Category: Policy

Wildfire Housing Buyouts

Wildfire Housing Buyouts

Wildfire Housing Buyouts

08/29/20

“Why may homes in wildfire-prone territories need to be bought out by the government?”

With the growth of the wildfire urban interface from urban sprawl and climate change, more and more homes are going to be in fire-prone territory. And given that these disasters are only becoming more destructive, drastic action will need to be taken. One thing that can be done will be to take a page from flooding adaptation and look into Wildfire Housing Buyouts. This means having the government purchase homes in communities that may no longer be safe to live in year-round.

Why We Need to Keep in Mind Residents Without a Car for Wildfire Evacuation Plans

Why We Need to Keep in Mind Residents Without a Car for Wildfire Evacuation Plans

Why We Need to Keep in Mind Residents Without a Car for Wildfire Evacuation Plans

08/28/20

“Why do we need to keep in mind residents without a car for wildfire evacuation plans?”

Wildfires evacuation plans are the bedrock of getting residents out of danger when a fire threatens to consume their town. However, people without a car have some of the most difficulty escaping both physically and in many cases financially, and the plans don’t keep them in mind. Emergency planning officials can solve this by engaging in conversation with these individuals and taking them into consideration such as having volunteer carpools and designated pickup spots. This is Why We Need to Keep in Mind Residents Without a Car for Wildfire Evacuation Plans.

How Volunteer Forces Can Save People From Drowning in Disasters

How Volunteer Forces Can Save People From Drowning in Disasters

How Volunteer Forces Can Save People From Drowning in Disasters

08/27/20

“How can volunteer forces save lives from drowning?”

When a flooding disaster strikes, water can rush in and trap people, leading to a massive loss of lives. However, if volunteers set up rescue missions, then they can be scouted and sought after. This is How Volunteer Forces Can Save People From Drowning in Disasters.

How Education About Wildfires Can Increase Fire Resilience

How Education About Wildfires Can Increase Fire Resilience

How Education About Wildfires Can Increase Fire Resilience

08/26/20

“How can education about wildfires increase fire resilience?”

When discussion of fire resilience goes on, it is usually talked about in terms of physical infrastructure such as building hardening or grid repair. However, one very effective technique may belong entirely within the realm of the social sciences. By education residents of a fire-prone town about wildfire, people can become more alert of what may happen and what they can do. This is How Education About Wildfires Can Increase Fire Resilience.

How Pollution in Water Utilities Can Harm Municipal Residents

How Pollution in Water Utilities Can Harm Municipal Residents

How Pollution in Water Utilities Can Harm Municipal Residents

08/25/20

“How can pollution in water utilities harm municipal residents?”

Water pollution is a serious issue. However, the direst consequence can come from the fact that it can seep into usage by municipal residents, harming public health in a variety of ways ranging from disease outbreaks to chemical poisoning. This is How Pollution in Water Utilities Can Harm Municipal Residents.

Why Removing Concrete Streets in Urban Areas May Increase Climate Resilience

Why Removing Concrete Streets in Urban Areas May Increase Climate Resilience

Why Removing Concrete Streets in Urban Areas May Increase Climate Resilience

08/24/20

“Why could removing concrete streets in an urban area enhance its climate resilience?”

Concrete is the bedrock of our cities, whether it be in our bridges, or buildings. However, when it used to cover over grasslands, its impervious nature to water can increase flood runoff as well as make it buckle under heat expansion. For this reason, some municipalities across the world are looking at replacing concrete streets with greenery to prevent these from occurring. This is Why Removing Concrete Streets in Urban Areas May Lead To Climate Resilience.

Why Building Dense Development Near the Ocean Can Improve Heat Resilience

Why Building Dense Development Near the Ocean Can Improve Heat Resilience

Why Building Dense Development Near the Ocean Can Improve Heat Resilience

08/21/20

“Why will building dense development near the ocean improve heat resilience?”

The Earth’s climate is definitely becoming hotter. And this is even more true in regions further inland, where temperatures can build up even more. Soon enough, some of these locations may become uninhabitable. To solve this, we can put more people in dense development near the ocean (but outside of sea-level rise and storm surge zones) to live in cooler more accessible weather. This is Why Building Dense Development Near the Ocean Can Improve Heat Resilience.

Designing Communities for Wildfire

Designing Communities for Wildfire

Designing Communities for Wildfire

08/19/20

“How can we design communities for wildfire?”

As the wildlife-urban interface expands due to the advent of climate change, communities are going to become more and more enveloped in wildfire-prone territory. Although many individuals advocate for a full-scale retreat of such areas, it may not be necessary. Instead, we can mold our communities specifically around wildfire resilience using practices such as housing retrofits, planting native vegetation, and implementing buffer zones. This is how we can go around Designing Communities for Wildfire.

Why Climate Change is Driving Urbanization

Why Climate Change is Driving Urbanization

Why Climate Change is Driving Urbanization

08/18/20

“Why is climate change driving urbanization?”

 

Climate change is disrupting everything. And some of the people most hurt by this are the ones who work in agriculture. As the world becomes hotter, more erratic, and less liveable, maintaining a farm may no longer become a sustainable livelihood. This will cause more people to move from the farms to cities in search of employment and stability, drastically increasing their size. This is Why Climate Change is Driving Urbanization.