America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

In episode 249 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons takes a deep dive into the growing climate-driven insurance crisis reshaping housing and communities across the United States. Doug first speaks with Rob Moore and Alfonso Pating of the Natural Resources Defense Council about their new reports on the nation's emerging insurability crisis—why premiums are rising, insurers are retreating from high-risk areas, and what state policies can do to reduce risk and keep homes insurable. Then filmmaker George Siegal joins the show to discuss his documentary Built to Last: Buyer Beware, which reveals how many American homes are simply not built to withstand the disasters they face. Together, these conversations connect the dots between climate risk, insurance markets, and the way we build our communities—showing how insurance is becoming one of the clearest warning signals of climate change in action. https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/an-uninsurable-country-what-rising-climate-risk-means-for-homeowners Experts in this Episode: Rob Moore - Director of the Climate Adaptation Division at NRDC Alfonso Pating - Global financial regulations specialist with NRDC. George Siegal - Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Director, Producer and owner of Move the World Films Key Themes Covered in This Episode What an "insurability crisis" is—and why it's emerging across the U.S. Why premiums are rising, policies are disappearing, and insurers are pulling back What makes a home insurable: risk, location, and construction The role of states in shaping insurance markets, building codes, and land use How FAIR Plans work and why they're rapidly expanding Whether FAIR Plans can become tools for resilience, not just backstops How insurance markets are acting as a signal of climate risk Why many homes are not built to withstand today's disasters The tension between affordability and resilient construction What this all means for the future of housing and adaptation For Educators & Students How insurance markets are responding to climate risk The role of states in shaping insurance, building codes, and land use The connection between housing, affordability, and resilience Insurance as an economic signal of climate change Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience professionals State and local officials focused on housing, risk, and planning Urban planners and developers working in high-risk areas Insurance and finance professionals tracking climate risk Climate communicators and educators explaining these shifts Transcript of Rob Moore and Alfonso Pating interview avaible here. Transcript of George Siegal interview available here. This episode was generously sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: An Uninsurable Country https://www.nrdc.org/resources/uninsurable-country https://www.nrdc.org/resources/insurance-fair-future https://builttolastmovie.com/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 248 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons is joined by Professor Mark Nevitt of Emory University School of Law to unpack the repeal of the Clean Air Act's Endangerment Finding and what it means for climate governance in the United States. Long considered the legal backbone of federal climate regulation, its rescission raises fundamental questions about agency authority, the role of the courts, and the durability of federal climate policy. Mark explains the legal theory behind the repeal, how it intersects with Supreme Court precedent, and what likely comes next in federal court. The conversation also explores the practical implications of regulatory instability — from increased climate litigation to the shifting balance between federal, state, and local responsibility. For listeners working in adaptation, public policy, infrastructure, law, or risk management, this episode offers a clear look at how legal shifts at the federal level can reshape the broader climate landscape — and why adaptation efforts must continue regardless of political volatility. Transcript for this episode here. Key Themes Covered in This Episode What the Endangerment Finding actually did under the Clean Air Act Why Massachusetts v. EPA mattered The legal basis for the repeal How the repeal affects federal climate regulation The role of the Supreme Court and administrative law What happens next in federal court More emissions and rising adaptation costs States and cities filling the federal vacuum The growing role of climate litigation Adaptation continuing — but in a more fragmented system Previous appearances by Mark Nevitt on America Adapts Destroy, Rebuild, Repeat: How to Break the Climate Disaster Cycle with Mark Nevitt Climate Change and the Legal System: Why the U.S. Constitution Needs to Adapt with Law Professor Mark Nevitt Climate Adaptation Predictions for 2025: What the Experts Say For Educators & Students The structure and limits of federal agency authority The interaction between executive action and judicial review How Supreme Court doctrine reshapes environmental governance Federalism and the division of climate authority between states and Washington Legal uncertainty and its impact on infrastructure and long-term planning Climate governance in periods of institutional instability The evolving role of courts in climate policy disputes Risk management when regulatory frameworks shift abruptly Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi. Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience professionals navigating shifting federal policy State and local government officials responsible for long-term planning Urban and regional planners integrating climate risk into infrastructure decisions Insurance, reinsurance, and financial sector professionals assessing regulatory volatility Corporate risk, legal, and strategy teams tracking climate governance shifts Environmental law and public policy scholars following administrative law developments Funders and foundations evaluating the durability of climate investments Climate communicators explaining governance instability to broader audiences ClimateTech Connect Conference Mentioned in the Episode! ClimateTech Connect Registration Use code: AAVIP for 25% discount off ticket prices Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 247 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Mekala Krishnan, partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, for an inside look at how one of the world's most influential private research institutions is approaching climate adaptation. Drawing from MGI's recent report, Advancing Adaptation, the conversation explores what it would actually cost to protect people and economies from escalating heat, flooding, drought, and wildfire — and why investment still falls short even when the economic case is strong.. The discussion also examines how ideas developed within a private firm travel into real-world decision-making, and why governance, leadership, and awareness remain critical to ensuring that new data and tools translate into action. For listeners working at the intersection of climate risk, finance, infrastructure, and policy, this episode offers a clear view into how the private sector is framing adaptation — and what that framing could mean for the future of the field. Transcript of episode available here. Key Themes Covered in This Episode Why the McKinsey Global Institute is focusing on adaptation now What it costs to respond to rising physical climate risk The resiliency gap and why investment remains insufficient How climate risk is entering mainstream economic thinking What large-scale adaptation models include — and exclude Governance, leadership, and awareness as scaling constraints The need for shared language between public and private actors Links & Resources from This Episode Advancing adaptation: How evolving hazards could shape the agenda Dr. Mekala Krishnan Ten key requirements for a systemic approach to climate adaptation For Educators & Students This episode is well-suited for courses on climate adaptation, environmental economics, climate risk management, corporate sustainability, public policy, or infrastructure finance. Key themes include physical risk modeling, cost-benefit analysis, capital allocation, governance constraints, and the expanding role of the private sector in adaptation. Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi. Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners Corporate sustainability, risk, and strategy professionals Urban and regional planners working on long-term resilience Insurance, finance, and reinsurance professionals Researchers and students studying climate governance or environmental economics Government staff involved in adaptation planning Funders interested in scaling adaptation solutions Climate communicators bridging public and private perspectives ClimateTech Connect Conference Mentioned in the Episode! ClimateTech Connect RegistrationUse code: AAVIP for 25% discount off ticket prices Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 246 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Shiran Victoria Shen, assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, for a closer look at how climate adaptation actually emerges in China. Drawing on her research after the devastating 2021 Henan flood, Shen shows how public demand for adaptation surged—not through climate change language, but through calls for safety, infrastructure, and risk reduction, often using formal government channels. The conversation highlights adaptation as a lived governance issue rather than an ideological one, and surfaces practical lessons about public participation, the limits of top-down approaches, and what governments everywhere tend to respond to when climate risk becomes impossible to ignore. Transcript of interview here. Key Themes Covered in This Episode How public demand for climate adaptation emerges after extreme disasters Why people often ask for adaptation without using "climate change" language The 2021 Henan flood as a national turning point for adaptation awareness in China Public participation and formal governance channels, including the Local Leaders' Message Board Differences between adaptation and mitigation from a governance perspective The limits of top-down adaptation and where citizen influence realistically ends What adaptation in China reveals about public engagement globally Lessons for policymakers, planners, and communicators working outside the U.S. Links & Resources from This Episode Shiran Victoria Shen – Faculty Page (Washington University in St. Louis) The 2021 Henan flood increased citizen demand for government-led climate change adaptation in China Shiran Victoria Shen – Research & Publications Dialogue Earth article: How the Chinese public is engaging in climate adaptation China's National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (latest version) Background on the 2021 Henan Flood For Educators & Students This episode is well-suited for courses on climate adaptation, environmental governance, public policy, or comparative politics. Key themes include public participation, disaster response, adaptation without climate language, and institutional limits. Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi. Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners Urban and regional planners working on risk, infrastructure, or public engagement Researchers and students studying climate governance, adaptation, or comparative policy Government staff and policymakers involved in disaster response or long-term planning Funders and foundations interested in how public demand shapes adaptation outcomes Climate communicators looking to move beyond technical or ideological framing Anyone interested in how climate adaptation is unfolding outside the United States Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 245 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons is joined by legendary climate journalist Jeff Goodell, author of The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet for a conversation about what's happened since the book came out — and what hasn't. Extreme heat is no longer a future risk or a background climate issue; it's a present-day killer that exposes deep failures in public health, labor protections, urban design, and climate communication. We also talk about how recent political shifts have pushed the U.S. further backward on heat response, weakening protections and leaving communities more exposed just as the risks accelerate. This isn't a book recap — it's a reckoning with the legacy of the warning, and why heat will still kill first if we keep refusing to take it seriously. