The Resilience Roundup highlights announcements, events, and funding opportunities along with links to the previous month's local, state, and national resilience news.
|
|
Resilient Connecticut Project Updates |
|
Register for the Resilient Connecticut Nov. 20th Summit
|
|
CIRCA will host the second Resilient Connecticut Summit on November 20, 2020 as a half-day, virtual event that is open to the public and free to attend. Participants will learn about recent project activities, participate in breakouts, and hear from keynote speaker Barry E. Hill, Adjunct Professor at the Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Institute. Professor Hill will present on the topic of Attorney Generals “Addressing Instances of Environmental/Climate Injustice Through Climate Change Litigation”.
Please REGISTER for the Summit by November 13 and view an agenda on a Summit Announcement page. A link to join the event will be sent to registrants.
When registering for the Summit, participants will choose between one of three breakout sessions to hear from diverse speakers on the following topics:
- Resilience Planning: Challenges, Opportunities and Interconnections
- Building Technical Capacity and Tools for Resilience
- Climate Adaptation Policy and Implementation
A note that while these breakout sessions will be concurrent, they will all be recorded and a link provided following the event for later viewing.
|
|
Transit Oriented Development for a More Climate Resilient CT |
|
In September, researchers in UConn’s Transportation Technology and Society research group began a year-long investigation into the challenges and opportunities for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in Fairfield and New Haven Counties. The project team includes Dr. Norman Garrick of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Dr. Carol Atkinson-Palombo, Director of the Environmental Studies Program and associate professor in the Geography Department, and Dr. Rosalie Singerman Ray, a postdoctoral research associate, as well as undergraduate researchers. The research goal is to critically evaluate TOD efforts along the Metro-North line, investigating the potential for such development to build more resilient communities, the resiliency of the transit system to flooding and inundation, and the policy levers needed to build resilient TOD along the corridor. The project will develop a geodatabase and a comprehensive database of existing TOD plans and include interviews with key Connecticut TOD stakeholders. This research will support recommendations for resilient TOD opportunities in the project area, a key theme in the Resilient Connecticut Planning Framework.
|
|
Climate Change and Public Health Webinar Series Now Available on CIRCA’s YouTube Page |
|
Our latest video series featured six webinars focused on the nexus of “Climate Change and Public Health.” This webinar series was held throughout the month of September and discussed a variety of topics including equity, heat, vector-borne disease, recreational water, and emergency preparedness. The line-up of speakers featured partners across the region, including Save the Sound, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, UConn researchers, and the City of Norwalk. Each of the webinars will be added to our channel in the coming weeks.
Be the first to find out when we post new videos by subscribing to our
|
|
Assessing Coastal Risks and Enhancing Resilience Seminar Series
A Virtual Seminar Series held by Horn Point Laboratory at the University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science. Seminars on the following resilience topics will be held on Wednesdays at 11:00 am.
October 7: Coastal resilience, lessons from UK and USA case studies
October 14: Marsh Collapse Does Not Require Sea Level Rise
October 21: Sea Level Rise Consequences in a Highly Developed Shoreline
October 28: North Carolina salt marshes: threats to a fragile ecosystem and conservation opportunities
|
|
On September 3, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order No. 3 establishing the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) charged with implementing greenhouse gas emissions reductions strategies, preparing and adapting our state for the impacts of climate change, and ensuring strategies are equitable and protect the most vulnerable communities. The Council established seven Working Groups to assist the Council with carrying out the order. The Working Groups posted draft reports for public review on the GC3 website and will accept written comments emailed to deep.climatechange@ct.gov until 11:59pm on October 21, 2020.
The GC3 launched a series of virtual public forums in September to present the reports and provide opportunity for public participation. The GC3 welcomes everyone to attend the remaining October webinars to learn more about climate change in Connecticut and how we can address it.
October 5, 4:30-6pm:
October 7, 4:00-6pm:
October 13, 4:30-6:30pm:
October 19, 4:30-6:00pm:
|
This special webinar series organized by the GC3 Equity & Environmental Justice Working Group, explores how climate change affects low-income people, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, people of color and other people who are at increased risk due to climate change. A series of 11 webinars will be held from 12pm - 1pm every Thursday in October and November.
|
|
Collaborations for Climate Resilience Webinar: Lessons for Philadelphia from Boston, Pittsburgh, and NYC
October 7, 2020 4:00 PM
This panel discussion is an opportunity for the City of Philadelphia and Drexel University to learn from the experiences of Boston, NYC and Pittsburgh in how they’ve managed partnerships with civic institutions, their best practices and lessons learned, and their advice to best provide value to city operational and citywide efforts around resilience.
|
|
Climate Displacement Forum Series
This 5-part webinar series hosted by the National Adaptation Forum will take an interconnected look at climate displacement pressures along with approaches to prevent displacement or adapt by exploring migration, current managed retreat and relocation strategies, equity implications, and policy considerations.
