The Resilience Roundup highlights announcements and events along with links to the previous month's state, regional, and national resilience news.
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CIRCA Hosted Innovative Design Workshop for Local Resilience Strategies
CIRCA hosted an Innovative Design Workshop on May 15, 2023. The purpose of this workshop was to collaborate and develop innovative design ideas to resilience typologies that are common across Connecticut. The CIRCA team and participants worked together on different types of adaptation approaches and strategies and how to choose and apply these strategies locally. Case studies from the Resilient Connecticut pilot region (Fairfield & New Haven Counties) were also presented. For more information about the workshop, click HERE.
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Municipal Energy Resilience Webinar Series
Join CIRCA in June for a two-part webinar series on Municipal Energy Resilience. How can towns take positive steps to increase energy resilience locally? Learn how the Inflation Reduction Act and state programs have incentives for communities to assist in funding renewable energy projects, and what criteria municipalities should consider when developing municipal projects.
Day 1: Introduction to Municipal Energy Resilience Panel
June 7, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
On day one, our panel of experts will talk about assessing municipal energy resilience, programs available at the federal and state level for energy infrastructure, and steps towns can take. Register HERE.
Day 2: Municipal Energy Resilience: Case Study, Round Table Discussion and Q & A
June 14, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Day two will involve municipal case studies and be an opportunity for discussion and questions. Register HERE.
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Sustainable CT: Planning for Extreme Heat - How to Use CIRCA's Climate Change Vulnerability Index
Rescheduled: July 13, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) developed the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) to represent a community’s vulnerabilities to two of the most pressing climate change-driven threats in Connecticut – flooding and extreme heat events. The CCVI aggregates three categories (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) to calculate relative vulnerabilities across Connecticut. This webinar will focus on the extreme heat CCVI mapping tool and describe potential uses of the tool for local and regional planning, selection of climate adaptation and resilience projects that address extreme heat, and how zoning regulations provide a change to land use policy for heat adaptation. Click HERE to register.
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Sea Grant: Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program
With funding from US EPA through the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), New York Sea Grant and Connecticut Sea Grant announced a funding opportunity open to municipalities and community organizations. This new program funds grant preparation and writing support to develop a grant application for sustainable and resilience projects that impact a community(ies) within or partially within the Long Island Sound Coastal boundary.
Funding is to be awarded in a range of $5,000- $9,950 per application directly to the applicant’s selected grant writing support contractor on a cost reimbursable basis. Match will not be required. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available funding is allocated, which may be no later than September 30th, 2023. A Connecticut Applicant Informational Webinar was held on December 13th - click HERE for a recording.
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Climate Adaptation Forum: Emerging Governance Structures for Climate Resilience
June 2, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
State and local governments across the country are grappling with turning climate adaptation plans into action. These plans often involve expensive and large scale capital projects on both public and private property. This undertaking requires innovative thinking on governance from creating new county and statewide resilience authorities to empowering existing local boards and commissions. Join the Climate Adaptation Forum to hear how communities across the country are approaching this challenge and emerging models for governance and implementation. This webinar features CIRCA's own Louanne Cooley as a speaker.
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The Thames River Basin Partnership Floating Workshop #23
June 9, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Conservation professionals from many disciplines will be on board for networking and idea sharing. Bring your questions and ideas and learn the value of becoming part of the Partnership! The keynote presentation will feature David Murphy, CIRCA’s Director of Resilience Engineering. David is leading the expansion of the Resilient Connecticut program in what has been dubbed “Resilient Connecticut 2.0”. The expansion includes a statewide assessment of the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) followed by climate adaptation project development in the communities of southeastern Connecticut. Learn how your community may benefit from this effort.
Following the indoor programs, workshop participants will transition to the Project Oceanology Envirolab II for a Thames River tour. The tour will feature two stops with onboard presentations from our conservation partners. Learn about reef balls in the Thames, an urban forestry initiative in Willimantic, urban sustainability planning in Groton and the offshore wind farm development that is part of the GC3 initiative.
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U.S Army Corps of Engineers: Flood Awareness Workshops
A series of Flood Awareness Workshops is being sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, National Weather Service, and the United States Geological Survey. These workshops are intended for local Emergency Management Directors, Chief Elected Officials, Local Planning and Zoning Officials, Town Engineers and organizations that work with underserved populations.
The workshop for DEMHS Region 1 municipalities and stakeholders will be held on Thursday May 4th at the Fairfield County Regional Fire School - 205 Richard White Way, Fairfield. Click HERE for registration and to learn more.
The workshop for DEMHS Region 2 municipalities and stakeholders will be held on Tuesday May 23rd at United Illuminating 100 Marsh Hill Rd., Orange, CT. Click HERE for registration and to learn more.
The workshop for DEMHS Region 3 municipalities and stakeholders will be held on Tuesday, June 6th at the Holy Family Monastery and Conference Center located at 33 Tunxis Road, in West Hartford, CT. Click HERE for registration and to learn more.
