America Adapts - The Climate Change Podcast

In episode 124 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks barrier beaches and adaptation with The Trustees of Reservations, a coastal conservation group in Massachusetts!  This is the third episode in a 3-episode arc, focusing on coastal issues and climate adaptation. We talk with experts and local residents  about Norton Point Beach on Martha’s Vineyard. You’ll hear the unique challenges facing this region and how the local population is taking action in the face of climate change.    Topics covered: Learn about Norton Point Beach, a barrier island on Martha’s Vineyard. Hear how local residents are taking action to ensure the beach adapts to the changes brought by climate change. Listen to what experts think needs to be done. Hear first-hand about an adaptation workshop The Trustees led with local residents and experts from the region and how they will use that information to adapt to climate change. See what steps the Trustees are currently taking to ensure the long term stability of this barrier beach. Find a

In episode 123 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts returning guest - climate fiction expert - Dr. Amy Brady!  This is Amy’s third time on the podcast and we catch up on topics like:  climate writers reaching out to scientists; can cli-fi influence people’s behavior to take action on climate change; is a climate pulp fiction emerging; how the tv and movie industry are taking note of climate fiction; the prevalence of climate justice in cli-fi; and the challenges of storytelling when climate change is a recurring story device. These and other topics are covered with this conversation with Dr. Amy Brady!   Topics covered: How climate fiction writers are reaching out to climate scientists. Is climate ‘pulp fiction’ emerging? Turning people into climate activists through climate fiction! The current state of climate fiction. How climate fiction is making the leap to movies and TV. Updated survey work of Matthew Schneider-Mayerson Is climate justice showing up in climate fiction work? How can you write fiction

In episode 122 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Laura Schifter to discuss K12-Climate Action, an initiative to seeks to “unlock the power of the education sector to be a force for climate action.”  Laura is a Senior Fellow  in the Energy and Environment program at the Aspen Institute and she’s a lecturer of Education at Harvard University’s Graduate school of Education. Doug and Laura discuss the current state of climate education and how this initiative will engage with education stakeholders to ensure students have access to climate change curricula. Adaptation is also a focus of these climate education efforts! Topics covered: What is the K-12 Climate Action Initiative? How educating our children in schools is a key strategy for climate action. Incorporating resilience and adaptation planning into school standards and curricula How you can get involved with the K-12 Climate Action during their virtual listening tours. Discussion of existing climate standards and education and the large disparity betw

In episode 121 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Renee Lertzman. Dr. Lertzman is an environmental psychologist and founder of Project InsideOut, a forthcoming resource hub and emerging community of practice that unites activists with clinical psychologists. Doug and Renee discuss what is climate grief and anxiety; steps individuals and organizations can do to address these issues and turn to action; the value of emotional intelligence and how adaptation and mitigation have more in common that you think. Topics covered: What is climate grief and anxiety. Step by step process of working with organizations and individuals on the psychological implications of climate change. Learning from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) and how it’s relevant to climate impacts. Dealing with climate anxiety in the workplace. Does climate anxiety differ for those working in the adaptation and mitigation spaces? How to avoid feeling judgmental of others in the climate space. We need to prioritize emotional intelligenc

In episode 120 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks adaptation and publicly accessible shorelines with The Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s first and the Massachusetts’ largest preservation and conservation nonprofit! This is the second episode in a 3 episode arc, focusing on coastal issues and climate adaptation. We talk with experts and local residents  about Crane Beach on the Crane Estate near in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  We discuss the challenges they are currently facing and what it means to adapt to climate change at this beach.  Hear from local residents and shoreline experts on what steps are needed to ensure future access to Crane Beach from the impacts of climate change. Topics covered: What it takes to maintain publicly accessible shorelines in the face of climate change. What makes Crane Beach unique and the specific challenges it faces. Learn why Crane Beach is so beloved by local residents. Hear first-hand about an adaptation workshop The Trustees led with local residents and experts fro

