Cities, states, and tribes are already confronting the rising costs of climate change. From 2011 to 2014, the most destructive weather events cost the U.S. economy $227 billion. Without immediate action to reduce heat-trapping pollution and build resilience to a changing climate, communities will face even greater economic, public health and safety risks in the future. At the same time, mayors, governors, and tribal communities are facing a host of other challenges from growing income inequities, crumbling infrastructure, affordable housing shortages, and diminishing budgets—challenges exacerbated by extreme heat, storms, flooding, drought, and other impacts driven by a changing climate.
The Obama administration is working with communities to develop smart strategies and partnerships for building climate resilience. As part of his Climate Action Plan, President Barack Obama established a Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience with governors, mayors, county officials, and tribal leaders from across the country.
Please join the Center for American Progress and the National League of Cities for a discussion about the progress made on the task force recommendations, new resilience initiatives, and the challenges and opportunities for equitable climate resilience funding and action.
A link to the task force report can be found here.
Links to recent CAP reports on building resilient and equitable communities can be found on the following pages: State Future Funds: Jumpstarting Investments in Low-Carbon and Resilient Energy and Transportation Infrastructure, One Storm Shy of Despair: A Climate-Smart Plan for the Administration to Help Low-Income Communities and Social Cohesion: The Secret Weapon in the Fight for Equitable Climate Resilience.
Welcoming remarks:
Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress
Opening remarks:
Shaun Donovan, Director, White House Office of Management and Budget
Featured panelists:
Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection Agency
Mayor Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City, Utah
Chairwoman Karen Diver, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Harriet Tregoning, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Community Planning and Development Resilience, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Moderated by:
Tracey Ross, Senior Policy Analyst, Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American Progress