Episode 36 - Re-thinking Coastal Adaptation with Rob Young

Show Notes

Host: Ryan Harris

Guest: Dr. Rob Young, Director for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University

Description: Next up in our series of “Outside the Box” conversations is a discussion with Dr. Rob Young on how “the box” for coastal resilience may actually be inside out.  Conventional wisdom for coastal adaptation is all about communities trying to protect their map and their tax base.  Better management, monitoring, systems thinking to minimize unintended consequences, and taking time to study whether adaptation measures are actually working or not are some basic measures that can improve resilience strategies.  Outside the box thinking in this space also requires legislative progress and what many are increasingly calling for a National Adaptation Plan.  Hard choices are required by local municipalities and businesses when it comes to adaptation, and we need to be honest with ourselves and where we invest in coastal adaptation if we are going to truly move the needle on making our communities more resilient. LISTEN HERE

References:

• NOAA Blue Economic Strategic Plan (2021-2025)
• Satellite data reveals sinking risk for China’s cities (New York Times)
• Legislating a National Adaptation Plan (America Adapts)
• Why the current hurricane rating system needs to be scrapped (e360 Yale)
• Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (WCU, Duke Univ.)

Real adaptation is local

[05:39]

Coastal resilience conventional wisdom: protecting the map and tax base

[11:12]

Coastal resilience: maybe the box is inside out

[18:19]

Solutions: a functional Congress and a National Adaptation Plan

[25:00]

Managed retreat (or adaptative migration)

[31:43]

Technology helping with coastal resilience: Lidar on drones, GIS

[35:50]

The breakthrough for national adaptation requires a series of major focusing events

[39:13]

Lightning Round

[40:45]