🌎 Climate Adaptation: A Proactive Approach to Our Planetary Crisis Adapting to Change, with Doug Parsons
Hello…and welcome to…Issue #011!
Reading Time: <2 mins.
TL;DR: We published our podcast's third episode: Exploring Climate Adaptation with Doug Parsons, Host of America Adapts: The Climate Change Podcast.
Doug Parsons, Director, America Adapts Media and Host, America Adapts: The Climate Change Podcast.
“Back in the day, there was kind of a canned approach to adaptation planning. It’s gotten much more sophisticated now.”
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In the last issue of Designing Nature's Half: The Blog, we shared our second episode on Designing Nature's Half: The Landscape Conservation Podcast. In this issue, we share a discussion about our third episode, Exploring Climate Adaptation, with Doug Parsons, Host of America Adapts: The Climate Change Podcast. You can find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or jump over to our website’s podcast episodes.
Climate Adaptation: A Proactive Approach to Our Planetary Crisis Adapting to Change
In a world where the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible, the conversation about how we adapt to these changes is more important than ever. Doug Parsons, Director of America Adapts Media and host of America Adapts: The Climate Change Podcast stands at the forefront of this crucial dialogue.
From Queensland to California: A Journey in Climate Leadership
Parsons’ career has taken him across continents and into various roles that have shaped his understanding of climate adaptation. In Queensland, Australia, he focused on how agriculture was being affected by changing weather patterns. As Florida’s first Climate Change Coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Parsons began crafting strategies to protect diverse ecosystems from warming temperatures and rising sea levels.
His expertise led him to develop a training course on climate change now used by both federal agencies and state governments like California—and served as a liaison for the National Park Service on matters concerning our changing environment.
Education Through Conversation: The Mission of America Adapts Podcast
The “America Adapts” podcast transcends traditional media boundaries by bringing together politicians, thought leaders, artists—anyone who can provide insight into how communities can become more resilient in the face of environmental shifts. It’s an educational platform not just for experts but also for policymakers who are shaping our collective response to climate challenges.
Topics covered in each episode arise organically from Parsons’ own curiosity about emerging issues in adaptation strategy or listener suggestions—an approach that keeps content relevant and engaging.
Addressing Inconsistency Across States with ESG Frameworks
Despite growing awareness within American society about climatic threats, responses vary widely among states—a patchwork quilt rather than a unified front. Corporate sectors attempt alignment through Environmental Social Governance (ESG) frameworks aimed at minimizing harm; however, these may not always be congruent with goals specific to adapting environments already altered by global warming trends.
This inconsistency underscores why platforms such as Parsons’ podcast play an essential role in fostering informed discussions across different sectors regarding best practices for adaptation planning.
Engaging Youthful Energy Towards Climate Solutions
There’s been noted enthusiasm among younger generations eager to contribute towards solving pressing ecological problems—a sentiment reflected in increasing interest toward careers within the field of climate adaptation. This shift represents hope as new minds bring fresh perspectives necessary for innovative solutions.
Evolving Strategies Beyond Resilience
While resilience—the ability for systems or communities to bounce back after disturbances—is often discussed alongside adaptation efforts, it isn’t always applicable, especially when considering scenarios like Miami facing significant sea-level rise where managed retreat might be needed instead.
The evolution beyond standard scenario planning includes integrating sophisticated methods that consider dynamic landscapes requiring multi-sector approaches linking human-altered environments with natural ones successfully—as seen through some U.S cities actively incorporating their natural surroundings into urban designs while managing resources efficiently.
Adaptation plans hinge upon robust scientific data coupled with trial-and-error methodology acceptance—as highlighted by documents such as The National Climate Assessment showcasing community-level progress yet calling attention towards further required work within this domain.
Furthermore, there’s innovation stirring within financial markets too—entities like JPMorgan explore investment opportunities directly related to mitigating climatic impacts demonstrating potential growth areas beyond government funding avenues traditionally associated with environmental projects.
Success Stories Fuel Optimism
Examples abound, from successful partnerships between entities such as Climate Science Alliance working collaboratively with tribal groups—to academic involvements exemplified via Harvard student-led initiatives supporting East Boston residents grappling with coastal challenges—all indicative measures proving effective strategic implementation possible even amidst complex circumstances faced globally today.
And it doesn’t stop there; forums such as The National Adaptation Forum serve pivotal roles in sustaining sector vibrancy, offering networking chances plus learning experiences contributing significantly towards maintaining momentum behind ongoing developments witnessed throughout this evolving sphere encouragingly alive and brimming full possibilities ahead indeed!
For those looking forward to diving deeper into topics discussed here, visit americadapts.org to learn more about the fascinating work underway to make a difference in one community time!
Thanks for a great discussion, Doug!
Your thoughts? How does your sector contribute to #ClimateAdaptation?
#Sustainability #Resilience #AdaptationPlanning #Innovation
An Invitation
If you think you have something to offer to the conversation and would like to be a guest on our pod, drop me a note at: info@lcdinstitute.org and put "Guest" in the subject line.
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Dr. Amanda Sesser, the Coordinator of the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS) Partnership, discusses the need for inclusive design and decision-making processes that involve diverse stakeholders and empower communities. By bringing together various sectors of society, such as transportation, energy, and conservation, sustainable landscapes can be co-designed, created, and managed for people, planet, and prosperity. The episode emphasizes the need to balance human well-being and ecological integrity – a challenge that requires a new governance model that breaks down silos in traditional planning and decision-making. It addresses historic patterns of inequality and injustice to create a more inclusive and equitable society and highlights the concept of reciprocity and the importance of engaging indigenous and other disenfranchised people.