America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

In episode 253 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Shalini Vajjhala , Executive Director of The Pre-Collective, about why climate adaptation still struggles to scale and whether the real challenge is less about engineering and more about coordination, trust, and financing. Drawing from two recent essays, Shalini discusses her argument that the U.S. is experiencing a "civic disaster," where weakened institutions and declining public trust are undermining our ability to respond to growing climate risks. Doug and Shalini explore why adaptation projects often remain stuck in pilot mode, the role of "predevelopment" in resilience finance, why avoided losses are so difficult to fund, and what separates communities that actually build projects from those trapped in endless planning cycles. They also examine the growing political dimensions of adaptation, the role of philanthropy and public institutions, why adaptation still lacks broader "FOMO," and how communication failures may be slowing progress across the field. Check out the America Adapts "Starter Page" to help you dig into the archive! Links in this episode: "Resilience Finance Still Isn't Scaling—Is Predevelopment the Missing Piece or Just Another Layer?" https://cafwd.org/news/why-resilience-finance-starts-with-predevelopment/ The US is in the midst of a civic disaster. We have to invest in collective action for our recovery starting now. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-midst-civic-disaster-we-have-invest-collective-action-vajjhala-mon5c/ Key Themes Covered in This EpisodeWhy climate adaptation still isn't scaling The idea of a growing "civic disaster" in the U.S. Trust, governance, and institutional breakdown Why resilience finance begins with "predevelopment" Why many adaptation plans never reach implementation The "FOMO problem" in climate adaptation For Educators & Students This episode is especially useful for students and educators exploring climate adaptation, resilience finance, public policy, urban planning, infrastructure, environmental governance, and climate communication. Doug and Shalini unpack complex adaptation concepts in a highly accessible way while also challenging listeners to think critically about implementation, trust, and institutional capacity. The conversation also provides a valuable look into how adaptation professionals are increasingly thinking across disciplines—including finance, politics, communications, and systems thinking. Who Should Listen to This Episode Adaptation and resilience professionals Urban planners and infrastructure leaders Insurance and finance professionals Government officials and policymakers Climate communication specialists Researchers, educators, and students Anyone interested in the future of climate adaptation Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 252 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons travels to the University of New Brunswick in Canada, where he keynoted an undergraduate climate conference bringing together students and faculty to explore a wide range of climate challenges. Doug's conversations with conference organizers Dr. Don Wright and Dr. Dion Durnford focus on how climate issues—particularly climate policy—are being taught at the university level, and the goals behind creating this kind of interdisciplinary learning experience. The episode also features interviews with students presenting their work, offering a window into the ideas and perspectives emerging from the next generation. Along the way, Doug reflects on the inspiration he found in these students and the energy they're bringing into the field. There is much to be excited about on how this and future generations will tackle climate change! Posters for: Yaniv Tunin – Just Stop Oil Sara Elbakush – Laudato Si Dustin Stewart – Ocean Acidification Links in this episode: Bay of Fundy Fredericton, New Brunswick Key Themes Covered in This Episode Why undergraduate education is becoming a frontline for climate adaptation thinking The role of student-led conferences in shaping future leaders How younger voices are approaching climate risk differently What established professionals can learn from students right now For Educators & Students How to design interdisciplinary climate programs The value of experiential learning and student-led events Why adaptation should be embedded across curricula—not siloed Ideas for building your own campus-based climate initiatives Lessons from organizing a successful undergraduate conference Who Should Listen to This Episode University faculty and program designers Students interested in climate careers Adaptation professionals looking for fresh perspectives Funders thinking about workforce development Anyone wondering where the next generation of climate leaders is coming from Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 251 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Jamil Wyne, founder of Hazelwood Network, to explore whether climate adaptation is finally moving into the mainstream—or if we're seeing familiar signals that never quite add up. From growing attention in finance, consulting, and platforms like LinkedIn to real-world action in places like Singapore and across emerging markets, adaptation is gaining traction. But that momentum remains fragmented—spread across investors, governments, and innovators without clear coordination. At the same time, a major bottleneck persists: we still don't know how to clearly communicate adaptation, often relying on abstract climate metrics that fail to resonate. Drawing on his work across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, Wyne highlights how adaptation is already happening on the ground—often ahead of the U.S.