Climate Center

Idea #19 From EJ (Environmental Justice) to CJ (Climate Justice): The Lessons of Iconic Katrina by Regina Austin Although attributing Hurricane Katrina fully to climate change may not be possible, the power of its imagery nonetheless suggests the need to include important considerations associated with environmental justice in the conceptualization…Read More

Idea #18 Redirecting the Capital Flows of the Insurance Industry by Alexander Braun Current estimates show that the average temperature on earth has already increased by one degree centigrade since the industrial revolution. Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are the major driver of this development, causing…Read More

Idea #16 To Modernize US Water Infrastructure, We Need New Financial Tools by Allison Lassiter Even though roads and bridges dominate federal infrastructure conversations, our most vulnerable and critical public infrastructure may be municipal water systems. We tend to take clean, reliable water for granted. Not only is a lot…Read More

Idea #17 Reducing the Risks of Water Insecurity by Trevor M. Penning and Marilyn Howarth Our water security is in danger as a result of climate change; this contribution will focus on environmental health aspects of impending water shortages and contamination. Water security is defined as “the reliable availability of…Read More

Idea #14 Land Use, Labor, and Local Engagement: The Transformation of Urban Sprawl by William W. Braham We face a civilization-defining transition whose challenges will not be met solely through technology. Building a renewable economy is not simply a matter of tools and resources: the greatest challenges are social and…Read More

Idea #15 Solving Climate Change Through a Grid Infrastructure Overhaul by Daniel E. Walters Many politicians want the United States to commit to a fully renewable energy transition, and with good reason—the price of renewable energy is plummeting, and it is possible for the first time to envision a zero-emissions…Read More

Coda Solving Climate Risk Requires Normative Change by Cary Coglianese Finding solutions to climate risk is really easy. At least it is conceptually easy. With climate risks increasing due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, risks can be addressed by reducing the accumulation of gases. That can…Read More

Idea #13 An Import Tax as a Border Adjustment for National Climate Policies by Howard F. Chang In a world in which nations adopt heterogeneous climate policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, a nation that adopts a more stringent policy than its trading partners may place its producers at…Read More

Idea #11 Listen to National Security Professionals on Climate Change’s Risks by Mark P. Nevitt Climate change is having a moment.  Following a devastating wildfire and hurricane season, it is increasingly clear that climate change is not just an environmental issue — it also creates enormous national security risks.  As…Read More

Idea #12 Insuring Ecosystems to Ensure Climate Resilience by Sarah Light and Carolyn Kousky The natural world and its ecosystems are valuable both for their own sake and for the value they provide to people. These benefits people derive from nature are often referred to as ecosystem services.  An important…Read More