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: https://jeffgoodellwriter.com/books/ https://jeffgoodellwriter.com/about/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 244 of America Adapts, we adapt in the southwest! Welcome to the desert proving ground for climate adaptation. In my home state of Arizona—Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff—we get right down on the ground to see how communities are beating extreme heat, planning responsibly for water in a changing climate, and living with wildfire risk without losing what makes these places home. You'll hear street-level fixes that change daily life—and travel anywhere—plus a clear playbook cities can steal now: run the hottest months smarter, put shade where people actually stand and walk, and build the partnerships that keep projects alive. We also spotlight the next wave of adaptation pros coming out of Arizona's universities and city halls—real careers, real impact. If it works in the desert, parts of it can work where you live. Made possible by generous support from the CO2 Foundation. Experts in this Episode: Dr. Ladd Keith – Associate Professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the University of Arizona - interview transcript Fatima Luna – Chief Resilience Officer City of Tucson - interview transcript Blue Baldwin – Storm to Shade Program Manager at Tucson Water for the City of Tucson - interview transcript Alekzander Ryan - Heat Resilience Initiative, Southwest Integrated Field Laboratory - interview transcript David Hondula - Director of Heat Response and Mitigation for the City of Phoenix - interview transcript Ryan Stevens – Engineering manager with the City of Phoenix - interview transcript Nicole P. Antonopoulos – Sustainability Director City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office - interview transcript Victoria Joseph and Leona Davis - University of Arizona's Institute for Resilience - interview transcript This episode was generously sponsored by the CO2 Foundation. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: https://climateaction.tucsonaz.gov/pages/gsi https://www.awwa.org/AWWA-Articles/tucsons-storm-to-shade-program-creates-a-cooler-city/ https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/4687/Meet-the-Sustainability-Team https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/heat/heat-response-programs/heat-response-plan.html https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/phoenix-fights-urban-heat-with-expanding-cool-pavement-program-that-lowers-street-temperatures https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/oepsite/documents/climate/Heat.CAPWorkshops%202025%20AllSlides.pdf https://www.coolseal.com/blog/az-family Hiking Recommendations! https://tucsontopia.com/tanque-verde-falls/ https://wildpathsaz.com/pusch-peak/ https://www.arizonahighways.com/cochise-trail https://adventuresofaplusk.com/bear-canyon-to-seven-falls-trail/?srsltid=AfmBOopxtf54vPgFb6XX5rSiwzwPpfIXezBijXK_ClrUyed7McDH5TFx Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 243 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons welcomes back recurring guest and leading adaptation scholar Dr. Jesse M. Keenan to discuss his new book, North: The Future of Post-Climate America (Oxford Univesity Press). Keenan examines how the United States is already changing through mobility, shifting markets, governance pressures, and evolving cultural identities. Doug and Jesse unpack why adaptation is not just a set of technical responses to climate impacts but a broader transformation in how communities understand stability, opportunity, and belonging. They explore the limits of local governments, the growing influence of market-led adaptation, and the emotional and political tensions surrounding places like Florida. The discussion also touches on Keenan's fictional leap into 2079, using storytelling to highlight where current trends may lead. A central theme emerges: adaptation is an emerging sector still defining its identity, and this book offers a way to think more clearly about that evolution. If your work intersects with climate, planning, housing, finance, or governance, this episode offers a fresh lens on what climate adaptation means for America's future. Promotion Code for North Use promotion code AUFLY30 to save 30%https://global.oup.com/academic/product/north-9780197641613?lang=en&cc=us# Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: Jesse Keenan https://www.keenanclimate.com/ Ben Preston paper referenced by Jesse KeenanClimate adaptation heuristics and the science/policy divide https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11027-013-9503-x Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 242 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons checks in on FEMA at a moment of rapid change. With funding delays, political uncertainty, and major reforms underway, FEMA's role in national resilience is shifting in real time. Doug speaks with four guests — Joel Scata (NRDC), Michael Coen (former FEMA Chief of Staff), Samantha Medlock (former FEMA Assistant Administrator), and Derrick Hiebert (AECOM) — to unpack what's happening inside the agency, where communities are feeling the impacts, and what potential improvements could emerge from this period of transition. It's a candid, timely look at the future of FEMA and the