wil...
Jan 17, 2022•39 min•Ep. 154
In the latest episode of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts the CEO and President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Manish Bapna . Doug and Manish talk about how NRDC is addressing climate change, specially focusing on their approach to resilience and adaptation planning. Manish shares his vision on how domestic and international adaptation approaches can learn from each other and an update on their legislative approach to adaptation funding. Topics covered: Integrating internation...
Jan 05, 2022•30 min•Ep. 153
The hosts of a new climate adaptation podcast, Resilience: The Global Adaptation Podcast , join the show to talk about international adaptation. Elizabeth Bernhardt and Marcus Neild, from the United Nations’ Environment Program , discuss the origins of the podcast and why there’s a need to tell more international adaptation stories. Also joining is Laura Schifter of the Aspen Institute who gives an update on the climate curricula initiative, K12 Climate Action . They’ve just released a new repor...
Dec 13, 2021•48 min•Ep. 152
In the second of a two part series of America Adapts , Doug Parsons and Tulane Professor, Dr. Jesse Keenan complete their assessment of the Federal Climate Adaptation Plans . Jesse discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the remaining federal agencies’ plans. We also discuss National Adaptation Plans and the need for the United States to have one. Currently the U.S. is the only G20 country without a national plan. The first episode in this series is available here . Topics and Adaptation Plans...
Nov 28, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 151
In the latest episode of America Adapts , Doug Parsons and Tulane Professor, Dr. Jesse Keenan assess the newly released federal climate adaptation plans . Jesse does a deep dive and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of 10 of the adaptation plans. This is the first part of a two part series, with the rest of the departments and agencies covered in the second episode. We also discuss maladaptation and what role the National Climate Assessment plays in adaptation planning across the nation. If...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 150
In the second of a two part series with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Risk Center, we take a deep dive on risk and floods and helping communities find financial resilience as impacts escalate with a warming climate. Returning to the podcast is Dr. Carolyn Kousky of the Wharton Risk center who gives context to what this two-part series is all about. Then joining me is Joe Rossi, Joe Flood Insurance ; Rob Moore, Director of the Water and Climate Team at NRDC, the Natural Resources Defen...
Oct 26, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 149
In the second of a two part series, we learn how science and adaptation planning work to help the Coskata-Coatue Haulover Wildlife Refuge on Nantucket Island adapt to climate change. The podcast is joined by The Trustees of Reservations , a coastal conservation group in Massachusetts, and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation to learn how they are managing the refuge for future climate impacts. Experts discuss: the ecology of the refuge; collaborating with local community members on adaptation p...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 148
In this episode, Doug Parsons talks with returning guest Alice Hill about her new book, The Fight for Climate After Covid-19 . We discuss what inspired her to write the book; how her experiences working on climate change and biodefense during the Obama Presidency informed her thinking; why we need a national adaptation plan; the critical need for political leadership in confronting crises like covid and climate change; and why we should ‘marry’ climate mitigation in adaptation. Topics covered: W...
Sep 27, 2021•51 min•Ep. 148
In the first of a two part series with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Risk Center, we take a deep dive on flood risk and helping communities find financial resilience as impacts escalate with a warming climate. Returning to the podcast is Dr. Carolyn Kousky of the Wharton Risk Center who gives context to what this two-part series is all about. Then joining me is John Miller of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Reese May, the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at SBP, and fina...
Sep 13, 2021•57 min•Ep. 146
Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Brandon Collins , an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley and the lead scientist at Berkeley Forests . As wildfires rage in the Western U.S., why are some areas more prone to out of control fires than others? Brandon explains the ecology of western forests and some of the management options to mitigate against these extreme events. We also discuss the growing impact of climate change on these catastrophic fires and why the land management of a hundred years ago is making it ha...
Aug 30, 2021•55 min•Ep. 145
Doug Parsons talks with Dr. V. Kelly Turner , an Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Geography at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Doug and Kelly discuss: the need to create governance and regulation around extreme heat; decoupling disaster heatwave response to long term planning for it; how can social media amplify disaster messaging; the pros and cons of cool pavements and should we name heat waves. And we also hear about some innovative street art using reflecting paint! Donate...
Aug 16, 2021•53 min•Ep. 144
America Adapts joins with the Sky Island Alliance to discover conservation in the desert southwest. Learn about the unique Sky Island ecosystems along the U.S., Mexico border. Hear about the unique biodiversity in the region; how the landscape is adapting to climate change and the negative impacts of the border wall on wildlife and the ecology of the region. You will hear from experts on the challenges facing the Sky Islands and the opportunities and challenges of cross-border conservation. Staf...
Aug 01, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 143