The workshop for DEMHS Region 4 municipalities and stakeholders will be held on Tuesday June 13th at the Eastern CT Fire School in Windham located at 1 Fire School Rd, Willimantic, CT. Click HERE for registration and to learn more.
The workshop for DEMHS Region 5 municipalities and stakeholders will be held on Wednesday June 21st at the Kent School, Dickinson Auditorium - 1 Macedonia Road, Kent, CT 06757. Click HERE for registration and to learn more.
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EBC Connecticut Webinar: “Show me the Money”
Funding and Grants
June 28, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Join the EBC Connecticut Chapter for a webinar to “Show me the Money” – Funding and Grants in Connecticut. Our expert panel will offer insights and strategies on the complex terrain of funding opportunities for environmental projects in the state. From federal and state grants to local financing, the panel will explore a range of funding options available to those seeking to implement resilient, sustainable and restoration projects. Attendees will hear firsthand from local, state, and federal entities that will speak to resilience type funding as well as remediation and brownfields grants available in Connecticut. This webinar is an essential resource for those looking for funding for environmental-related projects in Connecticut.
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EPA Launches Interactive Map of Sea Level Rise Around Hazardous Waste Sites Along the U.S. Coastline to Help Facilities and Communities Become More Resilient to Climate Change
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a new data visualization to show the projected sea level rise around hazardous waste facilities within estimated flood zones along the U.S. coastline, as part of a whole-of-government approach to confronting the climate crisis and protecting communities. To help address these local resilience and environmental justice concerns, EPA continues to provide necessary tools and resources that local decision makers can use to identify their vulnerabilities and consider climate change risks in their planning processes and projects.
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State and Regional News Clips | |
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How Climate Change Is Affecting Flooding Along the Connecticut River
CT Insider - May 3, 2023
Every spring, as the snow melts in the north, the Connecticut River swells and spills onto the land around it. Connecticut residents are used to it. Many towns and cities have claimed the land alongside the river for parks and walking trails with the knowledge that there will be several days each year when the land is inaccessible due to flooding. But with the imminent and ongoing threat of climate change affecting weather patterns everywhere, are floods getting worse?
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Climate Change Will Worsen CT Kids’ Asthma and Overall Health, EPA Report Says
CT Public Radio - May 8, 2023
Children across Connecticut and the nation face a variety of health risks due to climate change. That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency.The report maps how future generations of kids could suffer various health consequences under an array of global warming scenarios. Researchers looked at one health problem that’s already impacted generations of kids in Connecticut: asthma.
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South Norwalk Streets Should Be Raised by 3 Feet Due Flooding and Climate Change, Experts Say
The Hour - May 23, 2023
Streets in South Norwalk must be raised by at least 3 feet to prepare for future storm surges in 2050, experts with the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation report. “Places that use to flood every 20 years are going to flood every five years,” said John Truscinski, director of resilience planning at CIRCA.
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Next Un Climate Summit to Consider Health Issues in Depth for First Time
The Guardian - May 2, 2023
The next UN climate summit will be the first to consider health issues in depth, with a meeting of global health ministers to highlight the consequences of the climate crisis for wellbeing. The climate crisis is likely to place further burdens on already overstretched global health systems. As well as dealing with the consequences of climate disaster such as heatwaves, floods and droughts, doctors will be faced with the increased stress on patients from rising temperatures, and higher temperatures will allow for the increased spread of disease vectors such as mosquitoes.
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For More Effective Climate Planning, Cities Must Include Suburbs and Exurbs, Researchers Say
Smart Cities Dive - May 10, 2023
Existing regional entities, such as metropolitan planning organizations or councils of governments, can often be starting points for coordinated climate conversations, one researcher said. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions more effectively, cities should collaborate with surrounding suburban and exurban areas on climate plans.
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A Powerful Climate Solution Just Below the Ocean’s Surface
New York Times - May 24, 2023
They can bolster the coastlines, break the force of hurtling waves, provide housing for fish, shellfish, and migrating birds, clean the water, store as much as 5 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide, and pump oxygen into the ocean, in part making it possible for life on Earth as we know it. Restoring seagrass meadows is one tool that coastal communities can use to address climate change, both by capturing emissions and mitigating their effects.
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How Extreme Heat Causes Cascading Crises
New York Times - May 26, 2023
Extreme heat can bring on some extremely dangerous feedback loops for American hospitals and clinics. The good news is that there are some practical fixes.
The time to prepare is now. Because the heat is likely to get worse. Much worse. Quite soon.
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The Resilience Roundup highlights CIRCA's presence in the news, provides links to recent local/state/national news articles related to resilience and adaptation, and announces upcoming events and seminars.
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) mission is to increase the resilience and sustainability of vulnerable communities along Connecticut's coast and inland waterways to the growing impacts of climate change and extreme weather on the natural, built, and human environment. The institute is located at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus and includes faculty from across the university. CIRCA is a partnership between UConn and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).
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State and Regional News Clips | | | | |
