Category: Policy

Climate Refugees

Climate Refugees

Climate Refugees

01/20/20

“Why will some people become refugees because of climate change?”

 

The effects of climate change are already upon us. Whether it be scorching heatwaves in India or fires of biblical proportion in Australia, humanity is beginning to really feel its impacts. Conditions might become so bad in some areas that denizens will have to flee to entirely new countries! These Climate Refugees will become a more common sight in the world as the years go by, and governments must take action to accommodate them as much as possible.

 

Image credit media.npr.org

Climate Internally Displaced People

Climate Internally Displaced People

Climate Internally Displaced People

01/19/20

“What is someone who has to leave their homes because of climate change but stays inside their own nation’s borders?”

 

Climate change is going to turn areas once deemed habitable to be completely unlivable. However, not everyone affected by these changes will have to leave for another country and become a climate refugee. Instead, some may stay within their own nation’s borders and become Climate Internally Displaced People. Current examples include the people who left Paradise California, Bangladeshis who have to leave their country’s coastal plains, and people who had to evacuate from New Orleans after Katrina.

 

Image credit http://www.unhcr.org

How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife

How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife

How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife

01/12/20

“How is New South Wales dropping food from helicopters to save its unique wildlife?”

 

Australia is going through a wildfire crisis right now. And some of the most affected are its unique wildlife.  Over 1 billion animals have died since the onset of the fires. Given that many of these species are endangered and serve as a critical component of Australia’s tourism industry, this is truly a National Treasure being lost. But luckily for everyone, New South Wales’ government is taking a bit of proactive action in this.  They have recently started air-dropping upwards of 4,000 lbs of food such as carrots and sweet potatoes to keep these animals alive. Not only is this a terrific example of human-influenced ecological resilience, but this is also How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife.

Image credit https://abcnews.go.com/US/australian-government-drops-4000-pounds-food-save-starving/story?id=68232639

Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires

Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires

Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires

01/11/20

“Why will some communities have to find new homes because of the Australian bushfire?”

 

Australia’s bushfires have grown to catastrophic levels never seen before. Making matters worse, this might just be the new normal in the coming years. If things continue this way, then some communities may have to think about uprooting themselves and making a managed retreat into safer land. This Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires will reshape the society of the county and will be a look into the possible future of other fire-prone areas such as California.

How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate

How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate

How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate

01/10/20

“Why might Australia’s climate policies undergo a drastic revolution due to the bushfires?”

 

Australia is going through a crisis right now. Their bushfires are raging like no other climate event and are bringing the nation to its knees. Australia was once a hotbed of climate denial and obstructed a large amount of climate progress due to its economy’s reliance on coal exports. However, with these climate-exacerbated bushfires, Its citizens and officials might now take heed and galvanize a new climate movement. This is How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate.

How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy

How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy

How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy

01/06/20

“How can climate resilience funding be made stronger with the proper policy?”

 

Funding is a vital part of establishing climate resilience. However, if there are not that many proper mechanisms for it, then it can all fall apart.  To prevent this, proper policy-making can codify how funding is raised for climate resilience projects and for whom it goes to. An example of this is California’s SB 30 bill by Ricardo Lara,  which requires the Insurance Commissioner to convene a working group to assess new and innovative investments in natural infrastructure and insurance products in light of California’s worsening fire vulnerability due to climate change. How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy.

How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California

How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California

How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California

01/05/20

“Why is extremely single-family zoning in Northern California a resilience threat?”

 

When the city of San Francisco becomes a topic of conversation, images of the Golden Gate Bridge, sourdough bread, and brightly-colored Victorians often pop into people’s heads. However, the policies that allow for the last part is also strangling Northern California itself.  Strict single-family zoning in urban areas forces municipalities to become much less dense. If these towns or cities become economic hotspots such as in the Bay Area, then prices near job centers will rise and people have to build outwards and further away to find a place to live. This phenomenon has pushed people into the wildland-urban interface, making it more likely for fires to start and more difficult for people to cope with the effects of climate change. This is How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California.

Why Utilities Need to Constantly Monitor Their Assets

Why Utilities Need to Constantly Monitor Their Assets

Why Utilities Need to Constantly Monitor Their Assets

01/04/20

“Why is it that utilities need to keep constant oversight of their infrastructure?”

 

Utilities are entrusted with operating vast amounts of critical infrastructure systems. However, with this comes the responsibility to maintain all of it to the fullest standard.  If any part breaks down, it can cause grave public damage (as in the case of the Paradise Fires) and will usually be considered a liability committed on behalf of the utility. For this reason, utilities need to keep constant maintenance over their assets, whether it be using drones to keep oversight, implement fault-prediction algorithms, or do in-person inspections. This is Why Utilities Need to Constantly Monitor Their Assets.

Why Having Plastics in Households Is a Wildfire Resilience Liability

Why Having Plastics in Households Is a Wildfire Resilience Liability

Why Having Plastics in Households Is a Wildfire Resilience Liability

01/02/19

“Why do having plastics in households make a place more dangerous when wildfires come?”

 

All sorts of items can burn, whether it be wood used for fires or petroleum to power our gas engines. However, one material group that stands out is plastics. When burnt plastics can release chemicals such as styrene gas (which causes damage to the nervous system).  If a wildfire engulfs a house, then this can deal a great amount of damage to the surrounding community. This is Why Having Plastics in Households Is a Wildfire Resilience Liability.