—while the private sector cautiously begins to engage. The conversation also touches on the role of AI as both a tool and a source of new complexity. Ultimately, this episode asks a central question: if adaptation is having a moment, are we actually ready to capitalize on it? Transcript of episode here. Links in this episode: Founder: Hazelwood Network Lead author: The Climate Tech Opportunity (Oxford Saïd School of Business) LinkedIn Learning Instructor: Climate Technology for Business Resilience and Adaptation Articles: Forbes, SSIR, TechCrunch, WEF, World Bank, CSIS Key Themes Covered in This Episode: Is adaptation really having a moment—or just more noise? A fragmented field that still isn't coming together Why we still don't know how to talk about adaptation What adaptation looks like on the ground in emerging markets New voices and leaders shaping the space Are we actually ready for this moment? For Educators & Students Explore how climate adaptation is evolving across regions and sectors Examine the gap between adaptation in theory and on-the-ground reality Understand why adaptation is difficult to communicate effectively Analyze how emerging markets are shaping adaptation practice Discuss the role of new leaders entering the adaptation space Consider what it would take for adaptation to truly become mainstream Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience professionals Policymakers and public sector leaders Researchers and students studying climate or sustainability Private sector professionals exploring climate risk Funders, investors, and philanthropies in climate Anyone trying to understand where adaptation is headed Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 250 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Thomas Zeitzoff, professor at American University and author of No Option But Sabotage: The Radical Environmental Movement and the Climate Crisis, to explore a question at the edge of today's climate conversation: what drives movements to escalate? Drawing on his research on political violence and environmental activism, Zeitzoff traces the evolution of the radical environmental movement—from sabotage in the 1990s and early 2000s to today's climate justice movement focused on mass protest and disruption. The conversation explores how tactics shift, what motivates activists, and why—despite intensifying climate impacts—we haven't seen a widespread return to more extreme actions. At the same time, a bigger question emerges: what actually works? As climate impacts become more visible, activism is evolving—but not all attention leads to progress. That's where climate adaptation enters the conversation. At the center of the discussion is a question that reframes the debate: If adaptation and climate response were working, would people feel pushed toward more extreme tactics? This episode doesn't advocate for extremism—but it does examine the conditions that can give rise to it, and how climate adaptation—if done well and communicated effectively—may help prevent it. Key Themes Covered in This Episode The evolution of environmental activism—from sabotage to modern climate justice movements What drives movements toward more extreme tactics—and why that has shifted over time The limits of disruption and whether attention leads to real-world outcomes The disconnect between growing climate impacts and public/political response Climate adaptation as a tangible pathway to reduce risk and build trust The role of communication in making adaptation visible and building broader support For Educators & Students How social movements evolve under pressure and changing conditions The intersection of political violence theory and environmental activism How tactics shift based on perceived effectiveness and opportunity The role of communication and public perception in shaping climate action Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience professionals Policymakers, planners, and climate communicators Researchers and students studying climate and social movements NGOs, funders, and private sector leaders focused on climate risk and engagement Links: https://www.american.edu/spa/faculty/zeitzoff.cfm https://www.zeitzoff.com/ https://www.amazon.com/No-Option-but-Sabotage-Environmental/dp/0197796842/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QN51R2M1EBJJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wM0lQCG41LkQEyTyrLkqtw.snxAdEz-eh3IOkevRxa1UYKgj8YVscwKLl0-auHgj6c Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible! Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 249 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons takes a deep dive into the growing climate-driven insurance crisis reshaping housing and communities across the United States. Doug first speaks with Rob Moore and Alfonso Pating of the Natural Resources Defense Council about their new reports on the nation's emerging insurability crisis—why premiums are rising, insurers are retreating from high-risk areas, and what state policies can do to reduce risk and keep homes insurable. Then filmmaker George Siegal joins the show to discuss his documentary Built to Last: Buyer Beware, which reveals how many American homes are simply not built to withstand the disasters they face. Together, these conversations connect the dots between climate risk, insurance markets, and the way we build our communities—showing how insurance is becoming one of the clearest warning signals of climate change in action. https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/an-uninsurable-country-what-rising-climate-risk-means-for-homeowners Experts in this Episode: Rob Moore - Director of the Climate Adaptation Division at NRDC Alfonso Pating - Global financial regulations specialist with NRDC. George Siegal - Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Director, Producer and owner of Move the World Films Key Themes Covered in This Episode What an "insurability crisis" is—and why it's emerging across the U.S. Why premiums are rising, policies are disappearing, and insurers are pulling back What makes a home insurable: risk, location, and construction The role of states in shaping insurance markets, building codes, and land use How FAIR Plans work and why they're rapidly expanding Whether FAIR Plans can become tools for resilience, not just backstops How insurance markets are acting as a signal of climate risk Why many homes are not built to withstand today's disasters The tension between affordability and resilient construction What this all means for the future of housing and adaptation For Educators & Students How insurance markets are responding to climate risk The role of states in shaping insurance, building codes, and land use The connection between housing, affordability, and resilience Insurance as an economic signal of climate change Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation and resilience professionals State and local officials focused on housing, risk, and planning Urban planners and developers working in high-risk areas Insurance and finance professionals tracking climate risk Climate communicators and educators explaining these shifts Transcript of Rob Moore and Alfonso Pating interview avaible here. Transcript of George Siegal interview available here. This episode was generously sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Links in this episode: An Uninsurable Country https://www.nrdc.org/resources/uninsurable-country https://www.nrdc.org/resources/insurance-fair-future https://builttolastmovie.com/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com