If you're interested in how coastal cities are thinking about they should plan ahead for rising seas, Boston will be a city to watch.  More parkland?  Changing the zoning to require buildings to plan for flooding?  Moving people out of vulnerable neighborhoods?  It is complicated and the problem has many known and unknown variables. 

Here's a link to an interesting letter by Erika Spanger-Siegfried (Lead climate analyst,Climate and energy program, Union of Concerned Scientists) to the editor in response to Mayor Walsh's plan for public parks serving as the first defense for flooding. 


http://epaper.bostonglobe.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=c3499ce7-b7c5-4e4c-856d-bc97ae3a166c

SAGE authors Hamin, Abunnasr and Ryan are published and the book is beautiful.  Order your copy today.

Planning for Climate Change - A Reader in Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Design for Resilient Cities

Try googling "resiliency," "rebuild after storm," etc. and you will come up with millions of hits.  Today I searched to see if North Carolina is talking about the pros and cons of rebuilding and I found an article in Insurance Journal.  It was interesting for multiple reasons, but the take away - it's complicated!  At this point the politicians, policy makers, home owners, scientists and businesses are having trouble getting through today, let alone planning for the next thirty years.  At the end of the article someone who works on a pier that is consistently damaged in coastal storms is quoted as saying, “One day I hope people understand the power of water. … It don’t play.” 

Check out the article here.

Our SAGE article is published!  Check it out and let us know what you think.  Thank you to the Sustainability and to special editors Prof. Steven Scyphers and
Prof. Dr. Michael W. Beck

Hamin, E.M.; Abunnasr, Y.; Roman Dilthey, M.; Judge, P.K.; Kenney, M.A.; Kirshen, P.; Sheahan, T.C.; DeGroot, D.J.; Ryan, R.L.; McAdoo, B.G.; Nurse, L.; Buxton, J.A.; Sutton-Grier, A.E.; Albright, E.A.; Marin, M.A.; Fricke, R. Pathways to Coastal Resiliency: The Adaptive Gradients Framework. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2629.

http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/8/2629

Every now and then I like to type in the words "coastal resilience" to see what comes up.  This time I found the US Climate Resilience Toolkit.  SAGE has come up with 8 different factors to consider when approaching a project: exposure reduction, cost efficiency, institutional capacity, ecological enhancement, adaptation over time, greenhouse gas reduction, participatory process and social benefits.  The US Climate Toolkit has five steps, one of which includes prioritizing and planning and this step includes looking at  resilience, economic impacts, environmental impacts and implementation.  However, this step does not guide groups in how to best look at their project as comprehensively as SAGE.  SAGE has a lot to offer - time to get the word out!

Here is the link to the Toolkit: https://toolkit.climate.gov/#steps

This is an interesting article by Shannon Cunniff, Director, Coastal Resilience, with contributions from Kate Zerrenner.  The article was posted this past April on the Environmental Defense Fund website and its about how Texas can better prepare for the next storm including buying out areas prone to flooding and designing more resilient natural parks able to take the brunt of the storm.

SAGE is all about using a multifaceted approach and our gradient scoring can help communities best evaluate the possible plans.  SAGE members and friends - please pass on our gradient scoring process described in our Practical Guide. 

Need a basic introduction to Green Infrastructure?  Check out the EPA's webpage on Coastal Resiliency.  It includes an introduction, basic definitions and a list of resources.  It also has a link to a NOAA animation of how green infrastructure helps to protect coastlines during flooding events. 

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/coastal-resiliency

A new website that lets people delve into data on the world's cities has been launched.
Dr Robert Muggah from the think-tank Instituto Igarapé showed the BBC some of his favourite maps from EarthTime.
Producer: Jane Wakefield
Video journalist: Chris Foxx

Rising Sea Levels is at minute 1:08.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-44575392/maps-reveal-hidden-truths-of-the-world-s-cities

Below is info on a NatureNet Postdoc program with the Nature Conservancy.  One of the opportunities (listed under "Decision Making") would be working with me (and Kelly Leo, our Resilient Coast Director) and Professor Elizabeth Fussell at Brown University.  The description of our project is below:

Understanding Human Responses to Coastal Flooding on the Eastern Shore of Maryland (Decision Making)
 
Research approaches will provide insights into how rural counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are affected by and respond to environmental changes associated with sea level rise and climate change. Of particular interest are projects that would inform policies related to residential relocation and nature restoration. Applicants with background in anthropology, demography, economics, geography, psychology, public policy, sociology, or another social science discipline with expertise in environmental topics preferred.




Please share this general postdoctoral opportunity with great postdoctoral candidates.

Ariana



NATURE NET POSTDOC FELLOWSHIP INFO

The Nature Conservancy is pleased to solicit applications for the NatureNet Science Fellowship a trans-disciplinary postdoctoral fellowship and research grant program. The NatureNet Science Fellows program bridges academic excellence and conservation practice to create a new generation of climate change leaders who combine the rigor of academic science with real-world application. The outstanding early-career scientists in this 2-year postdoctoral program differ from other postdocs in two major ways:
 
1. They have prioritized improving and expanding their research skills— directing their efforts towards problems at the interface of climate, conservation, business, technology, and people; AND
 
2. They are committed to their professional development—  participating and applying trainings designed to improve skills in science communication, working-group facilitation, and leadership.
 
Recognizing that The Nature Conservancy’s conservation mission is best advanced by the contributions of individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures—  NatureNet encourages applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status or other status protected by law.
 
The call for applications features two post-doctoral opportunities. Read the Eligibility and Award Terms carefully to determine the best fit for your research program. For both programs, applicants should identify a project and mentors from the available list: https://naturenetsciencefellows.org/
 
FULL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
Applicants will work with a Nature Conservancy mentor and a senior scholar (or scholars) from our 2019 Partner Universities- Brown University; Columbia University; Stanford University; Science for Nature and People Partnership, University of California – Los Angeles; University of Minnesota; University of Virginia; or the University of Queensland to develop a research program. The Conservancy expects post-doctoral appointments to start between May and September. Each Fellow will receive a non-negotiable annual salary of $50,000 plus benefits, with the postdoctoral position expected to run for two consecutive years. In addition to the stipend, each Fellow receives an annual travel budget of approximately $5,000 and an annual research fund of approximately $20,000. Second-year renewal of the fellowship is contingent upon satisfactory progress and contribution to the collective program.
 
RESEARCH GRANT
Applicants and a university mentor from their host institution collaborate with a Nature Conservancy mentor to develop a research application. Each grantee will receive a research stipend of $20,000, with the grant period expected to run for two consecutive years. Second-year renewal of the grant is contingent upon satisfactory progress and contribution to the collective program. The Conservancy will distribute grant funds between May and September. Funds are awarded directly to the grantee's institution and may be used by the grantee for such purposes as equipment, technical assistance, professional travel, trainee support, or any other activity directly related to the grantees's research. Salary support is limited to a maximum of three months of the established academic salary (not including IDC).
 
For more information on the NatureNet Science Fellowship and to apply please visit: https://naturenetsciencefellows.org/
​

SAGE member Melissa Kenney was quoted in this interesting article about climate change and public perceptions.  "Melissa Kenney, an environmental decision scientist at the University of Maryland, says she generally cites five primary indicators people should keep an eye on to get “the pulse of the planet:” global temperature, carbon dioxide levels, global sea level rise, Arctic sea ice, and ice sheets and glaciers. But sounding the alarm does little good if it isn't accompanied by proposed actions, she says."

Click here for the rest of the Christian Science Monitor article:
https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2018/0525/From-peak-CO2-to-record-low-sea-ice-making-sense-of-climate-news