Highly Rated Resources

This tab features resources that are rated highly by other members of the Local Government Professionals Network. Local Government Professionals members like you may influence this list by rating resources.  Just click on a resource and assign it a 1 (low) to 5 (high) star rating.  The highest ratings (4 and 5) should be granted to resources that you have found useful in your own work.  

 

 
 

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Metro Boston Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Report

June 30, 2014

The Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has developed this adaptation strategy in response to research on the current and projected climate change impacts for the 101 cities and towns of the Metro Boston area of Massachusetts. A Vulnerability Assessment was conducted in developing this strategy and finds that the region is expected to experience an increase in frequency and severity of rain and snow storms, and an increase in heat waves, and sea level rise as a result of climate change.

Resource Category: Planning

 

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Social Science Tools for Coastal Programs - Introduction to Stakeholder Participation

2007

This guide, published by the NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC), introduces coastal managers to concepts of stakeholder analysis and engagement. The document explains how different stakeholder groups and their interests should be identified during the coastal planning process. Additionally, NOAA CSC provides the reader with guidance for when and how during the coastal planning process stakeholders should be engaged. Additionally, the document provides guidance on identifying coastal management stakeholders, describes some of the most commonly used techniques for stakeholder participation, and discusses evaluation of stakeholder participation.

Resource Category: Education and Outreach

 

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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

November 15, 2021

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (H. R. 3684, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) was signed into law on November 15, 2021. It includes historic levels of investment for infrastructure — $550 billion in new spending over five years and $650 billion for existing programs, totaling $1. 2 trillion. IIJA includes numerous standalone acts, including the Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021, the Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees (REPLANT) Act, and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Appropriations Act.

Resource Category: Law and Governance

 

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National Equity Atlas

The National Equity Atlas, created by PolicyLink and the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, is an online tool that allows users to find information on demographic changes, racial and economic inclusion, and potential economic gains from racial equity. Data is available for the largest 100 cities, 150 metropolitan regions, and all 50 states in the United States. While this resource does not address climate change, it can provide useful information to frame environmental justice and equity challenges that may be exacerbated by climate change.

Resource Category: Data and tools

 

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San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Measure

June 7, 2016

The San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Measure (Measure AA) is a $12-per-year parcel tax for the San Francisco Bay area of California — which passed with over 70% support in all nine Bay Area counties on June 7, 2016.   The measure is anticipated to generate $500 million over 20 years — approximately $25 million annually for critical tidal marsh restoration projects around San Francisco Bay. Measure AA was the first parcel tax in the history of the state to be levied throughout an entire region encompassing multiple counties.

Resource Category: Law and Governance

 

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Climate Adaptation: The State of Practice in U.S. Communities

November 16, 2016

Looking at 17 communities engaged in adaptation, this report examines what communities are doing to address climate risks. It finds that communities are often motivated by extreme climate event and are more focused on reducing their current vulnerabilities to extreme events, compared to addressing future climate impacts. Despite this, there is encouraging evidence that communities can begin addressing climate change risks and overcome barriers to action and implementation.   The 17 case studies provide insights into the key components of a well-adapted community.

Authors or Affiliated Users: Jason M. Vogel, Karen Carney, Charles Herrick, Missy Stults, Megan O'Grady, Alexis St. Juliana, Heather Hosterman, Lorine Giangola, Joel B. Smith

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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100 Resilient Cities - Resilience in Action

October 17, 2016

Resilience in Action, subtitled Early Insights into How Cities are Institutionalizing Resilience, profiles three cities – New Orleans, USA; Melbourne, Australia; and Semarang, Indonesia – for their efforts to institutionalize and mainstream resilience. Each city is a member of 100 Resilience Cities (100RC), a non-profit and global urban resilience initiative developed by the Rockefeller Foundation. The report highlights replicable best practices and lessons learned, as examples for others to utilize in developing urban resilience practices.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Climate Ready Boston: Municipal Vulnerability to Climate Change (2013)

October 29, 2013

Boston, Massachusetts' Mayor Thomas M. Menino administration’s report 'Climate Ready Boston: Municipal Vulnerability to Climate Change' identifies ways in which the City has and will prepare for the impacts of climate change on municipal operations. The report presents the assessments and key findings of Boston's Climate Preparedness Task Force. Short- and long-term vulnerabilities were examined for the City's sectors: Facilities and Capital Planning, Transportation and Water Infrastructure, Neighborhoods, and Public Health and Heat.

Resource Category: Assessments

 

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Resilience Hubs: Shifting Power to Communities and Increasing Community Capacity

March 28, 2018

This report describes an initiative of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) to encourage the creation of Resilience Hubs, which are defined as community-serving facilities meant to both support residents and coordinate resource distribution and services before, during or after a natural hazard event. While these are primarily meant to address vulnerability and risk, this report explains how Resilience Hubs can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support social equity. The report draws on lessons from Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland, two cities that are actively exploring the Resilience Hub concept.

Authors or Affiliated Users: Kristin Baja, Kristin Baja, CFM

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Cal-Adapt 2.0

2017

Cal-Adapt is a climate change geospatial data tool for California, that is developed and maintained by the University of California, Berkeley Geospatial Innovation Facility with funding and oversight by the California Energy Commission. Cal-Adapt offers localized climate change projections for the state produced by California's scientific and research community. The updated version, Cal-Adapt 2. 0, has been released with new, high-resolution climate projections, enhanced visualizations, and improved access to data.

Resource Category: Data and tools

 

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