Floating Houses and Mosquito Nets:
Climate Change Adaptation in Boston In April 2007, Mayor Thomas Menino issued an executive order that contained adaptation provisions. The order required city government to prepare an integrated adaptation plan to reduce risks from likely climate impacts, and to coordinate adaptation implementation among departments. Furthermore, all new construction and all major renovations of municipal facilities must evaluate the risks posed by climate change. The city is in the process of putting these directives into effect. In 2004, the regional planning organization for the Boston metropolitan area released the Climate’s Long-term Impacts on Metro Boston (CLIMB) report, a comprehensive research project to assess how infrastructure is affected by climate change. The CLIMB team aimed to provide plausible cost estimates of climate impacts on Boston area infrastructure systems. However, the report has not yet informed local action. Although Boston is still in the planning stages, there is one example of adaptation infrastructure planning in the city. The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) built the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant to process sewage for the Boston region. In anticipation of sea-level rise, the MWRA built the Deer Island plant about half a meter higher than originally planned. The design engineers were concerned that without this change in height, sea-level rise would necessitate construction of a wall and would reduce water pressure in the system. However, this approach to building has not become standard practice in the city. Sources l Menino, T.M. (2007). An Executive Order Relative to Climate Action in Boston. Boston, MA: City of Boston, Office of the Mayor. l Kirshen, P., Ruth, M., Anderson, W., Lakshmanan, T. R., Chapra, S., Chudyk, W., et al. (2004). Infrastructure systems, services and climate change: Integrated impacts and response strategies for the Boston Metropolitan Area. Boston, MA: Climate’s Long-term Iimpacts on Metro Boston (CLIMB)
Florida: Climate change adaptation In terms of the assets exposed in a 100-year flood, Miami-Dade (Florida) is one of the most vulnerable regions in the US. Predicted economic losses are estimated at roughly $416 billion. With this in mind, in July 2006, Miami-Dade County established an advisory taskforce on climate change and impacts, and joined the ICLEI CRC program. In April 2008, the advisory task force released climate change impacts and recommendations for adaptation policies. The report divides adaptation categories into natural systems, property and infrastructure, intergovernmental affairs, and economic, social, and health adaptation. Recommendations for adaptation policies include purchasing and restoring wetlands throughout the region as buffer zones for climate impacts, and emphasizing the importance of the Everglades restoration project. The report also highlights the need to engage other local and state governments for better regional planning in the built environment; an example would be to require all government agencies to assess the impact of sea-level rise. Source l Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force. (2008). Second report and initial recommendations: Presented to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. Miami, FL.
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