Adapt: Climate Change and the Built Environment

Jessica Mederson and Mónika Serrano speak with Alison Sant, author of the book From the Ground Up: Local Efforts to Create Resilient Cities. They discuss how empowered local communities have created and led valuable efforts towards climate adaptation. From small, actionable steps to large-scale collective efforts, our conversation with Alison highlights stories of communities overcoming challenges, building strength, and fostering hope. From New Orleans to Minnesota and across the United States, this episode emphasizes the importance of collaboration, grassroots initiatives, and incremental progress in creating a resilient and thriving future for all. Our listeners get 20% off the book From the Ground Up: Local Efforts to Create Resilient Cities [https://islandpress.org/books/ground#desc] with the code GROUND. Episode links: Alison Sant [https://alisonsant.com/] The Power Broker book [https://www.amazon.ca/Power-Broker-Robert-Moses-Fall/dp/0394720245] Parking Day [https://www.myparkingday.org/] 34th Avenue story [https://citylimits.org/2023/04/14/opinion-queens-34th-avenue-shows-what-open-streets-can-do-for-people/] Minneapolis Bicycling [https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/bicycling/] NYTimes: Congestion pricing NYC [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/nyregion/nyc-congestion-pricing-federal-approval.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare]

Mónika Serrano and Jessica Mederson talk to Greg Lindsey of Alpha Geo to explore how investors evaluate risks and opportunities in the face of climate change and climate migration. We also discuss public versus private investments, what the money follows, and the challenges individuals and communities face when considering climate migration. Topics and resources discussed include: AlphaGeo: AI-Powered Geospatial Predictive Analytics [https://alphageo.ai/] Columbia University Managed Retreat Conference [https://adaptation.ei.columbia.edu/managed-retreat-2023] The People Fleeing Climate Disasters Are Going To Transform the American South | Portside [https://portside.org/2024-10-06/people-fleeing-climate-disasters-are-going-transform-american-south] NJDEP| Blue Acres | Blue Acres [https://dep.nj.gov/blueacres/] What Is a Minsky Moment? Definition, Causes, History, and Examples [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/minskymoment.asp] Column | Climate change is transforming homeownership in the U.S. - Washington Post [https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2024/home-insurance-climate-change-housing-market/?itid=sf_climate_climate_climate-coach_p003_f001] 1 in 10 Homebuyers & Sellers Say Climate Risk is Main Reason For Move: Redfin Survey - Redfin Real Estate News [https://www.redfin.com/news/homebuyer-survey-climate-change/?msockid=16c1983e7a9567f036a38a117b3d6670]

Mónika Serrano and Jessica Mederson talk to Holly Neber,  CEO of AEI Consultants, and chair of the development of the recently approved ASTM International Standard Guide for the assessment of physical climate risk and resilience for commercial properties known as the Property Resilience Assessment (PRA). We talk about the development of this new resilience standard, Holly's work as an emissary from commercial real estate finance to the resilience/adaptation community, and the processes of identifying and managing risk during purchase, development or financing of a commercial real estate asset. ASTM Property Resilience Assessment [https://www.astm.org/e3429-24.html] Resilience Standards and the Business of Risk [https://sn.astm.org/features/resilience-standards-and-business-risk-nd24.html] AEI Consultants [https://aeiconsultants.com/] NYTimes: Rising Seas Threaten An American Institution [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/climate/climate-seas-30-year-mortgage.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UE4.RU5o.-Uftik6jg-Gp&smid=url-share] America Adapts: The Biggest Short: Climate Change meets the 30-year home mortgage with Dr. Jesse Keenan [https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/2020/7/12/the-biggest-short-climate-change-meets-the-30-year-home-mortgage-with-dr-jesse-keenan?rq=jesse%20keenan] America Adapts: The Wild Wild West of Climate Modeling [https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/2023/6/5/the-wild-wild-west-of-climate-modeling] GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate [https://www.garp.org/scr?utm_term=sustainability%20certifications%20for%20professionals&utm_campaign=RP+-+SCR+-+Green+Skills&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=5835942607&hsa_cam=20461600200&hsa_grp=153586225898&hsa_ad=670221297276&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-890839704146&hsa_kw=sustainability%20certifications%20for%20professionals&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwjsi4BhB5EiwAFAL0YMGQ5lhmI7l8g4QoLClU52W9DsX4m-gbnXLMObJiDhFmMmfD2gWaTBoC2MEQAvD_BwE] GARP Climate Risk Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/climate-risk-podcast/id1525371168]

Mónika Serrano and Jessica Mederson talk to Jim Schneider, Executive Director of PCI Mountain States, a chapter of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) covering Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. They discuss concrete's role in increasing the built environment's resiliency to climate change as well as the greenhouse gases that are emitted in manufacturing concrete. They also cover some of the innovations being made in how concrete is manufactured and used.  Links and resources discussed on this episode include: * Jim's LInkedIn page: (11) Jim Schneider, LEED AP | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-schneider-leed-ap-b7baa91/] * PCI Precast Concrete and Sustainable Design: Precast Concrete and Sustainable Design (pci.org) [https://www.pci.org/PCI/PCI/Design_Resources/Sustainability_Resources/Precast_Concrete_and_Sustainable_Design.aspx] * PCI Precast Protects Life: Precast Protects Life (pci.org) [https://www.pci.org/HowPrecastBuilds/howprecastbuilds/precast-protects-life.aspx] * JIm's new podcast (A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism): A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism Podcast Series - Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-pessimists-guide-to-optimism/id1772213341] * Jerry Schneider Orchestra: Jerry Schneider : Cy Pfannenstein Music Service, For all your old time and polka music favorites (cysmusic.com) [https://www.cysmusic.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=20_97]

Mónika and Jessica talk to Amy Macdonald, Founder & Principal of Ripple Resilience. Formerly a principal and founder of Thornton Tomasetti's Resilience Practice, her career spans four continents, with leadership roles responding to catastrophes including Sandy, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and earthquakes in New Zealand and Nepal. Amy discusses how her experience in disaster recovery has led to her career working with clients to incorporate resilient design, nature-based solutions, and emergency preparations in order to be resilient in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.  Amy explains the benefits of working with a resiliency consultant when working on any projects in the built environment--and the importance of consulting with such an expert early in the process. Amy also discusses how lessons learned from protecting buildings from earthquakes--such as functional recovery and performance-based design--can be applied to the built environment when designing the built environment to be resilient to climate change and extreme weather events.  Links and resources related to this interview include: Ripple Resilience: Ripple Resilience LLC [https://rippleresilience.com/] Functional recovery post-earthquake: NIST-FEMA Special Publication FEMA P-2090/NIST SP-1254, Recommended Options for Improving the Built Environment for Post-Earthquake Reoccupancy and Functional Recovery Time [https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-2090_nist_sp-1254_functional-recovery_01-01-2021.pdf] Using performance-based design to increase resiliency to climate change: Performance-Based Design Brings Resiliency to the Built Environment | Engineered Systems Magazine (esmagazine.com) [https://www.esmagazine.com/articles/103227-performance-based-design-brings-resiliency-to-the-built-environment]