In episode 119 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. Doug and Senator Feingold discuss his work on the Campaign for Nature; why protecting biodiversity is as important, or more so, than climate change; the science partners involved; what international efforts are needed for biodiversity protection; the role of his new org, the American Constitution Society and we also dabble a bit in domestic politics! Topics covered: What is the Campaign for Nature. Protecting 30% of the Earth for Nature Argues threat to biodiversity is a bigger issue than threat of climate change. Update on Sen. Feingold’s work and the impact of Covid-19. Discussed his new organization, The American Constitution Society. International and domestic implications of an international biodiversity treaty. Highlighting science partners such as Dr. Thomas Lovejoy. Should we expand the supreme court (yes, we went there). Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Sign up to be

In episode 118 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Maxine Burkett, a Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  In this episode, Doug and Maxine discuss: the moral and intellectual case for climate reparations; climate migration; differences in climate justice in the global north and the global south; will adaptation take a peaceful or conflict oriented approach in the years ahead; and adaptation studies at the University of Hawaii. Topics covered: Background on The Institute for Climate and Peace The state of climate migration. As we adapt, what will dominate, peaceful approaches to adaptation or more conflict oriented approaches? Differences in Climate justice in the global north and the global south. Response differences between climate change and covid-19. Repairing relationships through climate reparations. Carbon based climate reparations. Reparations and their role in helping frontline communities adapt. Climate reparations are meant to ‘rebuild trust’.  Learn about the climate program

In episode 117 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks coastal banks with The Trustees of Reservations, a coastal conservation group in Massachusetts!  This is the first episode in a 3 episode arc, focusing on coastal issues and climate adaptation. We talk with experts and local residents of Wasque Beach on Martha’s Vineyard and discuss the challenges they are currently facing and what it means to adapt to climate change on the island.  We cover such topics as coastal erosion, shoreline change and property loss. Come join us on the Vineyard! Topics covered: What’s happening to the coastal banks on Wasque Beach and what can be done about it. Hear from residents of Martha’s Vineyard about the challenges of sea level rise and coastal erosion and some of the steps they are willing to take to adapt to these changing conditions. Learn what makes Wasque Beach so special to local residents. Hear first hand about an adaptation workshop The Trustees led with local residents and experts from the region and how  they will

In episode 116 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts frequent pod guest Dr. Jesse Keenan of Tulane University. Jesse discusses his new research paper on how sea level rise will impact the viability of the 30 year home mortgage, the foundation of much of the home ownership in the United States. We also discuss how local banks are being more aggressive in avoiding risky coastal loans; Jesse’s new faculty position at Tulane University; what is ‘underwaterwriting’ and much more! Topics covered: Will climate change hasten the demise of the 30 year mortgage loan in coastal areas? What is “underwaterwriting” in terms of real estate. Jesse talks about his new paper that looks at these Are coastal homebuyers more sophisticated than we give them credit for? Jesse talks about his move from Harvard to Tulane University in New Orleans. The role of local banks in making less risky loans in coastal areas. How mortgage finance will evolve in response to climate impacts in coastal areas, flood zones and from wildfire prone a

In episode 115 of America Adapts, a re-release of episode 80, “Adapting Conservation to Climate Change at WWF”, Doug Parson joins World Wildlife Fund’s Shaun Martin to revisit this episode and to see the progress that has been made from when it was originally released on Dec. 17th, 2018. In the original episode we take a behind the scenes look at how WWF is adapting conservation to the new realities of climate change and helping governments prepare for the future in ways that ensure a place for nature. During this 8-month journey, Doug follows how WWF is developing a simple process to integrate climate change risks into its strategies and documents the challenges and triumphs they face along the way. This episode features WWF staff from 20 countries on 5 continents, telling stories on a wide range of topics including elephants, super-typhoons, and urban water scarcity – all served up with a strong dose of instant coffee and a side of chicken gizzards! Topics covered: Part 1: Prelude – A world tour to learn h

In episode 114 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts climate activist, billionaire investor and former Democratic Presidential candidate Tom Steyer! Tom and I talk about what’s happening with the coronavirus and reopening; his run for President in the Democratic primary; what a Biden Presidency will mean for climate action and listen in to find out the greatest thing you can do to move the needle forward on climate change! Topics covered: What’s happening with Covid-19 and economic planning? How will Biden respond to climate change? Did the media take climate change seriously in the presidential primaries? Running for president and what that means. Does Tom focus on climate adaptation? What is NextGen America and the importance of voting. Fan of the band Guster! What’s next for Tom Steyer! Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Sign up to be a guest on Cimpatico Studios! Check out what Cimpatico is all about! https://www.cimpatico.com/about https://cimpatico.com/dougp

