America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

In episode 106, a 'rewind' of episode 76 of America Adapts , Doug Parsons takes a journey with the Freedom to Breath bus tour on location in New Orleans. During his visit, Doug attends a town hall on women and minority groups talking about climate resilience; a visit to Africatown to learn about the legacy of racism and environmental pollution and a visit to a protest community that is also servin...

In episode 105 of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Ian Galloway and Tom Flannigan of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Harvard's Dr. Jesse Keenan . All three join Doug on the podcast to discuss the Fed's Community Development Investment Review . This issue of the review focuses on climate adaptation and shares examples from across the country on how the community developm...

In episode 104 of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. Ladd Keith , Assistant Professor in Planning and Chair of Sustainable Built Environments at the University of Arizona. Doug and Ladd discuss what is extreme heat in the context of climate change; how urban heat will get worse and what cities are doing to plan for it; what extreme heat means for social and climate justice; how urb...

In episode 103 of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Anita Van Breda of World Wildlife Fund, Emily Wasley of WSP and Dr. Meredith Wiggins of Historic England. In this end of the year showcase, Doug and his guests list their top climate stories; the diversity of adaptation professionals; podcast listening habits; top America Adapts episodes of the year and their recommendations for the...

In episode 102 of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Judge Alice Hill at the Council of Foreign Relations. Judge Hill co-authored the book " Building a Resilient Tomorrow " with Leonardo Martinez-Diaz . Judge Hill shares insights on the book: making financial markets work for climate resilience; climate equity; funding adaptation projects; the emerging adaptation profession; the Green...

In episode 101 of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. Samantha Montano , a disasterologist/Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska in Emergency Management and Disaster Science.  Samantha, along with her colleague Amanda Savitt , evaluated the disaster and adaptation policies of the 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates . Doug and Samantha discuss what makes for effective...

In episode 100 (a true milestone!) of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Dr. AR Siders , an assistant professor at the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware. Dr. Siders defines what is 'managed retreat' and also the policy challenges of getting communities to undertake this adaptation action. Doug and Siders also discuss:  is it happening in an equitable way; the vario...

In episode 99 of  America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Rob Moore , the Director of the Water and Climate Team at NRDC , the Natural Resources Defense Council. Doug and Rob talk about flooding and the bureaucratic inertia of flood management. They also discuss the psychology of rebuilding in flood zones. Rob also explains attempts to reform federal flood policies and the challenges of find...

In episode 98 of  America Adapts , which is a re-release of episode 64,  Doug Parsons talks with  Margaret Peloso , of the law firm Vinson and Elkins. Margaret shares insights from her book  Adapting to Rising Sea Levels: Legal Challenges and Opportunities . Doug and Margaret dig into topics such as the conversion of private land to public land as the oceans rise; adaptation and the public trust d...

In episode 97 of America Adapts , which is a re-release of Episode 47, Doug talks with noted climate change skeptic, Marc Morano of Climate Depot.  Doug and Marc discuss his motivation to be a contrarian voice on climate change and his history working on environmental issues, from being a reporter for Rush Limbaugh, to being chief spokesman for noted climate skeptic Senator James Inhofe of Oklahom...

In episode 96 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with Bob Inglis , former Congressman from South Carolina and now Executive Director of RepublicEN.  Doug and Bob talk about his history of being a climate advocate in the Republican Party; why the current GOP is so skeptical of climate science; how evangelicals' attitudes about climate change are influenced by their support of President Tru...

In episode 95 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons hosts Peterson Toscano , host of the podcast Citizens Climate Radio . Doug and Peterson talk climate activism, how adaptation can learn from the response to the AIDS crisis and much more. Doug also interviews America Adapts listeners to get their feedback on the podcast and what role it plays in their careers and they share their recommendations...

