Metropolitics

Planning for the Unimaginable: Puerto Rico and Strategies for Climate-Change Adaptation

Cecelia Walsh-Russo — 2018-05-01T05:00:00Z

The damage from the two hurricanes that struck Puerto Rico was multiplied by US austerity plans that deprived the island of resources to implement its carefully crafted climate plans. Public debt and calls for privatization are further hampering Puerto Rico's recovery. Repairing damaged housing, utilities, and creating greater resilience requires major investment and community-based adaptation initiatives.
---- Series: Climate Change and Social Change During late September 2017, the island of

- From the Field / catastrophe, disaster, environment, inequalities, United States, hurricane, climate change, climate action plans, austerity, environmental justice, climate justice, storm recovery, social change, Puerto Rico, weather

Climate Change and Social Change

Gregory Smithsimon — 2018-04-03T05:30:00Z

Cities are home to more than half the world's population and the source of most global CO2 emissions—and yet often occupy vulnerable sites particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change. Out of necessity, cities have therefore become pioneers when it comes to responding to these changes. In this series, we examine not just the different strategies they deploy but also the associated social issues, and more specifically how questions of social justice and equity are taken into

- Series / environment, social justice, urban ecology, energy, climate change, sea-level rise, climate action plans, environmental justice, climate justice

The Urban Heart of a Just Transition: How Cities Plan for Social Justice in Climate Action

Alexa Waud — 2018-04-03T05:00:00Z

Cities are often framed as sustainability saviors. Alexa Waud analyzes 20 climate action plans of cities that participate in the international Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, and argues that in order to minimize the impacts of decarbonization on vulnerable populations, cities must understand the historical context of racial and social justice struggles, the immediacy and impact of climate action plans, and the strong potential for action on climate change.
---- Series: Climate Change and

- Essays / sustainable development, social justice, energy, climate change, sustainable city, climate action plans, environmental justice, climate justice, urban sustainability, energy transition, ecological transition, decarbonization, just transition

Building a Resilient and Equitable City: How to Advance Environmental Justice Through the OneNYC Plan

Eddie Bautista & Annel Hernandez & Juan Camilo Osorio & Pamela Soto — 2017-03-01T16:33:39Z

Many of the challenges that cities face today stem from historic and entrenched systemic policies and processes that result in the inequitable distribution of environmental burdens. Eddie Bautista, Juan Camilo Osorio, Pamela Soto and Annel Hernandez explain the logic behind the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance's policy and advocacy work to strengthen their local government's climate-change adaptation efforts in response to particular risks affecting low-income neighborhoods and

- Debates / New York, resilience, Community Development Block Grants, environmental justice, climate justice, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, Hunts Point, South Bronx SMIA, Rebuild by Design

Climate Action Plans and the “Climate-Just” City

Cecelia Walsh-Russo — 2016-09-27T05:00:00Z

In the face of major climatic changes, more and more US cities are developing climate action plans. But while these documents follow national and international guidelines, many fail to take account of the needs of the most vulnerable citizens. Cecelia Walsh-Russo contrasts four cases to show how cities can work towards becoming more “climate-just” places for residents.
To date, 2016 has been one of the hottest years ever recorded, if not the hottest. Against the dual backdrop of rising

- Debates / city, participation, environment, inequalities, United States, citizens, climate change, climate action plans, environmental justice, climate justice