Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Environmental justice and climate change are driving decarbonization across industrial sectors and throughout everyday life. There are many nuanced issues that planners will face as they try to sustainably reshape our world. This podcast will focus on climate and EJ but also bring on associated experts to speak about how these issues affect their fields. From city planning, economic development, transportation, education, national security, mental health, manufacturing, supply chain...we should all be considering how climate and EJ considerations will affect our decision paradigms.
Join me every two weeks as we discuss critical issues with thought leaders who know them best.
Logo credit and general assistance: Uzziah Davis
Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Season 3, Episode 7: Climate Resilience Planning: It's Time to Get Real
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I am born and raised in New Jersey. Growing up we used to visit the Shore multiple times a year. Belmar was my beach. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated our state. After the storm passed, as I was volunteering in Belmar to literally pickup pieces of the boardwalk that had washed into residential yards ten blocks away, the importance of climate work came into focus for me. Storms happen, but the rate at which they happen, and their rate of intensification are both increasing; as are inland flooding, cloud burst events, so-called sunny day flooding, and combined sewer overflows. Much of our built system is quite old, and much of the new stuff is being built without regard for cumulative effects.
My guests for this episode are Nick Angarone (Chief Resilience Office, NJDEP) and Amy Chester (Director, Rebuild by Design). A few days prior to recording this episode, New Jersey announced a 1-year pause on the Protecting Against Climate Threats: Resilient Environments and Landscapes (NJ PACT REAL) Rules. The rules would require developers and property owners to incorporate various risk minimization steps to factor in the likelihood of adverse future impacts. If you haven't done so already, I highly recommend you look into Amy's flood modeling work. It is eye opening stuff. I know many people in support of the REAL rules, and likely as many against them. But no matter which side of the argument you fall on, I hope that you can look at the risks objectively and then come to the table with suggestions. The status quo isn't working. I will always support those looking for answers to the hard questions. Great discussion, I hope you all enjoy.
