Florida’s Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise Attracts Congressional Attention
As communities across the United States continue to fall victim to drought, coastal flooding, and other impacts of extreme weather and climate change, leaders at the local and federal levels are beginning to take action. Local elected officials are signing pledges to create more climate-resilient communities—such as the Resilient Communities for America Agreement —and moving forward with other adaptation initiatives. The President’s Climate Action Plan outlined several greenhouse gas-reduction initiatives and established a Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience to support communities at the frontlines of climate impacts. Yet, there’s still an essential piece missing when it comes to comprehensively addressing climate change–Congressional action. Three upcoming events, however, suggest that in at least one U.S. state, Congress may be starting to shift its attention to climate impacts. Read more at the World Resources Institute website...
Minnesota projects offer hope and practical help to communities facing more extreme storms
Recent projects in two Minnesota cities demonstrate how communities can protect themselves from worsening storms. These projects continue a ten year program in New England and the Midwest providing practical and affordable plans tailored to local conditions. "Our goal is to help communities begin the steps to protect themselves," said program co-leader Latham Stack, of Syntectic International, Portland, OR. "It's important because storms have already worsened. We help communities move beyond feeling paralyzed from the lack of local information and the sense that the problem is overwhelming." Recent news stories and White House actions cite the need to adapt to changing conditions. Minneapolis and Victoria, MN, through the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, took this to heart and asked to be project sites. At these and previous sites in New England, program results consistently show that portions of existing drainage systems are already undersized. At the same time, significant portions of these systems should be adequate for even pessimistic mid-21st century projections. Read the full press release...
Sea-level rise could reverse Africa's development gains
Climate change is no longer an abstract issue, thanks to the latest authoritative assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). And the potential impacts of sea-level rise caused by warmer global temperatures are becoming clearer. Up to 600 million coastal people around the globe could face devastating consequences from rising seas. Some small island states are at risk of disappearing. Coastal cities and towns could be washed away. Given the scale of the threat, Africa urgently needs to prepare. Read the full article at the Reuters Foundation website...