In episode 113 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Moira McDonald of The Walton Family Foundation. Moira shares the focus of the foundation, with an emphasis on Louisiana coastal planning, wetland restoration and the role of the Mississippi River in adaptation. We also discuss strategic planning at a foundation; integrating adaptation into conservation planning and the challenges of risk taking for a foundation. Moira also discusses the role of the foundation in local community planning and much more! Topics covered: Learn about the Walton Family Foundation’s Environment program. Discussion on their work in the Mississippi delta. The Mississippi is a unique resource for adaptation to help with flood mitigation and restoration. How the foundation chooses to invest in local communities. Discussion on if foundations are too conservative in how they fund projects. Risk taking versus prudent grant making – finding a middle ground. The Foundation’s upcoming strategic plan. Donate to America Adapts Listen t

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 briefly discuss Michael Moore’s anti-green energy movie. Great conversation with the famed ‘hockey stick’ scientist!    Topics covered: Mann on sabbatical in Australia! On location in the middle of the Australia Bushfires. How Covid19 is related to climate denialism. How Michael Moore’s new anti-environment movie is so dangerous. Rupert Murdoch anti-climate media in Oz. Mann just elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences! Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Sign u

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 Coastal development and adaptation economics “Racially just Adaptation” Real estate vulnerability Climate Adaptation Plans can worsen urban vulnerability Transformative adaptation What happened to the 100 Resilient Cities Initiative? What is an adaptation professional? The lack of university level adaptation programs Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Sign up to be a guest on Cimpatico Studios! Check out what Cimpatico is all about! https://www.cimpatico.com/about https://cimpat

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 administration. Learn how these early efforts at resilience inform what we are seeing today in the adaptation space. Topics covered: Interview with Shaun Martin of World Wildlife Fund on how his adaptation program is responding to the pandemic. How ‘flattening the curve’ for Covid-19 can be applied to climate change. Emily Wasley of WSP discusses how she’s responding to the pandemic and how WSP is continuing their adaptation work. Gabriel Henderson discusses a paper he published looking at the early history of climate resilien

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 coronavirus lock down. What’s happening with the Paris climate accords...global emissions are way down due to pandemic. What can climate movement learn from the coronavirus response. Status of the United States and the Paris accords and what could happen after the Presidential election. Christiana discusses her new book: The Future We Choose Did the Paris Accords factor in adaptation? Christiana’s family history in Costa Rica: Her father was President who famously abolished the military; her brother was President in the

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 conditioning) to these emerging problems. Jisung also shares how UCLA is training the next generation of adaptation professionals. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Topics covered: Rising temperatures and what it means for labor and education. How does it impact labor market and the world’s economy. How do students perform with increased heat? What are the legal dangers of not providing an appropriate learning environment for students. How does air conditioning help with these p

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 in some critical flooding infrastructure needed after the catastrophic flooding of Hurricane Sandy.  This episode digs into shovel ready adaptation and the concrete steps communities can take to adapt. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Topics covered: What does it mean ‘once in a generation’ investment. What is procurement and what does it mean for climate adaptation. No brainer climate investing. Financing based on “avoided losses” Helping cities maneuver through adaptation

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 of color and members of the LGBT community talk about how climate uniquely impacts them and what steps they are taking to adapt to climate change. It’s an exciting episode, with interviews with minority voices on the front lines of climate change. Bonus material, Doug interviews Marc O’Brien of The Determined podcast on the new climate podcast web site they’ve created to highlight the growing number of climate podcasters! Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Topics covered: New Ma

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 intelligence arms race” with Doug. Jesse describes how new climate services are coming online and how communities, businesses and the public can wade through these new climate technical services such as climate modeling and downscaling.   Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Topics discussed in this episode: What is the Community Development Investment review. The Federal Reserve Bank’s involvement with climate adaptation. Contributing to the adaptation investment dialogue. Climate Intelli