In episode 94 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons visits New York City! This is THE episode on urban forestry and climate adaptation. Doug travels across the city, visiting parks and interviewing experts on such topics as:  How forests add to the overall resilience of New York City; Cool Neighborhoods program and public health; urban forestry and climate adaptation; extreme heat in urban areas;...

In episode 93 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Carolyn Kousky , the Executive Director at the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the University of Pennsylvania.  In this lively discussion, Doug and Carolyn discuss: how wildfires in California drove their utility into bankruptcy and what policy reforms are needed to prevent this from happening again; who ow...

In episode 92 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews the CEO of Grist, Brady Walkinshaw.  Grist is the long time, online environmental news group.  Doug and Brady discuss the presidential politics of climate change; the race to define what the Green New Deal really is.  They also discuss how the Green New Deal address climate adaptation and Grist's own coverage of the issue. They also di...

In episode 91 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons goes to the 2019 National Adaptation Forum in Madison, Wisconsin!  During this adaptation-palooza, Doug interviews a variety of conference participants.  Discover the topics and themes covered at this event and learn how diverse the adaptation community has become. Hear what presentations stood out and how adaptation professionals see this sector...

In episode 90 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons travels to beautiful Saint Augustine, Florida for the Keeping History Above Water conference.  Doug interviews experts on the threat of sea level rise to cultural resources. Learn the innovative, proactive approaches the city of St. Augustine is taking to address sea level rise. The conference highlights the specific examples of adaptation planni...

In episode 89 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Yale-Nus College Asst. Professor of Environmental Studies Dr. Matthew Schneider-Mayerson about his recent literacy research on how "Cli-Fi", or climate change science fiction, can influence a reader's behavior. Doug is joined in this interview by Cli-Fi expert, Dr. Amy Brady, a previous guest on America Adapts.  In a bonus conversation...

In episode 88 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Marcy Rockman , cultural resource and climate adaptation expert. Marcy, until recently, was the Cultural Resources Adaptation Coordinator for the National Park Service and is now the IPCC Team Lead with the International Council on Monuments and Sites Climate Change and Heritage Working Group. Marcy and I discuss her time at the Pa...

In episode 87 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Kyle Powys Whyte . Kyle is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Community Sustainability and a faculty affiliate of the American Indian & Indigenous Studies and Environmental Science & Policy programs at Michigan State University. Kyle is also an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation . Kyle and I discuss how indigeno...

He's back! In episode 86 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews famed climatologist Dr. Michael Mann .  Dr. Mann is the author of the famous 'hockey stick' climate research that has become one of the iconic images in the climate movement. This is Dr. Mann's second appearance on America Adapts. In this episode, we discuss: winning the Tyler Prize (the environmental equivalent of the Nobel...

In episode 85 of America Adapts – a true event episode - Doug Parsons interviews the hosts of some of your favorite climate change podcasts!  Warm Regards, Climactic, No Place Like Home, Climate Ready, Climate One, The Climate and Security Podcast, MIT's Climate Conversations and Reversing Climate change all join Doug on the pod to share their stories.  Learn what inspired them to start their podc...

In episode 84 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Dr. Jesse Keenan , from Harvard's Graduate School of Design. Jesse recently published a book Climate Adaptation Finance and  Investment in California. Also, Jesse answers questions from listeners on the general "State of Adaptation." Topics covered in this episode:  adaptation finance, understanding 'maladaptation', differences between...

In episode 83 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews planner Deanna Moran and environmental lawyer, Elena Mihaly , from the Conservation Law Foundation .  Deanna and Elena come on to talk about their new report, Climate Adaptation and Legal Liability. Other topics include:  current court cases relevant to adaptation and climate change; using legal liability as a tool to affect policy dec...

In episode 82 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons interviews Signe Nielsen , a landscape architect based in New York City.  Signe has been working on projects in NYC for decades and we discuss how climate change adaptation is being addressed in the city.  We discuss the impact of Superstorm Sandy and the challenges of keeping people safe and ensuring the people of New York are not cut off from t...