From Risk to Resilience: Wildfires and the Insurance Industry’s Climate Reckoning

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Android In episode 44 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks with world famous climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, professor in the Dept. of Political Science  and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University!  Katharine and Doug dig deep into the issue of religion and what are some solutions in reaching out to skeptical audiences on the issue of climate change.  Subscribe/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.Now on Spotify! Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! In this Episode: FROM QUASARS TO CLIMATE MODELS – Doug and Katharine discuss her early career in astronomy and how that actually prepared her well as she pivoted into climate change modeling. Katharine also discusses her invitation to attend an event in Norway hosted by Stephen Hawking! PARIS AGREEMENT – Katharine talks about the recent US pull out from the Paris Agreement and she actually identifies a huge silver lining. BEARING FALSE WITNESS – Doug and Katharine dig into the phenomenon of why evangelicals are hostile to taking action on climate change and how many have been misled into believing the science of climate change is a false religion. QUEEN OF THE WORLD – Doug and Katharine talk about her surreal experience talking climate change with both President Obama and “Titanic” star Leonardo DiCaprio.  Katharine’s take home message:  President Obama can talk climate like an expert! Key Quotes: ““Faith is evidence of what we don’t see; science is evidence of what we do see.” ““We are deliberately told by people we trust….that global warming is a false religion, requiring worshipping the Earth…” “Regarding climate change…if you only look for negative information, that’s what you’ll find.” Dr. Hayhoe on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/katharine.hayhoe/ https://twitter.com/KHayhoe Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Links in episode: http://katharinehayhoe.com/wp2016/biography/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzuI_NZwY4w https://www.beforetheflood.com/ https://www.depts.ttu.edu/csc/people.php http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/31/everyone-believes-in-global-warming-they-just-dont-realize-it/ America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts!  Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!  For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   Write a review on Itunes! America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Producer Dan Ackerstein Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

12 Juni 201757min

Subscribe/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.Now on Spotify! In episode 43 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks with the Climate and Adaptation Reporter at Bloomberg News, Christopher Flavelle. Also in this episode, Doug announces that America Adapts Media is now a 501(c) 3 tax deductible charitable organization! Dan Ackerstein guest hosts a segment asking Doug what this means and how people can support ‘building a community of adapters.’ Also, Michael Pace, Executive Director of the Social Good Fund, visits the podcast to briefly discuss the Fund, which is now the fiscal sponsor of America Adapts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! BLOOMBERG NEWS – Doug and Chris discuss Bloomberg News and Chris’ unique beat of covering climate change adaptation and resilience issues. Chris also explains why covering climate change is a priority issue for Bloomberg News. FEDERAL BUYOUT – Chris and Doug discuss some of his articles focusing on the federal buyout program, Blue Acres.  Chris explains the challenges for local governments to accept federal buyouts, what they mean for the future of these communities, and how they serve as a case study for future attempts at moving people out of climate danger zones. “Adaptation is a humble ideology.” CLIMATE GENTRIFICATION - Chris explains how people in affordable housing will be some of the hardest hit populations by climate change and how an under sourced programs will be further challenged when these communities are forced to evacuate from high impact areas. ADAPTATION IN THE NEWS - Chris and Doug discuss the many challenges of covering adaptation stories and how these stories will only become more prominent.  Chris also challenges Doug to find the person most responsible for adaptation policy in the Trump White House. And the challenge was accepted! Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Links in episode: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/contributors/AP5w2GPBCv4/christopher-flavelle https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-26/trump-wants-to-downplay-global-warming-louisiana-won-t-let-him https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-09/alaska-s-big-problem-with-warmer-winters https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-08-22/nj-s-blue-acres-program-a-new-strategy-for-climate-change https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-07-06/inside-the-lobby-against-tougher-homes Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!  For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Producer Dan Ackerstein Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

