Disasters, Resilience, and Adaptation
Communities around the world are experiencing the impacts of climate change, from coastal flooding due to sea-level rise to extreme storms and heat waves. RFF experts are developing strategies for building resilience and adapting to more intense weather and global catastrophic events.
Topics
Coastal Adaptation
Assessing the design and application of policies to build resilience
Insurance and Disaster Aid
Examining ways to make insurance options more affordable
Natural Infrastructure
Examining costs and benefits to inform investment and implementation
Wildfires
Analyzing how communities, land managers, and policymakers can mitigate wildfire disasters
Publications
Report — Sep 4, 2019
Environmental Projects in Urban Areas: Analysis to Support Corps of Engineers Project Planning and Budgeting
This report describes US Army Corps of Engineers planning and budget justification practices in coastal and estuarine environments—with a focus on urban settings—and explores the current and potential application of ecosystem services analysis to Corps decisionmaking.
Working Paper — Jul 11, 2019
The Cost-Effectiveness of Satellite Earth Observations to Inform a Post-Wildfire Response
This study demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of using satellite imagery to assess burned areas and prioritize response measures after a wildfire; it shows that, by using Landsat imagery, federal agencies can save up to $7.7 million per year in post-fire costs.
Working Paper — May 29, 2019
Human Migration in the Era of Climate Change
Human mobility is one response to climatic stress and shocks. In this synthesis article, we review the recent literature on the effects of climate change on human mobility within various disciplines.
Events
Workshop/Seminar — Nov 28, 2016
Disasters, Resilience, and the "Cure" for Catastrophe
At this RFF event, Robert Muir-Wood, chief research officer of Risk Management Solutions and author of The Cure for Catastrophe: How We Can Stop Manufacturing Natural Disasters, explored the human causes of disaster and the new technologies and policy tools available to minimize their impact.
Workshop/Seminar — Jun 4, 2014
Limits to Securitization: The Future of Insurance
Panelists at this RFF seminar addressed the following questions about the role risk mitigation in dealing with climate change.
Conversations with Nobel Laureates — Dec 13, 2012
Resources 2020 with Thomas C. Schelling
News
Media Highlight — Aug 22, 2019
"The case for ‘managed retreat’ in the face of climate change"
Margaret Walls is quoted in a Cosmos Magazine article on 'managed retreat' as a response to climate change.
Press Release — Aug 20, 2019
New Episode of Resources Radio on the Trump Administration's Proposed Changes to the Endangered Species Act, with Ya-Wei Li
In this podcast, Ya-Wei Li discusses the Trump administration's proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act.
Press Release — Jul 16, 2019
New Episode of Resources Radio on Chernobyl, with Todd Allen
Daniel Raimi and Todd Allen discuss the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in this episode of Resources Radio.