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

In this episode, host Doug Parsons speaks with Davia Palmeri, Climate Change Coordinator with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.  Davia talks about the unique role that state agencies play in conserving wildlife. We learn a bit of the history behind wildlife management in the United States.  Doug and Davia then dig into the role state agencies have played in adaptation planning at the state and national level.  Davia explains the role of AFWA’s Climate Change committee and how it provides resources for adaptation planning to the states.  We discuss missed opportunities for long term wildlife funding with the failed Cap and Trade Bill.  Davia also discuss some of her favorite climate change resources, ranging from the Climate Smart report, to the Climate Change Academy hosted by the National Conservation Training Center.  We also discuss the National Fish, Wildlife and Plant Adaptation Strategy: the first of its kind.  Davia also highlights the new National Adaptation Leadership Awards and the upcoming call for nominations.  Finally, we discuss opportunities for rank and file state employees, conservationists from NGOs, and Federal employees, on how they can get involved with adaptation planning in their regions.  Davia was an amazing guest, with a passion for working with states on ways to conserve wildlife in a changing climate. Listen in on all these topics and more!  And stick around to hear what Davia’s favorite wildlife species are, and how they’ll fare under climate change! For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!  Check us out, we’re also on YouTube!

2 Okt 20161h 9min

In this episode, host Doug Parsons speaks with doctoral student Samantha Montano, a “Disasterologist”, an expert in emergency management.  Samantha also blogs on this subject at her web site: www.disaster-ology.com.  Samantha recently published a news article for Vox magazine, highlighting the recent, unprecedented flooding in Louisiana, and  how underprepared the country is deal with natural disasters and how climate change is only going to make responding to these disasters harder.  In this episode, Samantha explains what the country’s emergency management system is; she also talks about what inspired her  to join this field, going into detail of her time living in New Orleans, helping with the recovery in post Hurricane Katrina.  Samantha also discusses the media’s failure to appropriately cover the recent catastrophic flooding event in Louisiana and what role the media has in natural disasters. Doug and Samantha discuss how the adaptation field can learn from the emergency management universe and how the two fields can collaborate to improve what each other is doing.  We also talk about the shortcomings of our regulatory and policy mechanisms to deal with disasters, especially during the recovery phase, and the missed opportunities for long term adaptation planning. Samantha also identifies her top recommendations to adaptation professionals to get more networked with emergency management professionals. Finally, Samantha talks about the 4 phases of emergency management, 1. Preparedness; 2.Response; 3. Recovery; and 4. Mitigation and how adaptation planning can learn from this framework. It’s a rich, enlightening and boisterous conversation! For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!  Also, America Adapts plugs the inspiring podcast, Everyday Superhumans.

26 Sep 201655min

Show me adaptation in Missouri, the ‘Show Me’ state: Doug talks with Dennis Figg, longtime wildlife conservation leader from the state of Missouri.  Learn how climate change will fundamentally alter future wildlife management. Listen in as Doug and Dennis list their top 3 challenges facing the wildlife community.  They also discuss the limitations of the Endangered Species Act in the face of climate change and the overall approach of threatened and endangered species.  Learn about Missouri’s unique wildlife and Dennis’ decades working to protect this region. They also discuss the role of science in wildlife management and the challenges of developing effective policies from field research.  They also discuss the overall capacity of wildlife professionals to deal with the threat of climate change and how climate change will radically alter our perceptions of invasive species.  Dennis shares his experiences from his early days as a wildlife conservationist ,  all the way to his evolution into one of the country’s leading voices on climate change adaptation.  We also discuss: funding opportunities for adaptation; mandatory climate change training; understanding vulnerability assessments; getting the public behind these emerging concepts; and finding Bull sharks in the Mississippi River.   We discuss all these things and more!   For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!

