Climate Adaptation and Risk Management Opportunities for Coastal Cities

3:00 pm Lecture by Josh Sawislak, AICP
Climate Adaptation and Risk Management Opportunities for Coastal Cities

4:00 pm Panel Discussion moderated by John L. Renne, Ph.D., AICP
with panelists Colin Polsky, Ph.D. and Jeffrey E. Huber, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, and Josh Sawislak, AICP

For coastal cities, the impacts of global climate change (e.g., sea level rise, more frequent and severe weather events, and the cascading effects on physical assets and infrastructure systems) have presented challenges for both public and private organizations. Efforts to adapt to these changes and to plan and build communities that are more resilient to disasters and longer-term stressors have been constrained by fiscal and political challenges. To more effectively address the threats and vulnerabilities faced by coastal cities, residents, and businesses, we must rethink not only how we assess the responsibility for these risks, allocate the costs of adaptation, but also any benefits that can accrue from new models of planning and development.

In this discussion, Josh Sawislak, AICP, will present some ideas on how we can recast this “problem” as an “opportunity” by bringing in new players and accessing the significant private capital resources needed to build resilient coastal communities for the next 50-100 years. These ideas include new approaches to allocating value and benefit and rethinking how we can approach climate adaptation from an enterprise risk management perspective.

Mr. Sawislak is an internationally recognized expert on climate and disaster resilience and sustainable development. He advises governments, corporations, international organizations, and NGOs on policy, implementation, and financial issues around building sustainable and resilient infrastructure in both the developed and developing world.