In episode 202 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Maxine Burkett , a Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. We’re taking a dive into the podcast archive and I’m rereleasing this previously and extremely popular episode: The Moral Case for Climate Reparations + Climate Justice with Maxine Burkett. Maxine is a Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. We talked about the state of climate migration; as we adapt, what will dominate, peaceful approaches to adaptat...
Feb 27, 2024•55 min•Ep. 202
In episode 201 of America Adapts , I'm partnering with Battelle on their Innovations in Climate Resilience Conference, ICR24 , taking place April 22-24th in the heart of Washington, DC. ICR24 isn't just any conference; it's a convergence of minds, bringing together environmental professionals, scientists, researchers, students, and key leaders from the White House, Department of Energy, National Labs, Department of Defense, industry, and academia. In this episode, we have a lineup of expert gues...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 201
In the epic 200 th episode of America Adapts, we’re partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and highlighting the adaptation research they support. In this episode, we're turning our focus to The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, or SERDP, at the DoD and the Energy and Environment Innovation Symposium they hosted in late 2023. As the architects of innovation and research, you will hear how the DoD is interacting with partners and providing resilience research for mi...
Feb 06, 2024•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 200
In episode 199 America Adapts, it is a recap of 2023. In this episode, we highlight the top climate stories of 2023 and also discuss some of our favorite America Adapts episodes of the past year. Joining the pod is Anita Van Breda of Wildlife Wildlife Fund, Monika Serrano of Turner Construction and Jessica Mederson of the law firm Stafford Rosenbaum. In addition, there are two short bonus interviews: Dr. Refilew Mofoke, a professor from South Africa, joins the episode to talk about her new podca...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 199
In episode 198 America Adapts, we’re partnering with Forerunner , a software company that works with local governments to help them with disaster management, flood risk and adapting to future impacts of climate change. Our discussion will feature insights from floodplain managers operating in both riverine flooding areas and coastal flood zones. These flooding experts are on the ground, finding ways to help their communities with extreme flooding and changes expected with a changing climate. The...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 198
In episode 197 America Adapts, we’ve got something special for you - the ultimate guide to the fifth edition of the National Climate Assessment. Joining the pod is the director of the NCA, Allison Crimmins who provides a 30,000-foot level view of what’s in NCA5. Then regular contributor – and executive producer of America Adapts – Dr. Jesse Keenan of Tulane University joins the episode and we take a deep dive on what’s in the assessment. Jesse will be your guide through the assessment, as he ana...
Jan 09, 2024•2 hr 21 min•Ep. 197
In episode 196 America Adapts, we partnered with the Climate Science Alliance to cover their Climate Summit at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Experts, speakers and participants from the Summit are highlighted in this episode. We kick things off with Dr. Amber Pairis of the Alliance setting the stage for the Alliance’s approach to transformational adaptation, emphasizing community-centered approaches, resilience, and relationship building. Multiple tribal voices share the importance of ind...
Nov 26, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 196
In episode 194 of America Adapts, we take a deep dive on climate risk and the insurance sector. Earlier in the fall host Doug Parsons attended a two day conference hosted at American University in Washington DC. The conference was organized by Environmental Defense Fund, SBP and American University. The event brought together experts that focus on the role of insurance when it comes to building equity in disaster recovery, reducing future losses, expanding coverage with new innovations, and mana...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 194
In episode 194 of America Adapts, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) returns to continue the 'Flood Green Guide' series focused on nature based approaches to flood risk management. This is a follow up to the episodes from 2018 published shortly after the release of their “Natural and Nature Based Flood Management: A Green Guide, better known now around the world as the Flood Green Guide. In the intervening years, despite setbacks by the pandemic, WWF has been busy doing trainings on the flood green guide...
Oct 22, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 194
In episode 193 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Michael Coren , a journalist from the Washington Post who writes the Climate Coach Advice column. We go behind the scenes and learn how a national newspaper like the Wash Post covers climate change. Several major newspapers have expanded their climate coverage in the last couple years and you’ll learn how the Post has structured that coverage. We also discuss some of the diverse topics he covers in his “Climate Coach” column and his increasing...
