Search Climate Insights Directory
126 results
Hurricane Intensity and Impacts
The document examines how human-caused climate change and warming sea surface temperatures are increasing the proportion of intense tropical cyclones and the frequency of rapid intensification events. It highlights that tropical cyclones are the costliest weather disasters in the U.S., with 73% of billion-dollar storms since 1980 having undergone rapid intensification. The text notes that while landfalling hurricane frequency in the continental U.S. remained stable from 1900-2017, economic losses have risen due to increased population and wealth along the Gulf and East Coasts.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Daniel Billy and Others v Australia (Torres Strait Islanders Petition)
The United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that Australia violated the rights of indigenous Torres Strait Islanders to enjoy their culture and be free from arbitrary interference with their private life, family, and home due to inadequate climate change protections. The petitioners, inhabitants of Boigu, Poruma, Warraber, and Masig islands, argued that sea level rise and extreme weather destroyed ancestral graves, degraded traditional food sources, and threatened their cultural ceremonies. While Australia constructed new seawalls expected to be completed by 2023, the Committee found these measures insufficient and ordered Australia to compensate the Islanders, engage in meaningful consultations, and secure the communities' safe existence on their islands.
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Document type: Legal commentary
Climate Risk-Informed Coastal Planning and Risk Reduction for a Resilient Lagos
The proposed project aims to shift Lagos State from unsustainable development practices to a climate-resilient pathway. It focuses on three outputs: strengthening institutional and financial frameworks for coastal planning, implementing hybrid grey-green infrastructure for flood and storm surge protection, and supporting climate-resilient livelihoods. The project targets approximately 2.8 million direct beneficiaries, particularly in the Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Areas, with an indicative total cost of USD 130.5 million.
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Document type: Report
Forests, fish, and the future: Living with mangroves in Zamboanga Sibugay
The document details the efforts of the Coalition of Municipal Fisherfolk Associations of Sibugay (COMFAS) and its predecessor, KGMC, to restore mangrove forests in Zamboanga Sibugay. After experiencing a decline in marine resources and increased vulnerability to climate-driven storms and flooding, local fisherfolk organized to replant mangroves and implement sustainable management practices. Through partnerships with government and academic institutions, the federation has brought approximately 12,000 hectares under protection, aiming to restore the original 16,000 hectares. The initiative emphasizes the integration of local knowledge with scientific data and the use of environmental education to reduce illegal fishing and upland soil erosion.
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Document type: Case study
Advancing the Climate Resilience of Canadian Infrastructure
The report identifies significant climate risks to Canadian infrastructure, including permafrost degradation in the North and flooding in coastal and urban areas. It recommends a whole-of-society approach combining climate-informed planning, structural changes, and natural infrastructure solutions. While federal initiatives like the Climate Lens and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund provide a foundation, the report argues for greater investment to close an infrastructure gap estimated up to CAD 1 trillion and the adoption of more diverse sustainable finance mechanisms.
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Document type: Report
PREVENTING "DOUBLE DISASTERS"
The document identifies a critical gap in U.S. federal regulations regarding 'natech' (natural hazard-induced technological) disasters, where climate-driven events like floods and wildfires trigger catastrophic chemical releases. Analysis shows that approximately one-third of the 12,331 RMP-regulated facilities in the U.S. face increasing risks from climate change. The authors highlight severe environmental justice disparities, noting that people of color are disproportionately located near these facilities and that facilities in communities of color are nearly twice as likely to experience disasters. The brief proposes seven key reforms for the EPA, including mandatory natech risk assessments, real-time fenceline monitoring, expanded RMP coverage, and enhanced community emergency response planning.
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Document type: Policy brief
COASTAL FLOODING AND EROSION UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE: A RISK ASSESSMENT FOR DAKAR
The report assesses coastal risks in the Dakar region, specifically within the departments of Dakar, Pikine, and Guédiawaye. It identifies high-risk areas for flooding, such as the canal of Ngor and the Port of Dakar, and high-risk areas for erosion, including the beach of Hanika. Projections indicate that without adaptation, the population at risk of coastal flooding will increase by 20-30% by 2050 and over 80% by 2100. Economic damages to buildings are expected to rise by 30% by 2050 and up to 180% by 2100 under the worst-case scenario.
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Document type: Policy brief
COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS
The report examines how sea level rise and coastal flooding threaten elderly populations in the U.S., particularly those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It highlights the dangers of evacuation for frail seniors, the impact of 'sunny day' flooding on access to healthcare, and the hidden financial risks to real estate equity for retirees on fixed incomes.
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Document type: Policy brief
Costing Climate Change Impacts on Canada’s Infrastructure: Results for “Deep Dive” Statistical and Process-based Models Final Report
The report finds that inland flooding represents the highest annual cost of climate change for Canadian infrastructure, with mid-range estimates between $5 billion and $8 billion per year. Proactive adaptation can significantly reduce costs for roads, rail, and the electrical grid, though it is less effective for permafrost thaw and inland flooding. The analysis highlights that while total costs are often concentrated in high-population areas like Ontario, specific geographic risks such as permafrost thaw disproportionately affect the three territories.
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Document type: Report
Stronger Hurricanes
The document reports that while the total number of hurricanes is not increasing, the probability of storms reaching major hurricane status (Category 3-5) has risen significantly, particularly in the North Atlantic. It attributes this trend to rising sea surface temperatures and atmospheric warming, which also contribute to heavier rainfall, slower storm speeds, and deeper coastal flooding due to sea level rise.
