By Emily Jack-Scott, Aspen Global Change Institute, and Susan Moser Research Consultancy
The term ‘resilience’ has been adopted by many different disciplines in recent years to embody many different meanings and objectives. The use of the term ‘resilience’ in published literature has increased tenfold in the last decade alone, begging the question:
Research infrastructures depend on a favorable institutional context, insofar as they strive to develop concepts and tools for the greater societal good, but also because its mission statement depends so greatly on accessing policy-makers and funding. As a result, transnational and transdisciplinary organizations the likes of AnaEE keep tabs on political activity, in an effort to anticipate possible impacts on their operations.
by Jennifer Jacobs and Jo Daniels, University of New Hampshire
The Infrastructure and Climate Network (ICNet) is a network of transportation infrastructure researchers, practitioners, and climate scientists based in the U.S. Northeast. Its mission is to provide actionable climate change data needed to advance infrastructure research and adaptation.
Extreme weather events are opportunists. They strike indiscriminately, and selectively expose the parts of society that are underprepared and most vulnerable. We see the lack of resilience to extreme events in the most susceptible regions time and time again in the loss of life and livelihoods and the destruction of properties and businesses.
The following guest blog by Lori Peek and Alice Fothergill reflects the importance of people when considering the impacts of extreme weather and climate. ECEP's goal is to improve understanding and communication of the impacts of, and response to, weather and climate extremes. Understanding the long term consequences from social vulnerability and exposure to the hazards is as important in resilient design as knowledge of the risks posed by the hazards.
A decade after Katrina, New Orleans has regrouped and more than recovered. The levee protections are back stronger and reinforced, and pumps have been refurbished and made safe from flooding. Reports from the area indicate a new thriving culture that has built on their colorful history and are adding a new age of entrepreneurial activity. The city is buzzing and life is good.
But how safe is the city? And what of the surrounding communities?
