Managing the Climate Crisis: Designing and Building for Floods, Heat, Drought, and Wildfire

The climate is entering a new and dangerous phase, with 22 weather and climate disasters in 2020 resulting in 262 deaths and costing more than a billion dollars to repair. Reducing the causes of the changing climate is an urgent global priority, but the country will be living with worsening climate disasters at least until mid-century due to greenhouse emissions already in the atmosphere. Managing the Climate Crisis is a practical guide to addressing the threats from a changing climate, using constructed and nature-based design and engineering and ordinary government programmes. Preventive actions can also create jobs and remake cities and landscapes to be better for everyone.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: Island Press

The climate, which had been relatively stable for centuries, has entered a new and perilous phase. In 2020, the United States experienced 22 weather and climate disasters, resulting in 262 deaths. Each disaster cost over a billion dollars to repair. This dangerous trend continues with unprecedented heat waves, extended droughts, extraordinary wildfire seasons, torrential downpours, and increased coastal and river flooding. Reducing the causes of the changing climate is the urgent global priority, but the country will face worsening climate disasters at least until mid-century due to greenhouse emissions already in the atmosphere.

How to deal with the changing climate is an urgent national security problem affecting almost everyone. In Managing the Climate Crisis, design and planning experts Jonathan Barnett and Matthijs Bouw take a practical approach to addressing the inevitable and growing threats from the climate crisis using constructed and nature-based design and engineering and ordinary government programs. They discuss adaptation and preventive measures and illustrate their implementation for seven climate-related threats: flooding along coastlines, river flooding, flash floods from extreme rain events, drought, wildfire, long periods of high heat, and food shortages. The policies and investments needed to protect lives and property are affordable if they begin now and are planned and budgeted over the next 30 years. Preventive actions can also be a tremendous opportunity, not only to create jobs but also to remake cities and landscapes to be better for everyone. Flood defenses can be incorporated into new waterfront parks. The green designs needed to control flash floods can also help shield communities from excessive heat. Combating climate change is not just about mitigating its effects; it is also about adapting to the new reality. By taking proactive measures, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642832006