October 15 - 2:00 pm
October 20 - 2:00 pm
October 22 - 2:00 pm
October 29 - 2:00 pm
November 5 - 2:00 pm
|
|
Climate Migration: Research, Analyze, Implement -
What can We Learn from Other Places?
October 22, 2020 12:00 - 1:15 PM
This webinar will showcase recent research and work compiled by Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Natural Resources Council, and Antioch University on the potential impacts of climate induced migration on receiving communities. Discussion will also center on how cities and towns across the country can start to plan and engage their community members on preparing for these impacts. Strategies to address climate-induced migration must prioritize the most impacted and least resourced communities.
|
|
FEMA Opens $660 Million Grant Application Process
FEMA opened the application period for two competitive hazard mitigation grant programs totaling $660 million. The two grant programs, the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant, or BRIC, will provide funds to states, tribes, territories and local communities for eligible mitigation activities. The new BRIC grant is for pre-disaster mitigation activities and replaces FEMA’s existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation program. This year, $500 million is available for pre-disaster mitigation activities, including a $20 million tribal set-aside. BRIC priorities are to incentivize public infrastructure projects; projects that mitigate risk to one or more community lifelines; projects that incorporate nature-based solutions; and the adoption and enforcement of modern building codes. Both grant applications will be open from Sept. 30 – Jan. 21, 2021. Eligible applicants must apply for funding using the new FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO). A BRIC program's notice of intent is due October 30, 2020.
|
|
NOAA Issues Resilience Funding Opportunity
NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science has issued a notice of funding availability, soliciting research grant proposals in two focal areas: coastal resilience and surface transportation resilience. This Federal Funding Opportunity will support research to inform adaptation planning and coastal management decisions. A letter of intent (LOI) is required prior to submission of a full proposal. LOIs are due October 16, 2020.
|
|
Yale Releases Report on Climate Change and Health
Climate Change and Health in Connecticut: 2020 Report. This comprehensive report tracks 19 indicators on climate change and health in Connecticut across four categories: temperature, extreme events, infectious diseases, and air quality. The report offers seven recommendations to achieve goals of greenhouse gas reduction and climate change adaptation, including to invest in the social determinants of health; pursue actions that integrate mitigation, adaptation and immediate health-benefits; and build the capacity of health professionals and decision makers in other sectors to address climate change and health.
|
|
State and Regional News Clips |
|
Connecticut Sues Exxon For Decades of Deceit Regarding Climate Change
Ct.gov - September 14, 2020
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today sued ExxonMobil under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, alleging an ongoing, systematic campaign of lies and deception to hide from the public what ExxonMobil has known for decades—that burning fossil fuels undeniably contributes to climate change.
|
|
$11.1M in Climate Change Funding to Massachusetts
22News - September 15, 2020
Continuing its historic investment in climate change resiliency, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $11.1 million in grants to cities and towns through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. This announcement brings total state investment in climate change resilience through the MVP program to over $44 million since 2017. The popular grant and designation program provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change.
|
|
SHU Prof's Research Project Earns National Award
HamletHub - September 16, 2020
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Stratford Point Living Shoreline, a research project headed by Sacred Heart University biology professor Jennifer Mattei with members of her lab, has received the Best Restored Shore Award from the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). Mattei will be honored at the virtual 2020 ASBPA National Coastal Conference Oct. 15, when she will present her project results.
|
|
Five Projects Awarded Maine Coastal Resilience Innovation Grants
Mainebiz - September 21, 2020
Five land use projects were awarded grants to improve coastal resilience from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
The Coastal Community Grants focus on projects that are looking to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. The grants are an important part of the state's Municipal Planning Assistance Program's goal to help provide technical and financial help for land use management, the release said.
|
|
In Rare Bipartisan Climate Agreement, Senators Forge Plan To Slash Use Of Potent Greenhouse Gas
Washington Post - September 10, 2020
|
|
How California's Wildfires Could Spark A Financial Crisis
Reuters - September 10, 2020
Wildfires across the U.S. West are among the sparks from climate change that could ignite a U.S. financial crisis by damaging home values, state tourism and local government budgets, an advisory panel to a U.S. markets regulator found.Those effects could set off a cascade of events including defaults and market disruptions, undermining the U.S. economy and sparking a crisis.
|
|
Virus Lockdowns Won't Fix CO2 Problem After All
E&E News - September 11, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has battered the global economy and sparked what is expected to be a record drop in global greenhouse gas emissions. But evidence suggests the world is failing to lock in long-term emission reductions and missing an opportunity to stem the worst effects of rising temperatures.
|
|
The Resilience Roundup highlights CIRCA's presence in the news, provides links to recent local/state/national news articles related to resilience and adaptation, and announces upcoming events and seminars.
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) mission is to increase the resilience and sustainability of vulnerable communities along Connecticut's coast and inland waterways to the growing impacts of climate change and extreme weather on the natural, built, and human environment. The institute is located at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus and includes faculty from across the university. CIRCA is a partnership between UConn and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