19 Sep 20161h 13min

America Adapts talks with Tristram Korten, investigative reporter from Florida who was responsible for the most covered climate change story of the year!  Learn the specific details on how Tristram broke the climate change story of the year, uncovering the fact that the Florida Governor had banned the use of climate change for state employees. Hear the untold stories of who was involved; what the ultimate fall out was from this story, and what it means for the future of Florida.  This amazing story was covered by almost every major news outlet, from Huffington Post, Washington Post, the New Republic, New York Magazine, USA Today, Time , CNN, and Newsweek; the international media also got involved, where Tristram describes when the French media conducted a surreal and humorous interview with him.  In addition, The Daily Show and even President Obama referenced this groundbreaking story.  Also, Doug and Tristram discuss the fall out of from the story and did it lead to any changes in government policy; they also discuss the ethics of government officials to share key information and the challenges of dealing with government employees;   Doug and Tristram then dig into the challenges of covering climate change stories in the popular media. Do reporters have the necessary skills and expertise to cover climate change, and specifically adapting to climate change? Doug and Tristram also discuss: the state of small and medium newspapers and their ability to function in the internet age; Tristram’s favorite news reporters; how the Republican party use to be the source of innovative climate change leadership;  the Zika virus and the future of Florida and the role of politics in climate change planning. This discussion is fundamentally about science integrity and the role of politics in that process. Yes, we cover a lot. So listen in as Tristram and Doug go play by play and recreate what exactly happened that led to the climate change story of the year! Tristram Korten is a magazine and radio journalist based out of Miami. He writes about environment, politics, and investigative stories in the Southeast U.S. and the Caribbean Basin. His work has appeared in Atlantic Monthly, The NewRepublic.com, ForeignPolicy.com, Fast Company, Details, Macleans, Mother Jones, and newspapers like the Miami Herald and The New York Times. Tristram's radio stories have aired on NPR's "Here and Now" and PRI's "The World." He's won numerous awards, including a National Headliner Grand Prize in 2012 and most recently the 2016 Waldo Proffitt Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting in Florida, for a series exposing how the Florida Governor's Office banned the term "climate change" within state government. For more information on this podcast, visit www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!

12 Sep 20161h 19min

Episode 8:  Rivers, watersheds and climate change adaptation!  America Adapts talks with Watershed/Adaptation Planner Rebecca Esselman of the Huron River Watershed Council.  Learn how HRWC became one of the first local watershed groups to bring in adaptation staff.  Many river advocates have long argued that watersheds should be the landscape model for conservation planning. Listen in as Doug talks with Rebecca on the challenges and opportunities that local watershed groups have when dealing with climate change adaptation.  The Huron River is a major urban river, part of the greater Detroit watershed.  Rebecca describes working with local watershed stakeholders on how they need to focus on future threats like climate change and what that means for present day decision making. Also hear more about some of their current adaptation projects, one of which is funded by the Doris Duke Foundation’s Adaptation Fund.  Rebecca also proposes developing a “climate network” of local groups to keep the momentum going on existing efforts and to develop new partnerships.  Rebecca also discusses the struggles of identifying funding streams for inland landscapes since so much adaptation emphasis has been placed on coastal areas in recent years.  This podcast highlights the issue that adaptation planning must be local if we were are going to get the public behind these efforts.  For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!

5 Sep 201656min

Episode 7:  Britt Basel, Adaptation Consultant with Ecothropic.  Listen in as Doug Parsons talks with Britt, an adaptation expert, whose work has spanned the globe.  In this episode, we discuss Britt’s unique experiences working with the people of the Solomon Islands doing adaptation planning.  Find out how gender can play a role in the process of adaptation planning.  Britt vividly describes her experiences working individually, with both the women and men of the Solomon Islands.  Britt shares what it was like facilitating a woman’s adaptation workshop, followed by a men’s only workshop, and the cultural aspects needed to merge those two efforts in the development of an effective adaptation plan (Britt has created an amazing, and short, youtube video explaining these efforts on the Island here).  Britt and Doug also discuss the role of human dimensions in adaptation planning. Britt is also an expert storyteller and we talk about how that skill will be critical in helping communities identify effective ways to adapt to climate change.  We also talk about Britt’s experiences in Cuba and what lessons the U.S. could learn from these international efforts. For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!

28 Aug 201654min

Episode 6: Adam Spencer with Filmmakers for Conservation. Adam and Doug discuss how you can use visuals to tell your adaptation story. Adam has just started turning his environmental film making skills toward adaptation. We discuss using film, TV, and even graphic novel comics as mediums to discuss climate change adaptation. Will a conservation meme change the course of history? We also get into a spirited discussion on how conservation funding undervalues communication and what steps we might take to bring more creative approaches to science communication.  As a bonus, Adam, an environmental film/documentary aficionado shares with us his all time favorite environmental films. For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!

21 Aug 20161h 4min

Episode 5: Beth Gibbons, Managing Director of the American Society of Adaptation Professionals talks shop with Doug Parsons. Beth is the new Managing Director of ASAP: if you are an existing member, hear what Beth has to say about the future of ASAP; and, if you are considering joining, learn more about how the society can be relevant to your work, or how you can be relevant to the society!  Also, Beth and Doug discuss (and sometimes debate!) what happens next with adaptation policy; getting out of the shadow of mitigation; should adaptation professional be certified; and much more.  Tune in for all things adaptation and if you should join A.S.A.P., ASAP! (sorry, couldn’t resist) For more information on this podcast, visit our website at www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Itunes. Also, consider following us on Facebook at America Adapts!

15 Aug 20161h 15min