Adapt: Climate Change and the Built Environment

Jessica Mederson and Mónika Serrano speak with Julie Manning [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-manning-a7a5248/], Global Head of Climate and Carbon Strategy at La Salle Investments. This conversation explores if real estate investors are factoring climate risk into their decision-making, what resilience actions are taking place, the challenges of evaluating climate risk across portfolios while considering the unique characteristics of buildings and surrounding communities, and more. Links: ULI, LaSalle Physical Climate Risks and Underwriting Practices in Assets and Portfolios [https://www.lasalle.com/research-and-insights/physical-climate-risks-and-underwriting-practices-in-assets-and-portfolios/] ULI, LaSalle Provide Framework for Real Estate Industry to Assess Climate Risk [https://www.lasalle.com/news/uli-lasalle-provide-framework-for-real-estate-industry-to-assess-climate-risk/] America Adapts: The Wild Wild West of Climate Modeling [https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/2023/6/5/the-wild-wild-west-of-climate-modeling]

Drought. Flooding. Wildfires. These are all risks our communities and built environment face and these risks are increasing as our planet warms. Beavers, nature's engineers and a keystone species, can help us fight all of these risks. Beavers are central to water management (reducing flooding and droughts and mitigating wildfires) because of how they handle water: they slow it, spread it, store it, and sink it.  Mónika and Jessica interview Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter. They discuss beavers' past, present, and future - their connection to European settlement of North America, present-day approaches to beaver activities, and how beavers can help protect our communities in the future. Links and resources mentioned in the show: Ben Goldfarb [https://www.bengoldfarb.com/] Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter a book by Ben Goldfarb [https://bookshop.org/p/books/eager-the-surprising-secret-life-of-beavers-and-why-they-matter-ben-goldfarb/8760809?ean=9781603589086] Crossings | Ben Goldfarb | W. W. Norton & Company [https://wwnorton.com/books/crossings] Beaver Institute Management, Research and Education [https://www.beaverinstitute.org/] Microsoft Word - ECONW Escalante Beaver Values Report 0211.doc [https://www.beaverinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BeaverEconomicValue2011.pdf]

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]