Climate Adaptation Resources related to Low-income Communities

This tab includes resources that address the disproportionate impacts of climate change for low-income communities.

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171 results are shown below.

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NYSERDA - Population Vulnerability to Climate Change in New York State

October 2017

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) identified current and future vulnerability to extreme heat across New York State, focusing on community and individual health risk factors.  A heat-vulnerability index was developed, and a heat-health impact assessment was conducted using ClimAID climate projections.  The study included an assessment of the adequacy and accessibility of cooling centers, and the public’s awareness of cooling centers and heat warning systems or adaptation resources across New York.

Resource Category: Assessments

 

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Planning for Equity in Parks with Green Infrastructure

October 2017

From the Natural Recreation and Park Association, this report summarizes research on the social and health outcomes related to the implementation of green infrastructure and parks in traditionally underserved communities. Findings suggest that while green infrastructure and green space can buffer climate impacts, they also enhance social equity by building social capital, improving health outcomes, and increasing economic opportunities.   

Resource Category: Planning

 

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Making Charlotte a Climate-Ready and Just City

August 2, 2017

From the Center for American Progress, this report presents an analysis on climate change adaptation and resiliency in Charlotte, North Carolina. The report describes how the city is advancing climate action, primarily in building resilient communities prepared for extreme-weather events. The Center also provides recommendations for Charlotte, which focus on engaging working-class communities and integrating social equity considerations into resiliency planning and preparedness. 

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Resilient Boston: An Equitable and Connected City

July 13, 2017

The Resilient Boston plan focuses on racial equity, social cohesion and resilience strategies for Boston, Massachusetts. The report outlines visions, goals and actions that support climate change adaptation measures and solutions targeting the most vulnerable residents in the city. Resilient Boston is part of the city’s participation in the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative. 

Resource Category: Planning

 

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Minneapolis Resolution Establishing "Green Zones"

April 28, 2017

On April 28 2017, the Minneapolis City Council approved a final Resolution establishing a Green Zones policy to facilitate community-led planning in socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in Minneapolis, Minnesota with the goal of prioritizing city initiatives to combat a range of resiliency challenges. Within Green Zones pilot areas, city officials will work with the community to develop work plans, focused on specific neighborhoods, that will be designed to prioritize initiatives and link city policies on economic development, gentrification, racial equity, and climate resiliency, to achieve an equitable distribution of resources.

Resource Category: Law and Governance

 

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An Equitable Water Future - A National Briefing Paper

June 6, 2017

From the U. S. Water Alliance, An Equitable Water Future explores the implications of water supply stress and management on vulnerable or disadvantaged communities and discusses the opportunities to build more equitable water systems. The report identifies the ways in which water issues like affordability and aging infrastructure disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, and highlights the potential to leverage water systems to build water equity. The Alliance determined that the focal elements to building water equity are to ensure that all people have access to safe, clean water; benefit from water infrastructure investments; and are climate resilient.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems Capital Scan

June 2017

The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program has developed a strategy to address climate change impacts on water systems while prioritizing the needs of low-income communities. The report describes a set of integrated strategies for how grants and investments can best support climate-resilient and equitable water systems. Recommendations are focused on scaling up green infrastructure, water efficiency, and climate planning to address flooding, storm damage and drought impacts. 

Resource Category: Funding

 

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Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning

May 2017

From the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), this guide is aimed at local government and outlines a framework for designing and implementing a community-driven, equitable climate preparedness planning process. Community-driven planning empowers those experiencing the greatest climate risks to co-define the solutions. Rather than treating equity as a component of climate preparedness planning, this guide suggests that equity should be at the center of any adaptation approach. It outlines why traditional planning falls short of supporting equity, describes why climate change vulnerability is not evenly spread, and identifies how typical adaptation strategies can be reframed to focus on equity. Throughout the document, examples from cities are presented to showcase real-world applications.

Explore more resources like this by joining our Adaptation Equity Portal

Authors or Affiliated Users: Tina Yuen, Eric Yurkovich, Beth Altshuler, Lauren Grabowski

Resource Category: Planning

 

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The Cost and Affordability of Flood Insurance in New York City

2017

This RAND study examined how recent changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) would affect the affordability of insurance for homeowners and business in New York City. New floodplain maps in the city are expanding the number of homes and businesses that must carry flood insurance and increasing the rate of insurance for many structures.  Legal changes to the NFIP are also phasing in rate hikes for many insureds. Using flood vulnerable areas in New York City as the study area, this study examined how these changes in the NFIP would affect the affordability of flood insurance.

Authors or Affiliated Users: Lloyd Dixon, Noreen Clancy, Benjamin Miller, Sue Hoegberg, Michael M. Lewis, Bruce Bender, Samara Ebinger, Mel Hodges, Gayle M. Syck, Caroline Nagy, Scott R. Choquette

Resource Category: Planning

 

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Making Nashville a More Livable and Sustainable City for All

March 9, 2017

This report summarizes efforts, under Mayor Megan Berry, to make Nashville the “greenest city in the Southeast. ” The authors argue that, while recent planning by the Nashville-Davidson Metropolitan Planning Commission are likely to enhance environmental quality, more must be done to address poverty and historical inequities. Specific to climate adaptation, the report delineates how regional climate change will disproportionately impact low-income communities in Nashville, and describes how proposed initiatives can be expanded or adjusted to enhance equitable outcomes.

Authors or Affiliated Users: Miranda Peterson, Cathleen Kelly

Resource Category: Planning

 

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