Climate Risks and Resilience
Communities and decisionmakers across the globe are grappling with how to measure climate risks as they seek to respond to the impacts of climate change, from coastal flooding due to sea level rise to heat waves and wildfires. Experts at Resources for the Future (RFF) are quantifying the economic and social impacts of climate change and evaluating strategies to enhance resilience, ensuring that communities and decisionmakers are equipped with the tools they need to respond.
Highlights
Topics
Adaptation and Resilience
Building resilience and adapting to a changing world
Climate Finance and Financial Risk
Improving the measurement and modeling of climate risks to financial markets
Earth Observations for Policy
Remote-sensing data can inform policy and other decisionmaking.
Ecosystems and Nature-Based Solutions
Developing environmental management solutions
Hurricanes and Flooding
Studying the impacts of hurricanes and flooding on people and the environment
Insurance and Disaster Aid
Examining ways to make insurance options more affordable
Wildfires
Analyzing how communities, land managers, and policymakers can mitigate wildfire disasters
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
- Events
- Editorial
- News
Resources Radio — Jul 1, 2025
Recreation-Dependent Communities, Public Lands, and Housing Affordability, with Megan Lawson
Megan Lawson, an economist and researcher at Headwaters Economics, discusses the outdoor recreation economy and how public policy can support recreation-dependent communities in the face of challenges related to affordable housing and climate change.
Journal Article — Jun 26, 2025
Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Can Enable Cost-Effective Conservation of Eastern North Pacific Blue Whales: A Value of Information Analysis
This article estimates the economic value of satellite data for conserving blue whales at $11–$636 million per year.
In Focus — Jun 18, 2025
In Focus: Wildfire Risks and Jobs
In this video, RFF Senior Fellow Margaret Walls discusses job growth in wildfire-prone regions of the western United States.
Resources Radio — May 20, 2025
Reducing Climate Risks through Housing Policy, with Jenny Schuetz
Jenny Schuetz discusses the increasing exposure of US households to climate disasters and the policy solutions that can help protect communities that are vulnerable to such disasters.
Journal Article — Jun 26, 2025
Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Can Enable Cost-Effective Conservation of Eastern North Pacific Blue Whales: A Value of Information Analysis
This article estimates the economic value of satellite data for conserving blue whales at $11–$636 million per year.
Report — May 6, 2025
Shaping Land Use Patterns in the Wildland-Urban Interface: The Role of State and Local Governments in Reducing Exposure to Wildfire Risks
This report reviews the policies, funding mechanisms, and planning efforts that influence land use in wildfire-prone wildland-urban interface areas, arguing that current approaches inadequately address wildfire exposure.
Report — Apr 14, 2025
Job Exposure to Wildfire Risk in the American West
This report assesses job growth and wages in the West across five wildfire hazard categories.
Explainer — Apr 9, 2025
Wildfires at a Glance
Wildfires at a Glance
Conference — Dec 5, 2022
VALUABLES Consortium Capstone Celebration
A special event celebrating the VALUABLES community, spotlighting consortium results, and looking ahead to the future of socioeconomic assessment for Earth observations
RFF Live — Nov 30, 2022
Sparking Solutions: Wildfire Risk and Insurance
The third RFF Live event in the "Sparking Solutions" event series examining the role of insurance in mitigating the risks of wildfire.
Webinar — Nov 14, 2022
Using Satellite Data and Scientific Information to Advance Environmental Justice: What Does Success Look Like?
Using Satellite Data and Scientific Information to Advance Environmental Justice: What Does Success Look Like?
Webinar — Oct 31, 2022
How Can Scientists Work with Decisionmakers to Understand How Satellite Data Really Influences Decisions?
A VALUABLES webinar examining how scientists and decisionmakers can improve their engagement to inform decisions and increase the value of satellite information
Resources Radio — Jul 1, 2025
Recreation-Dependent Communities, Public Lands, and Housing Affordability, with Megan Lawson
Megan Lawson, an economist and researcher at Headwaters Economics, discusses the outdoor recreation economy and how public policy can support recreation-dependent communities in the face of challenges related to affordable housing and climate change.
In Focus — Jun 18, 2025
In Focus: Wildfire Risks and Jobs
In this video, RFF Senior Fellow Margaret Walls discusses job growth in wildfire-prone regions of the western United States.
Resources Radio — May 20, 2025
Reducing Climate Risks through Housing Policy, with Jenny Schuetz
Jenny Schuetz discusses the increasing exposure of US households to climate disasters and the policy solutions that can help protect communities that are vulnerable to such disasters.
On the Issues — May 9, 2025
On the Issues: Auto Tariffs, Funding Emergency Response, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: Auto tariffs, funding emergency response, and more.
Media Highlight — May 6, 2025
“Carbon Pulse: Spark Notes”
A new paper on ways to reduce wildfire exposure in the wildland-urban interface is mentioned in Carbon Pulse‘s daily newsletter.
Media Highlight — Apr 22, 2025
Mountain West News Bureau: “Job Growth Fastest in the West Where Wildfire Risk is the Highest”
Emily Joiner is quoted in this piece about a new RFF report on the threat wildfire poses to western US businesses.
Media Highlight — Apr 17, 2025
Science Magazine: “Trump Wants to Log More Forests. Will it Really Help Prevent Wildfires?”
Senior Fellow David Wear comments on a new executive order calling for more logging
Press Release — Apr 14, 2025
Fire-Prone Regions of the American West Have Fast-Growing Job Markets
A new report from Resources for the Future finds that areas that are the most prone to wildfire in the American West are also the fastest-growing job centers.
