America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

In episode 264 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons welcomes Meredith Ryder-Rude, Associate Vice President for Global Engagement and Partnerships at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and former U.S. State Department climate negotiator. Meredith takes listeners behind the scenes of international climate adaptation negotiations, exploring how countries negotiate adaptation priorities, why adaptation has historically taken a back seat to emissions reductions, and how global agreements translate into action. She also shares the remarkable story of a last-minute effort to develop a U.S. National Adaptation and Resilience Planning Strategy in the final weeks of the Biden administration, including an unexpected America Adapts connection. Doug and Meredith discuss why adaptation remains underfunded despite its economic benefits, EDF's efforts to make adaptation more visible, valuable, and investable, and the challenges of scaling successful solutions. They also challenge common misconceptions about adaptation, explore the importance of building public demand, and consider what a more ambitious national adaptation agenda could look like in the future.

Transcript of episode available here.

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Links in this episode:

US National Adaptation and Resilience Planning Strategy 2025

NAP Central Home | NAP Central - UNFCCC site for all things National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), including a repository for completed NAPs (including the US NARPS).

30 years of Adaptation under the Convention and the Paris Agreement | UNFCCC - a report produced by the Adaptation Committee chronicling the evolution of adaptation in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

Climate adaptation can't wait: Making resilience visible, valuable, and investable - Climate 411 - This is the blog you previously referenced and we briefly discussed on the needed market shift for adaptation, including the India dairy case study.

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!

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Now on Spotify!

List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

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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 263, host Doug Parsons revisits one of the podcast's most ambitious episodes: a comprehensive guide to the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), originally released in January 2024. With the Trump administration having halted work on the next assessment, dismissed its contributors, and proposed changes to NCA5 itself, this landmark scientific resource has taken on new significance. Doug is joined by Allison Crimmins, director of NCA5; Dr. Jesse Keenan of Tulane University; and Dr. Eric Tate of Princeton University. Together, they explore the assessment's major findings, the climate risks facing communities across the United States, and the progress and persistent challenges of climate adaptation. Jesse takes listeners through the assessment's major chapters, while Allison discusses the extraordinary effort behind producing NCA5 and Eric examines what the report reveals about adaptation in practice. The original conversations remain intact, framed by new commentary from Doug on the importance of preserving publicly funded climate science, keeping it accessible through resources such as https://climate.us, and ensuring the next National Climate Assessment is built to withstand political disruption. He also explores how foundations and private funders could help support the independent scientific and communications infrastructure needed to make America's climate knowledge more durable.

The central question: How do we protect what we've learned about climate change—and build something even stronger for the future?

Transcript of this episode available here.

Experts in this Episode:

Allison Crimmins - Director, National Climate Assessment Dr. Jesse Keenan - Favrot II Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning within the faculty of the School of Architecture at Tulane University

Dr. Eric Tate - Professor of Public Affairs in the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University

Topics Covered:

· NEW: Why we're revisiting NCA5 amid the dismantling of federal climate science infrastructure.

· NEW: Preserving the National Climate Assessment and building a more durable future for climate science, including the role of foundations and private funders.

· Understanding NCA5: What's new, why it matters, and how practitioners and policymakers can use it.

· Communicating climate science and keeping the National Climate Assessment relevant between editions.

· Climate adaptation across sectors: Forestry, agriculture, fisheries, coastal communities, and rural America.

· Managed relocation, extreme heat, and the difficult trade-offs involved in adaptation decisions.

· Tribal and Indigenous leadership in climate resilience.

· Financing adaptation: Costs, barriers, incentives, and the need for coordinated investment.

· Measuring adaptation progress, evaluating effectiveness, and understanding unintended consequences.

· Equity, institutional capacity, and the major findings of NCA5's adaptation chapter.

· NEW: How listeners can access NCA5 through https://climate.us and help keep this publicly funded science in use.

Links in this episode:

NCA5 at Climate.us

Fired Government Scientists Are Finding New Ways to Spread the Word on Climate Change

Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States

Climate experts respond to the government's plan to amend the Fifth National Climate Assessment

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!