4 Juni 20171h 14min

In episode 42 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks with Dr. Benjamin Preston, the Senior Director of the Infrastructure Resilience and Environmental Policy Program at the RAND Corporation. Subscribe/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.Now on Spotify! Donate to America Adapts (We are now a tax deductible charitable organization!) WHAT IS RAND?  Doug and Ben discuss RAND and its background as a military think tank and its evolution as a key player in adaptation and resilience research and planning. FROM OZ TO OAK RIDGE – Ben discusses his experiences working on climate change issues in Australia, all the way to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Ben also grades adaptation efforts in Australia and the US! THE ONE PERCENT CLIMATE CHANGE DOCTRINE - Doug and Ben discuss worst case scenarios with climate change and RAND’s approach to these issues. We also discuss the ‘one percent doctrine’ approach to adaptation planning and if there are similarities to planning for terrorism as there is to climate change. ADAPTATION ELEVATOR SPEECH – Ben takes a crack at his own 30 second adaptation elevator speech. Doug and Ben discuss the challenges of communicating adaptation research and planning to the general public. CASE STUDIES – Ben describes some of the case study work at RAND - in cities like Pittsburgh and in Israel – with resilience and adaptation planning.  We also discuss the difficulties of going from planning to actual adaptation implementation. How does one evaluate effective adaptation? Donate here! (America Adapts Media is now a tax deductible charitable organization!) Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Links in episode: https://www.rand.org/ https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/people/p/preston_benjamin_lee.pdf https://theconversation.com/spending-wisely-now-will-make-heatwaves-less-costly-later-22402 http://www.vcccar.org.au/benefit-hindsight-ben-preston   Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapt's fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Producer Dan Ackerstein Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

22 Maj 20171h 7min

In episode 41 of America Adapts, Australia Adapts is back! Dr. Johanna Nalau from Griffith University interviews a fellow adaptation researcher, Dr. Susanne Becken,  Director of the Griffith Institute for Tourism at Griffith University, in Queensland, Australia. Professor Becken is an expert in Sustainable Tourism, specifically the impacts of climate change on tourism. Subscribe/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.Now on Spotify! Also in this episode, I wrap up my coverage of the National Adaptation Forum in St. Paul, Minnesota. I talk with a few more conference attendees about their impression of the conference and the adaptation work they are involved in. It’s a nice wrap up to a fantastic event! Donate to America Adapts (We are now a tax deductible charitable organization!) In this episode: TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE – Johanna introduces Dr. Becken and they provide some context on the field of sustainable tourism. Dr. Becken describes her background and her pivot from mitigation to adaptation. RELUCTANT INDUSTRY – The two discuss the difficulties of getting the tourism industry to tackle climate change and its current and potential impact on the industry. LAST CHANCE TOURISM - Dr. Becken describes the phenomenon of ‘last chance’ tourism, where tourism is marketing specifically to the concept that a resource, e.g., Great Barrier Reef, won’t exist in the coming years, so it’s your ‘last chance’ to visit. They are trying to combat this fatalist approach to the industry. TOURISM DASHBOARD - Johanna and Dr. Becken discuss the “Tourism Dashboard” that uses  seven specific indicators, which have all global data to monitor them and that provides a snapshot of how we are fairing under each of the indicators currently. Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Links in episode: Adaptationprofessionals.org https://www.nationaladaptationforum.org/ https://www.griffith.edu.au/business-government/griffith-institute-tourism/staff/dr-johanna-nalau https://www.griffith.edu.au/professional-page/susanne-becken https://www.griffith.edu.au/business-government/griffith-institute-tourism http://tourismdashboard.org/ Coming up next week on America Adapts, I talk with Dr. Ben Preston at Rand Corporation. Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapt's fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Producer Dan Ackerstein Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

15 Maj 201746min

Now on Spotify! In episode 40 of America Adapts, I’m on location in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the banks of the Mississippi River attending the National Adaptation Forum! This daily digest - a partnership with the American Society of Adaptation Professionals - I go around talking to forum attendees about why they are attending and discuss some of the exciting developments in the field of adaptation. Listen to some of the best minds on adaptation as they all congregate to share stories and exchange expertise! Donate to America Adapts (We are now a tax deductible charitable organization!) Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Links in episode: Adaptationprofessionals.org https://www.nationaladaptationforum.org/ Coming up next week on America Adapts, I talk with Dr. Ben Preston at Rand Corporation. Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapt's fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Producer Dan Ackerstein Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

