How do We Become Resilient?

In the wake of Tropical Storm Ida elected officials have been calling for more resilient infrastructure and neighborhoods.  But what does that mean?

New Jersey recently released a Sea-Level Rise Guidance document to assist decision makers.  It provides recommendations based on a moderate emissions scenario and best available science.  The Guidance walks users through additional considerations based on the expected life of the project and associated infrastructure and risk tolerance for damage or loss to develop a final sea-level rise projection for the project.  Users are then guided through locating the project on climate mapping tools, such as Rutgers’ NJAdapt, a suite of online tools that allows users to conduct flood exposure analysis and see municipal snapshots of potential hazards and exposure.  Finally, the Guidance asks users to consider additional factors, such as storm events, to determine if design can address the depth and frequency of inundation.  If not, it recommends that alternatives are considered.

Moving beyond individual analysis of projects and towards a community-focused resilience plan will be critical in order to provide a roadmap for potential developers, elected officials, and most importantly, community members.  Public participation, especially socially vulnerable populations, in the development and implementation of any resilience plan is critical.  As the Guidance states “...coordination amongst all levels of government, education and outreach to the public, including risk assessment and disclosure, and maximum participation of the public, stakeholders, and local elected officials will result in better decisions.”

Resilient NJ, a project of NJ Department of Environmental Protection, has also provided a “Local Planning for Climate Change” toolkit, an online resource for municipal and county governments, which includes tips on how to engage the public in an inclusive way.  

There is no doubt a challenging road lays ahead, but there is no alternative to dealing with the impacts of climate change.