Oct 09, 2023•50 min•Ep. 193
In episode 192 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Kelly Turner and Dr. Ladd Keith . Kelly is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA and Ladd is an assistant professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the University of Arizona. We learn how extreme heat disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. We also explore the evolving media coverage of extreme heat. The three of us break down the highs and lows of all the media coverage of extreme heat this ...
Sep 11, 2023•53 min•Ep. 192
In episode 191 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Linda Shi , an Assistant Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University. Dr. Shi takes us on an insightful journey through her experience at a managed retreat conference in New York City. She navigates conversations encompassing climate migration, the intriguing concept of the Northeast as a climate haven, and pioneering initiatives in cooperative housing. Highlighting the NOAA "NEST" program – Northeast Sa...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 191
In episode 190 of America Adapts, the Natural Resources Defense Council joins the podcast to discuss flooding buyout programs and how climate change will give rise to new demands for these initiatives. Also joining the podcast are partners in the buyout field, including The Nature Conservancy, the Climagration Network, Wetlands Watch, and a representative from a local government in Charlotte, North Carolina. Additionally, we will hear from a resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, who underwent a c...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 190
In episode 189 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons attended the U.S. Department of Defense Climate Resilience Workshop in St. Louis, Missouri. The DoD extended an invitation to Doug to conduct interviews with key leaders within the DoD and their external partners who are actively involved in adaptation planning around military installations. The conference attracted over 900 experts specializing in adaptation. During the event, Doug had the opportunity to interview three Assistant Secretaries from t...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 189
In episode 188 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Susan Crawford . Susan is a law professor at Harvard Law School, focusing on adaptation and public and the author of a new book, Charleston: Race, Water, and the Coming Storm . We discuss the intersection of race and climate change in Charleston's infrastructure planning. We highlight the city's reliance on tourism, the impacts of climate change on marginalized communities, and potential solutions such as buyouts and managed retreat. Learn ter...
Jul 07, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 188
Donate to America Adapts In episode 187 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Dena Prastos , founder and CEO of the architectural firm Indigo River . In this episode, we learn the fundamentals of architecture and climate adaptation. Dena and Doug discuss the crucial role architects play in advocating for sustainable and resilient design practices that emphasize climate change risks. We discuss Indigo River's focus on waterfront projects in flood-prone areas and their incorporation of resilience ...
Jun 19, 2023•46 min•Ep. 187
Donate to America Adapts In episode 186 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Madison Condon, a law professor at Boston University School of Law. Doug and Madison explore the critical role climate models play in adaptation planning, but more importantly, their capabilities, what they can and can not do,. Madison explains what is the "climate industrial complex’ and if there’s a need for the government to step in and regulate this emerging sector. Also, should these climate analytic and modeling...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 186
In episode 185 of America Adapts, we’re highlighting some of the experts and speakers that attended the Innovations in Climate Resilience conference hosted by Battelle. Conference experts weigh in on topics such as national security, climate risk modeling, public health and climate justice, adapting in the built environment and much more. The three day conference was held in Columbus, Ohio. Experts and practitioners from the private sector, NGOs, federal, state, and local governments all converg...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 185
In episode 184 of America Adapts, we’re headed to Trinidad and Tobago for the Keeping History Above Water conference. The event brought together international speakers and experts to discuss the challenges faced by island communities in the face of climate change. The goal of the conference was to advance the resilience and long-term preservation of Trinidad and Tobago's historic sites and cultural resources. Experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Maarten, Cuba, as well as cultural he...
May 08, 2023•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 184
In episode 183 of America Adapts , it’s a re-release of episode 68. Doug travels down under to Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. Doug was invited to give the keynote address at the Victoria Adaptation Summit , then he participated in the National Adaptation Conference , where he interviewed experts from throughout southern Australia. Learn innovative adaptation techniques from the private sector, local councils and the state government. Topics in this episode: local council approach to climat...