10 Maj 201741min

In episode 39 of America Adapts, I talk with Barrett Ristroph, an adaptation and environmental lawyer based in Alaska.  Barrett is also a PhD candidate studying adaptation planning. Also in this segment, Doug reports back from the massive climate change march in Washington, DC. Donate to America Adapts (We are now a tax deductible charitable organization!) Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Show highlights: HAWAII MEETS ALASKA – Barrett describes her journey from Louisiana, to the University of Hawaii, all the way to inland Alaska. Barrett describes being married to a tribal leader in Alaska and the cultural challenges associated with that! INDIGENOUS IN ALASKA - Barrett explains the cultural and legal differences between tribes in Alaska and the lower 48 states. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS - Doug and Barrett discuss the legal issues and regulatory hurdles of translocating coastal communities impacted by climate change. Barrett describes specific communities that are dealing with bureaucratic hurdles in this process. Barrett describes the complexities of adaptation planning in a legal and regulatory framework that is not designed for climate change. We discuss the potential uses (and downside) of using eminent domain in adaptation planning. CULTURAL EXTINCTION – Doug and Barrett discuss the broader issue of letting a culture go extinct. What is society’s moral and legal obligation to help tribal communities respond to climate change? AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADAPTATION PROFESSIONALS – Doug announces the formal partnership between ASAP and America Adapts! Each will promote the other in various outreach platforms. ASAP will also be a source of potential guests, since it’s a society of adaptation professionals! Check out ASAP here! MARCH FOR CLIMATE CHANGE – Doug shares a short segment on the recent climate march in Washington, DC. He interviews several marchers (and Tim Watkins!) to get their take on the value and implications of the March! Links in episode: Adaptationprofessionals.org Nytimes article on tribal translocation: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/29/science/alaska-global-warming.html?_r=0 Coming up next week on America Adapts, I do micro-podcasts at the National Adaptation Forum in St. Paul, Minnesota! Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapt's fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Producer Dan Ackerstein Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

1 Maj 20171h 11min

Now on Spotify! In episode 38 of America Adapts, I talk with fellow podcaster Andrew Lewin of Speak Up For Blue!  Andrew’s podcast focuses on all things related to ocean conservation – he’s ‘speaking up’ for the oceans! Andrew and I talk about the multitude of topics he covers and the diverse set of ocean experts he gets on the show. In the second half of the episode, Andrew, who’s Canadian, walks us through their own War on Science that occurred under their previous Prime Minister.  The timing is perfect, with the just completed March for Science reminding us the importance of science, Andrew gives a much needed pep talk, and walks through the actions, both large and small, that their government took to stifle Canadian research.  It’s an important listen and we have much to learn from our northern neighbor!  Donate to America Adapts (We are now a tax deductible charitable organization!) Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Show highlights: SPEAK UP FOR OCEANS – Doug introduces Andrew Lewin, the host of Speak up for Blue, a podcast dedicated to protecting our oceans. Andrew explains the history of the podcast and what his long term goals are for it. OCEAN EXPERTS TALK – Andrew describes the process of recruiting guests for the podcast and the evolution of SUFB becoming a premiere platform to discuss ocean conservation. CANADIAN WAR ON SCIENCE - Andrew describes in captivating detail, Canada’s own recent experience of science being under attack by politicians. He describes how it happened, what strategies were used to stifle science, and the recent change in government that has since liberated their scientists to speak out more. MARCH FOR SCIENCE – Doug and Andrew discuss the present environment for science in the United States and what we can learn from the Canadian experience. Andrew gives a pep talk on what US scientists can do to counter the muzzling of their work and how we can avoid some of the problems the Canadians encountered. Links in episode: Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast iHeart Radio: http://www.speakupforblue.com/iHeartRadio Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com/ You Tube: http://www.speakupforblue.com/YouTube Twitter: @speakupforblue Instagram: @speakupforblue FB group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group Coming up next week on America Adapts, I interview Barrett Ristroph, an environmental lawyer specializing in tribal law. Barrett is based in Alaska and will talk about how tribal communities are grappling with climate impacts and the legal and planning complexities of moving these at threat communities.  Adaptation law is an emerging discipline and Barrett walks us through some of the thornier issues Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapt's fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