evolving landscape of climate adaptation in the United States. Experts in this Episode: Joel Scata – Senior Attorney, Environmental Health – Natural Resources Defense Council - transcript Michael Coen – Former Chief Of Staff at FEMA - transcript Samantha Medlock – Founder and Principal – Climate Risk Advisors - transcript Derrick Hiebert – Infrastructure Resilience Practice Leader - AECOM - transcript This episode was generously sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America AdaptsFacebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple PodcastsFollow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 241 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons explores what happens when federal climate services retreat—and a new adaptation ecosystem rises to fill the gaps. As agencies like NOAA, FEMA, and EPA scale back their climate work, adaptation professionals are turning to emerging climate-service innovators for the tools, data, and guidance they need. We kick off with Dr. Jesse Keenan framing the big-picture implications of this federal pullback, then hear from leaders at Climate.us, EcoAdapt, the Georgetown Climate Center and Probable Futures, who are stepping forward with practical solutions. This episode highlights the essential adaptation tools available right now, the people building them, and why decentralized innovation may be one of the most hopeful developments in the field today. This episode was generously sponsored by the CO2 Foundation. Experts in this Episode: Dr. Jesse Keenan - Favrot II Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning at Tulane University (transcript) Rebecca Lindsey – Editor at Climate.us (transcript) Annie Bennett - Associate Director for the Adaptation Program with the Georgetown Climate Center (transcript) Alison Smart - Executive Director, Probable Futures (transcript) Deb Rudnick, Ph.D. - Senior Scientist at EcoAdapt (transcript) Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: https://www.keenanclimate.com/biography https://www.cakex.org/ https://www.climate.us/#about-us https://probablefutures.org/ https://www.georgetownclimate.org/ https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/ CAKEX Contributing content: https://www.cakex.org/get-started#contribute Sign up for slice of cake: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/TBlEu2B/slice National Adaptation Forum https://www.nationaladaptationforum.org/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 240 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons talks with reporter Terry Jones about the tangled story behind America's first federally funded climate relocation on Louisiana's Isle de Jean Charles. Once hailed as a model for how the nation could move entire communities out of harm's way, the project became mired in politics, confusion, and broken promises. Terry shares what he uncovered on the ground — from residents who never wanted to leave, to state officials unprepared for the task, to the bigger question of whether the U.S. is truly ready for managed retreat. This episode clears up the confusion, revealing what really happened, why it matters, and what the rest of the country can learn before the next community faces these climate impacts. Transcript for this episode here. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: As millions face climate relocation, the nation's first attempt sparks warnings and regret https://floodlightnews.org/isle-de-jean-charles-climate-relocation-broken-promises/ https://floodlightnews.org/ https://floodlightnews.org/author/terry/ https://www.isledejeancharles.com/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 239 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons revisits his conversation with Dr. Katharine Mach, Professor at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a lead author for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Katharine explains the process of drafting that report and how the media both succeeds and fails at communicating its urgency. Doug and Katharine also discussed the need to rethink the role and purpose of the IPCC as it prepares for its next major assessment—especially now, as the Trump administration dismantles the National Climate Assessment and scales back federal climate programs, making the IPCC's global work more important than ever. That makes the IPCC's independent, global work even more vital—providing the scientific foundation the world, and especially the U.S., still needs to understand and respond to climate risk. Transcript available here. Topics covered: IPCC is a grand partnership between the governments of the world. How did the media do in reporting on the IPCC report? The IPCC has zero regulatory authority over sovereign nations. What does it mean to be a lead author for the IPCC. Many developing countries don't have the climate data and experts that developed countries have. How can the IPCC be relevant to adaptation planners in the U.S. Who is the audience for the IPCC report and how do you communicate to different audiences. How can American policymakers make use of the IPCC report. Adaptation education at the University of Miami Key Quotes: "Adaptation isn't a checklist—it's a continuous conversation about what kind of future we want." "Climate risk is always filtered through inequality." "Transformative adaptation is about changing the rules of the game, not just moving the pieces." "Science must learn to listen before it speaks." Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01170-y https://people.miami.edu/profile/[email protected] https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_SummaryForPolicymakers.pdf https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2021/01/The-concept-of-risk-in-the-IPCC-Sixth-Assessment-Report.pdf https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:da39e9af-530e-4645-8b71-a254562b9a2a Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 238 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons takes you inside a CCST webinar that he moderated —part of the California Council on Science and Technology's Climate Change & Human Mobility series, organized with the UC Disaster Resilience Network and UC Berkeley. You'll hear from three experts: Dr. Hélène Benveniste (Assistant Professor, Environmental Social Sciences, Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University), Dr. Joshua Busby (Professor of Public Affairs, LBJ School, University of Texas at Austin), and Dr. Barbara F. Walter (Rohr Professor of International Affairs, School of Global Policy & Strategy, UC San Diego). Together, they explore the politics of place attachment, the limits of "climate haven" narratives, and the policies that can turn hard choices into durable, just resilience. We also dig into how climate stress can heighten the risk of civil conflict under certain economic and governance conditions, and why national adaptation plans need to account for mobility—designing for relocation, receiving communities, and security implications alongside equity and long-term planning. Episode Transcript 2025 EXPERT PANEL SERIES #1 Climate Change Human Mobility #1: Risks|Displacement|Community Impacthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5UZ_UtiD-E 2025 EXPERT PANEL SERIES #2: Housing Costs, Insurance Rates, and Rebuilding After Disastershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zs3GrV5zmQ Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: https://ccst.us/register-climate-change-and-human-mobility-briefing-series/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzT8noY0IVM UC Disaster Resilience Network UC Berkeley Center for Security in Politics https://ccst.us/people/staff/eric-chu/ UC Disaster Resilience Network YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCDRN Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 237 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. Andrew Rumbach of the Urban Institute, who went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to work on recovery and has spent his career studying disasters and resilience. They discuss Katrina's enduring legacy—what's been fixed, what remains broken, and what's now under assault. Andrew shares insights on how FEMA has evolved since 2005, where bipartisan reforms have emerged even in a hostile political climate, and whether the country is truly ready for the next major storm. He also highlights five powerful documentaries that capture Katrina's human and political dimensions, offering listeners new ways to understand both the storm and its aftermath. This conversation looks back at Katrina not only as a past tragedy but as a warning for our uncertain future. Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, its lessons still shape how America thinks about disasters. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: Sign up for Andrew's substack! https://substack.com/@andrewrumbach The Five Katrina themed documentaries Andrew recommended: https://open.substack.com/pub/andrewrumbach/p/five-essential-films-about-hurricane?r=402vg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false https://andrewrumbach.com/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 236 of America Adapts, we're heading to coastal Maine — a place where science, community, and nature all come together to tackle climate change. Adaptation doesn't just happen on its own. It takes data, observation, and sometimes years of research to generate the science that guides decisions. That science is often messy, imperfect, but it's the foundation for every smart adaptation. Effective adaptation requires partnerships. As you will hear, in Maine, you'll find scientists, historians, local communities, and institutions like the Schoodic Institute working side by side. And it's not just about Acadia National Park — the lessons and approaches being tested here have implications far beyond Maine's rocky shores. In this podcast, you'll hear how these partners are mapping mudflats, tracking rockweed, digging into history, and asking hard questions about how to connect science with the urgent work of building resilience. This is the story of the science behind adaptation — and the unique role Maine plays in showing what's possible. This episode was generously sponsored by the Schoodic Institute. Experts in this Episode: Dr. Nick Fisichelli – President and CEO of Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview Dr. Chris Nadeau – Climate Change Adaptation Scientist at Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview Dr. Hannah Webber - Marine Ecology Director at Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview David Manski – Vice-chair of the Board at Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview Lauren Gibson - Wild Acadia Coordinator at Friends of Acadia - transcript of interview Raney Bench - Executive Director at the Mt. Desert Island Historic Society - transcript of interview Catherine Schmitt - Science Communication Specialist at Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview Julia Rush - Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellow in Science Communication at Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview - transcript of interview Gillian Audier- Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellow in Science Research at Schoodic Institute - transcript of interview Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Instagram: @SchoodicInst Facebook: @SchoodicInstitute LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/SchoodicInstitute YouTube: Youtube.com/user/SchoodicInstitute Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: Schoodic Institute Science Page https://schoodicinstitute.org/science/ Landscape of Change https://mdihistory.org/landscape-of-change Maine's Climate Future Report https://climatechange.umaine.edu/climate-matters/maines-climate-future/ https://friendsofacadia.org/ Acadia National Parkhttps://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 235 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate and Security and author of the new book Climate Change on the Battlefield. Erin explains how climate change is already impacting global security—degrading military readiness, increasing conflict risks, and forcing new missions on defense forces worldwide. We explore how national adaptation plans can serve as strategic tools, the dangers of political backsliding in the U.S., and how China's assertive adaptation strategy may reshape global power dynamics. Erin also highlights countries that are getting it right—successfully integrating climate risk into military and national planning. This is a must-listen for anyone working at the intersection of climate, defense, policy, or global stability. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social Links in this episode: Leaving the Island podcast series: leavingtheislandpod.com https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Change-Battlefield-International-Contemporary/dp/1350407666 https://climateandsecurity.org/erin-sikorsky/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 234 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons explores the fast-changing world of climate risk and insurance—where escalating hazards are driving rapid changes in how we safeguard homes, businesses, and entire communities. This episode brings together an unprecedented mix of guests: policy experts advancing insurance reform, senior executives from leading insurance companies, a Miami real estate agent navigating the front lines of a shifting market, and innovators using big data and advanced technology to transform how risk is measured and managed. Across these conversations, listeners will hear how reinsurance strategies are evolving, how fintech is creating new tools to stabilize premiums, how local resilience projects are shaping insurability, and how industry leaders are adapting to intensifying climate threats. Together, these voices provide a rare, comprehensive look at the diverse forces reshaping an industry on the front lines of climate adaptation—offering insights every community will need in the years ahead. This episode was generously sponsored by the CO2 Foundation. Experts in this Episode: Dr. Carolyn Kousky – Founder Insurance for Good – Interview transcript Anna Sherrill - real estate agent and vice president of sales at One Sotheby's International reality – Interview transcript Stephanie Race - CEO of Earth Analytics Group – Interview transcript Charlie Sidoti - Executive Director of InnSure – Interview transcript Laurna Castillo - senior vice president with CSAA Insurance Group – Interview transcript Abby Ross - Founder and CEO of The Resiliency Company – Interview transcript Stephen Weinstein - CEO of Mangrove Property Insurance – Interview transcript Dylan Dimarchi - co founder of Eventual – Interview transcript Moira Birss - fellow at the climate and community institute – Interview transcript Frances Bouchard - Managing Director of Climate at Marsh McLennan – Interview transcript To learn more about the CO2 Foundation and the project they fund, visit their web site here. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social Links in this episode: https://co2foundation.org/about/ https://mangrove-fl.com/ https://resiliency.com/ https://eventualclimate.com/#faq The Epicenter (mentioned by Abby Ross): https://www.epicenterinsights.com/ https://www.earthanalyticsgroup.com/about https://resiliency.com/ https://climateandcommunity.org/bio/moira-birss/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 233 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons takes you inside the 2025 MR Conference at Columbia University, a gathering focused on the complex realities of climate-driven movement—whether we call it managed retreat, relocation, or mobility. What does it mean to leave behind homes, neighborhoods, or entire communities in response to climate risks—and how do we do it in ways that prioritize justice and long-term resilience? The episode explores the politics of place attachment, the financial systems that shape who can move and who can't, and how storytelling helps bring these abstract issues down to the human level. You'll hear from a diverse group of voices across disciplines, and from former Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, who calls for moral leadership and shared responsibility in a world facing climate-driven displacement. Whether you're an adaptation professional or simply trying to understand what's coming, this episode delivers timely insights from the frontlines of climate planning. This episode was generously sponsored by Tulane University's Center on Climate Change and Urbanism. Experts in this Episode: Dr. Alex de Sherbinin – Chair of MR2025 Organizing Committee and Director and Senior Research Scientist, at the Center for Integrated Earth System Information (CIESIN) at the Columbia Climate School President Carlos Alvarado – Former President of Costa Rica Kelly Main - Founder and Executive Director Buy-in Community Planning Olga Loginova - Journalist and documentary filmmaker Loïck Le Roy – Phd Student at Sorbonne University Rob Moore - Director climate adaptation at the Natural Resources Defense Council Macey Williams - Resilience Manager at the Center for Planning Excellence Dr. Jesse Keenan - Favrot II Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning School of Architecture at Tulane University Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: https://ciesin.climate.columbia.edu/events/mr2025-mobility-adaptation-and-wellbeing-changing-climate Leaving the Island, the investigative podcast about the first federal attempt to resettle an entire island in Louisiana because of climate change. Official web page: https://www.audiation.fm/leaving-the-island Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19fkNUWn64WtBYFkSdAJYA?si=110b66ca8a404045 www.olga-loginova.com Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple PodcastsFollow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders 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 Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com