Greater Resilience in a Climate-Enhanced World

Struck by fire and flood, first from two hurricanes enhanced by climate change, and then by heat and drought enhanced fires, our urge is to rapidly assist, fix and rebuild. A more thoughtful response should also address what exactly should be fixed, and how and where to rebuild with greater resilience. For Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Napa and Sonoma Counties, these are gut-wrenching questions with few easy answers. The typical and very human response — quick rebuilds — is attractive to construction companies looking for work and banks providing short-term construction loans. Politicians and communities like them because they… [more]