Apr 17, 2023•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 183
In episode 182 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons host Mark Nevitt , a former Navy Jag and now Law professor at Emory University. Mark shares his insights on the intersection of law and climate change. They discuss how US laws were created during a much more stable climate and how the legal system has not kept up with the current climate moment. The takings clause in the US Constitution is now relevant for climate change and Mark and Doug dig into this issue. Mark also considers his military exper...
Apr 10, 2023•57 min•Ep. 182
In episode 181 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Eric Roston , the Sustainability Editor at Bloomberg News (that covers the climate beat!). We explore the world of climate journalism and the challenges that reporters face when covering this complex and ever-changing topic. From the difficulty of reporting on emerging science to the tough decisions that newsrooms make about which climate issues to focus on, Eric and I discuss some of the biggest questions facing climate journalists today. We...
Mar 14, 2023•57 min•Ep. 181
In episode 180 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Eric Chu . Eric shares the challenges of integrating climate curricula into universities and the functions of the UC Davis Climate Adaptation Research Center . We also discuss the importance of working with university students to determine their professional adaptation work needs. We take a closer look at Chapter 12 of the National Climate Assessment (NCA) and discuss why it isn't used more frequently by adaptation professionals. Furtherm...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 180
In episode 179 of America Adapts , I’ve partnered with World Wildlife Fund to learn the critical role mangrove forests play in coastal adaptation and the work WWF is doing with their Mangroves for Community and Climate project . You’ll hear how WWF is applying its three core adaptation strategies: ecosystem-based adaptation, nature-friendly adaptation, and climate-smart conservation. We journeyed to the Yucatán in Mexico to speak with mangrove experts from around the world - Mexico, Madagascar, ...
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 179
In episode 178 of America Adapts , we dig into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) as a catalyst for transformational adaptation. Joining the podcast: Adie Tomer of the Brookings Institution talks about their infrastructure resource hub; Shalini Vajjhala of re:focus partners returns to discuss how they are helping local communities be strategic in their adaptation planning and finding practical approaches for grant applications; Brandon Kay of Tempe Arizona and Tom Jacobs of the Ka...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 178
In episode 177 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Justin Sanchez of Battelle; Jamie Beck Alexander of Project Drawdown; Franco Amalfi of Google Cloud; and Erin Sikorsky of the Center for Climate and Security. All our keynote speakers at the upcoming Innovations in Climate Resilience that Battelle is hosting in Columbus, Ohio. You’ll learn about the climate change work each of their companies and organizations are working on and you’ll hear get previews of their talks at the Innovations confe...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 177
In episode 176 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Kelly Hereid , the Director Of Catastrophe Research and Development at Liberty Mutual Insurance . Kelly takes us through the tool of catastrophe modeling and explains why it could be useful for adaptation planners. We also learn how the insurance industry tries to make the uncertain nature of hurricanes and climate change more predictable: “Climate translators” play a critical role in this process. They also discuss the wild, wild west na...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 176
In episode 175 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons hosts early career adaptation professionals. We learn their educational background; what inspired them to get into the adaptation space; what climate impacts and geographic regions they are most interested in making a difference; do they think there are enough adaptation professional advancement opportunities; what adaptation work they want to be doing in 20 years; and what unique skills do they bring to the resilience space. Fantastic conversation...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 175
In a re-release , 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 ...
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 174
In episode 173 , Dr. Carolyn Kousky of the Environmental Defense Funds joins the podcast to discuss her new book, Understanding Disaster Insurance , New Tools for a More Resilient Future. Carolyn and Doug discuss why insurance companies still are not taking climate change seriously enough. Carolyn shares some innovative insurance tools to help people gain access to flood insurance in at risk areas. We also learn some of the fundamentals of climate risk and how insurance can play an increasing ro...
Oct 17, 2022•39 min•Ep. 173
