Climate Resilient Communities Program launched in the U.S.A.

11-04-07

ICLEI – USA recently initiated a Climate Resilient Communities program to protect people, property and resources and help communities become more resilient to climate change. Certain cities in the U.S.A. will be, and already are in many cases, particularly susceptible to flooding, coastal erosion, drought, and intense hurricanes and wildfires. The adaptation approach of Climate Resilient Communities enables communities to integrate climate preparedeness strategies into existing hazard mitigation plans, reduce the costs associated with disaster relief, and prioritize vulnerabilities such as infrastructure, zoning, and water capacity. “Through our Climate Resilient Communities work, we are helping local governments to develop tools to assess their vulnerabilities and prepare their communities for the impacts and costs associated with predicted global climate change, said Ms Margit Hentschel, Director of the program. Key preliminary partners in ICLEI’s Climate Resilient Communities effort include: Keene (New Hampshire); Fort Collins (Colorado); and Anchorage (Alaska). Similar to other ICLEI programs, Climate Resilient Communities will engage in a five milestone process which includes: conducting a climate resiliency study; prioritizing areas for action and set goals; developing a Climate Resilient Action Plan; implementing the plan; and monitoring and reevaluating. For more information on the Program’s launch, please click here [https://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=6687]. To learn more about the Program, please contact Ms Margit Hentschel at margit.hentschel@iclei.org.