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Document type: Fact sheet
2020 Hurricane Season
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was predicted to be more active than normal due to warmer-than-average water temperatures in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and ENSO-neutral conditions. While climate change may not increase hurricane frequency, it is linked to a 25-30% increase in Category 4 and 5 storms per degree Celsius of warming, more rapid intensification, increased rainfall, and higher storm surges driven by rising sea levels.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Assessing National Park Asset Flood Risk: Retreat, Adapt, Fortify?
The briefing describes a multi-year project to assess the vulnerability of National Park Service (NPS) coastal assets to hazards such as sea level rise and storm surges. The methodology separates vulnerability into 'exposure' (the likelihood of a hazard hitting an asset) and 'sensitivity' (the potential damage once the hazard occurs). By integrating this data into existing asset management databases, the project provides park managers with a science-based menu of adaptation options—such as elevating, relocating, or decommissioning structures—to optimize the allocation of limited maintenance funds based on an asset's mission priority.
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Document type: Briefing
Coastal Resilience in the Southeast
The document is a transcript of a virtual briefing featuring experts from NOAA, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Wetlands Watch, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The discussion focuses on the implementation of natural infrastructure, such as living shorelines and coral reef restoration, to combat sea level rise and storm surge in the Southeast. Key topics include the use of NOAA's Digital Coast tools, the effectiveness of oyster-based shorelines in North Carolina, the impact of nuisance flooding and sea level rise in Virginia, and the threat of stony coral tissue loss disease in Florida. The panelists also discuss regulatory barriers, the need for improved cost-benefit analysis for nature-based solutions, and the importance of coordinated funding and permitting processes to enhance regional resilience.
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Document type: Briefing
Att hantera sårbarhet inför hydrometeorologiska naturhändelser i Sverige
The HydroHazards project (2020–2024) investigates the cumulative and interactive effects of multiple hydrometeorological hazards on Sweden's critical infrastructure, essential services, and population. It argues that traditional risk analyses, which focus on single events, overlook dangerous connections and domino effects. The project employs a transdisciplinary approach across three work packages to analyze exposed locations, differentiated vulnerabilities among social groups, and future risk scenarios under climate change.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Nature as Resilient Infrastructure: An Overview of Nature-Based Solutions
The document advocates for the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS)—including green and natural infrastructure—into U.S. national infrastructure planning. It highlights that NbS are often more cost-effective and resilient than traditional 'gray' infrastructure, providing significant benefits in flood mitigation, heat reduction, and carbon sequestration. The text provides specific economic data on the cost-savings of living shorelines and green storm drainage systems compared to concrete alternatives, while emphasizing the co-benefits of improved water quality and public health.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Improving Coastal Resilience in the Northeast: Innovative Solutions to Protect Communities, Property, and the Environment
The document is a transcript of a briefing on coastal resilience in the Northeast US. It details the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, the Waterfront Alliance's efforts to build consensus in the New York City metro area, and the Island Institute's work with rural coastal and island communities in Maine. The discussion emphasizes the role of nature-based solutions, the challenges of funding and capacity in rural areas, and the need for equitable, risk-informed governance to address sea level rise and coastal flooding.
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Document type: Briefing
Nature as Resilient Infrastructure: An Overview of Nature-Based Solutions
The document advocates for the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS)—categorized into green and natural infrastructure—as a resilient alternative or supplement to traditional 'gray' manmade infrastructure in the U.S. It details how NbS can mitigate coastal storm damage, inland flooding, and extreme heat while providing co-benefits like carbon sequestration and improved water quality. The text provides specific cost comparisons and case studies from various U.S. cities and states to demonstrate the economic and environmental efficacy of these approaches.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Enhancing Resilience through Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation
The policy brief advocates for the adoption of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to protect vulnerable coastlines and livelihoods from climate change. It highlights the potential for 'soft' and 'hybrid' adaptation strategies in Southern and East Africa, while identifying barriers such as lack of political prioritisation, insufficient quantitative data for the private sector, and fragmented institutional governance. The author recommends mainstreaming EbA into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national budgets, promoting innovative financing like blue bonds and blue carbon credits, and ensuring the active participation of coastal communities and women in project design.
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Document type: Policy brief
Nature-Based Resilience for Gulf Coast Communities
The document explores nature-based solutions—such as wetlands, oyster reefs, and dune restoration—as alternatives or complements to traditional 'gray' infrastructure for mitigating storm surge, flooding, and erosion along the U.S. Gulf Coast. It highlights the role of regional partnerships like the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program in implementing these strategies. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the 'sediment crisis,' arguing for the beneficial use of dredged material to rebuild marshes and beaches. The panel concludes with legislative recommendations for the U.S. Congress, including reforming Army Corps of Engineers' cost-benefit ratios and funding pre-disaster mitigation.
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Document type: Briefing
Congressional Action on Resilient Infrastructure: Areas of Progress and Future Needs
The document details how the 115th Congress integrated resilience into various sectors through legislation like the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, the Water Resources Development Act, and the National Defense Authorization Act. It highlights the rising economic costs of inaction, noting that 2017 alone saw $312.7 billion in disaster damages. The text emphasizes the shift toward pre-disaster mitigation, nature-based infrastructure, and the need for the 116th Congress to address energy grid resilience and National Flood Insurance Program reform.
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Document type: Fact sheet