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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

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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 262 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons heads to Climate Week NYC and compares notes with two fellow adaptation professionals who were also on the ground: Shaun Martin of World Wildlife Fund and Andreana Chou of AECOM. Instead of a traditional interview, the three take turns asking each other questions about what they saw, heard, and learned during one of the world's largest climate gatherings. They discuss whether adaptation is gaining ground at Climate Week, the growing role of the private sector and climate startups, who gets left out of expensive gatherings like this, and whether Climate Week's conversations are reaching anyone outside the climate community. They also tackle one of Doug's favorite subjects: what exactly do we mean by "resilience" when seemingly everyone is using the word differently? And because this is an informal debrief from New York, they wrap up with favorite meals, memorable moments, and what it was actually like to experience Climate Week firsthand. Three adaptation professionals, three different perspectives, and one very big week in New York.

Transcript of episode available here.

Experts in this episode:

Shaun Martin - Director of Adaptation, WWF-US

Andreana Chou - Climate Risk & Resilience at AECOM

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Links in this episode:

https://www.climateweeknyc.org/

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!

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 this special episode of America Adapts (261), host Doug Parsons explores an often-overlooked part of climate adaptation: what happens after disaster strikes. Through the recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires, Doug talks with disaster recovery experts, a community leader who survived the fires, and researchers examining remediation, rebuilding, worker safety, and the risks faced by immigrant workers involved in cleanup. The episode also looks to Christchurch, New Zealand, where more than fifteen years of earthquake recovery offers important lessons for the adaptation sector about recovery and renewal. The central argument: recovery is adaptation. How we clean up, protect people, rebuild communities, and prepare for what comes next is every bit as much climate adaptation as preparing before disaster strikes. This episode was generously supported by the CO2 Foundation and its innovative investment in climate adaptation communications.

Experts in this Episode:

Maryam Zar — Founder & President, Palisades Recovery Coalition - Transcript

Dr. Laurie Johnson, FAICP — Principal, Laurie Johnson Consulting; internationally recognized urban planner specializing in disaster recovery and catastrophe risk management. - Transcript

Dr. Michael Méndez — Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning and Chancellor's Fellow, University of California, Irvine - Transcript

Abby Ross — Founder & CEO, The Resiliency Company - Transcript

Dr. Erica Seville — Commissioner, Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake; co-founder of Resilient Organisations and disaster recovery/resilience researcher. - Transcript

Download the Episode Field Notes — a practical guide to the episode's key ideas for policymakers and practitioners.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode

Maryam Zar "Are we going to come together and think about a purposefully, resiliently built community that can withstand the next fire? Or are we just going to build back if we can?"

Dr. Laurie Johnson "A disaster, in my opinion, unfolds over time, and the process of recovery is really about addressing that uncertainty and trying to bring certainty to all the various actors in the recovery process."

Dr. Michael Méndez "These wildfires, droughts, and other hazards are gonna continue to increase with our changing environment, and we need to prepare and adapt our communities. And with that, we need to have a workforce that is trained and provided with a living wage."

Abby Ross "There's a series of what does it mean when urban communities burn and how we go about the relief, recovery, and long-term rebuilding process that is fundamentally different from years before that we have to be able to adapt to."

Dr. Erica Seville "We actually had the opportunity to make some big choices that helped the city in the long term to actually become a better city after the event rather than just rebuilding what was."

Recovery Is Adaptation Framework

1. Recovery begins when the hazard ends — Laurie Johnson A disaster unfolds over time. The fire going out doesn't mean the disaster is over; it begins a long period of uncertainty, coordination, cleanup, and rebuilding.

2. Recovery must start with the community — Maryam Zar Rebuilding isn't just replacing structures. Communities need a voice in deciding what comes back, what changes, and what resilience should look like.

3. Protect the people doing the recovery — Michael Méndez Recovery depends on workers, and resilience cannot be built by exposing those workers—especially vulnerable immigrant and day laborers—to new risks.

4. Connect cleanup to rebuilding — Abby Ross Remediation, financing, insurance, construction, and resilience shouldn't operate as separate systems. Cleanup itself is part of adaptation.

5. Rebuild for the next disaster, not the last one — Erica Seville Recovery creates a rare opportunity to reconsider where and how we build. Christchurch shows that recovery can become renewal and leave a community more resilient—and even better—than before.

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Links in this episode:

The independent Blue Ribbon Commission for Climate Action and Fire Safe Recover

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!

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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

In episode 260 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons talks with veteran science journalist Miles O'Brien, host of the new PBS series Resolve to Solve with Miles O'Brien. Doug and Miles explore how Phoenix and Sydney, Australia, are confronting extreme heat, from redesigned playgrounds and urban shade to fascinating research on how heat actually affects the human body. Then it's beavers—yes, beavers—and their surprising role in helping Western landscapes hold onto water, restore ecosystems, and provide refuge from wildfire. The conversation expands into a lively discussion about climate journalism: why adaptation remains underreported, the decline of dedicated science reporting, and the challenge of reaching audiences beyond the climate world. Doug and Miles also discuss adaptation as an emerging sector and why we need to invest much more seriously in telling these stories.

