Helping communities prepare for climate risks

Our changing climate has implications for the safety, well-being, and resilience of our nation’s communities—and it presents uncertainty as they plan for the future. The climate risks that many communities face are often compounded by social vulnerabilities, such as affordable housing crises, food insecurity, poverty and economic insecurity. Yet, local leaders and community members often lack accessible and actionable climate services such as data, information, and tools that can help them make informed decisions about adaptation and resilience. Additionally, the way in which we conduct science, what counts as science, and who is a member of the scientific community is undergoing a radical transformation with implications for how communities and scientists partner to build a more resilient and equitable future.

On October 18, Brookings Metro will host an event reflecting on these information gaps and how a new generation of engaged, civic-oriented science could bolster local-level resilience. Join us for a fireside chat between Senior Fellow Xavier de Souza Briggs and Jainey Bavishi, deputy administrator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who is leading a new portfolio of work on equitable climate services. Bavishi will then moderate a panel discussion with civic leaders and climate scientists reflecting on the state of climate resilience for disadvantaged communities and the potential pathways for climate services to enable more equitable, and locally led climate action.