24 Apr 201750min

Now on Spotify! On the inauIn episode 37 of America Adapts, we kick off the premiere episode of Australia Adapts! Adaptation researcher Dr. Johanna Nalau, Research Fellow from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia joins the show for a semi-recurring segment where we interviews experts in Australia. gural episode, Doug interviews Johanna, which is followed by a segment where Johanna interviews local government adaptation expert Donovan Burton. Learn what adaptation means down under and some of the innovative ways they get local governments thinking about climate change! Donate to America Adapts (We are now a tax deductible charitable organization!) Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/america-adapts-climate-change/id1133023095?mt=2 Listen here. On Google Play here. Please share on Facebook! On Twitter: @usaadapts Show highlights: G’DAY TO AMERICA ADAPTS – Doug introduces Dr. Johanna Nalau, who explains how she discovered America Adapts and how we ended up agreeing to collaborate on a recurring segment. STREET VIEW ADAPTATION – Johanna introduces adaptation expert Donovan Burton, who focuses on climate planning at the local government level. Donovan shares his own journey in the adaptation field and the growing demand for this type of expertise in Australia. FROM PARIS TO MOOLOOLABA – Donovan discusses the long, steady embrace of adaptation planning in Australia and how the recent Paris Agreement has supercharged this type of planning in the last year. INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS ADAPTATION – Johanna and Donovan highlight how adaptation planning still struggles to compete with traditional infrastructure spending and is generally on the losing end of that argument. ADAPTATION MEETS THE METRIC SYSTEM – Donovan explains some of the innovative techniques they use to measure adaptation integration. Australia Adapts Host Dr. Johanna Nalau Dr Johanna Nalau is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Griffith Climate Change Response Program (GCCRP) and Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT) at Griffith University specializing in climate change adaptation policy- and decision-making processes. Johanna is a social scientist whose research focuses on understanding how policy- and decision-makers deal with some of the central assumptions related to climate change adaptation, and the array of factors and processes that drive and constrain climate change adaptation, including constraints emerging from adaptation science and theory. Other current research includes ecosystem-based adaptation, sustainable tourism, traditional knowledge, and disaster risk management, with a recent focus in the Pacific region. Donovan Burton Donovan is a climate change entrepreneur. He is an internationally recognized expert in climate change adaptation, where he specializes in helping cities and businesses consider effects and opportunities presented by confluence of climate change and other mega trends.   Donovan is the owner of the climate change adaptation consultancy Climate Planning and has delivered almost 150 climate change projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Drawing on over a decade of applied adaptation experience Donovan has created a suite of adaptation governance tools to support informed-decision making using a combination of targeted analysis, benchmarking and big data. Donovan is an environmental planner with a first class honors and a recipient of a Wentworth Scholarship. Donovan believes that the private sector can (and should) play a significant role in climate change adaptation. Links in episode: www.climateplanning.com.au https://www.griffith.edu.au/business-government/griffith-institute-tourism/staff/dr-johanna-nalau Twitter: @climateplanning @usaadapts Coming up next week on America Adapts, I interview fellow podcaster, Andrew Lewin, host of ‘Speak up for Blue’, a podcast dedicated to ocean conservation! Subscribe now to get this in your podcast inbox! America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Finally, yes, most of your favorite podcasts are supported by listeners just like you! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapt's fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes.   America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we’re also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Itunes Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com .

14 Apr 201749min