Transcript of episode available here.

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Links in this episode:

https://www.pbs.org/show/resolve-to-solve/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• Extreme heat adaptation in Phoenix and Sydney, Australia Designing cities and public spaces for a hotter climate
• Beavers as unexpected allies against drought and wildfire
• Adaptation as an emerging profession, sector, and economy
• Why climate journalism remains too reactive
• Moving beyond climate doom toward realistic, pragmatic hope
• Taking adaptation stories beyond the adaptation community

For Educators & Students

• Compare how Phoenix and Sydney, Australia, are adapting to extreme heat.
• Explore how urban design can reduce exposure to dangerous temperatures.
• Examine beavers as a case study in nature-based adaptation to drought and wildfire.
• Discuss why climate journalism tends to focus on disasters rather than the adaptation happening between them.
• Consider the emergence of climate adaptation as a profession, sector, and economy.
• Explore how journalists can communicate realistic hope without minimizing the seriousness of climate change.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Compare how Phoenix and Sydney, Australia, are adapting to extreme heat
• Explore how urban design can reduce exposure to dangerous temperatures
• Examine beavers as a case study in nature-based adaptation to drought and wildfire
• Discuss why climate journalism often focuses on disasters rather than what happens between them
• Consider adaptation as an emerging profession, sector, and economy
• Explore how journalists can communicate realistic hope without minimizing climate risk

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!

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 259 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons brings together two conversations for an end-of-summer adaptation grab bag. First, Doug talks with Anita Van Breda of World Wildlife Fund about why we should stop using the term "natural disaster." Anita explains the distinction between natural hazards and disasters, and how choices about development, vulnerability, and the environment shape the damage that follows. Doug then speaks with Bishal Thapa of CLASP about the overlooked role of efficient appliances and equipment in climate adaptation. They explore the idea of appliances as "microinfrastructure"—from fans and air conditioners that reduce heat risk to refrigeration, cold storage, and solar water pumps that support food security and livelihoods. They also discuss financing and what adaptation efforts in the Global South can teach the rest of the world.

Transcript of episode available here.

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Links in this episode:

Report: Powering Thriving Communities: Efficient Appliances for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

Previous America Adapts Episodes with Anita Van Breda

Flood Management: Nature Based Approaches and International Collaborations

Flooding and Natural and Nature-Based Solutions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Flooding

Flooding, Climate Change, and Art

Reducing Disaster Risk: The Workforce of the Future

Key Themes Covered in This Episode Why disasters aren't "natural" How human choices shape disaster risk and vulnerability Appliances as climate adaptation "microinfrastructure" Extreme heat, cooling access, and energy efficiency Getting microinfrastructure into adaptation planning Adaptation lessons from the Global South For Educators & StudentsDisaster risk and the language of "natural disasters" Human vulnerability and societal choices Microinfrastructure as climate adaptation Extreme heat and access to cooling Energy efficiency and adaptation Adaptation lessons from the Global South

Who Should Listen to This Episode Climate adaptation professionals Disaster risk reduction practitioners Climate and resilience planners Policymakers and government officials Climate communicators and journalists

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!

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 258 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Bryan Hubbell, Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future and former EPA research leader, about how climate adaptation can move from good intentions to measurable results. Drawing on nearly three decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bryan reflects on EPA's often-overlooked role in advancing adaptation across public health, ecosystems, wildfire smoke, and contaminated sites. Doug and Bryan explore one of the field's biggest challenges: how to determine whether adaptation efforts are actually reducing climate risk. They discuss the need for stronger evidence, better knowledge sharing, and new ways to connect research with real-world decision making. The conversation also looks ahead to the next era of federal climate adaptation, examining how a future administration can rebuild adaptation capacity while creating stronger institutions that help communities learn, innovate, and better prepare for a changing climate.

Transcript of episode available here.

Go Deeper: We turned this conversation into a concise Policy Brief that captures the episode's key insights, practical recommendations, and implications for adaptation policy. Download it here.

New! Download the companion Meeting-in-a-Box—a ready-to-use facilitation guide that distills the episode's key insights into a one-hour discussion designed to help your team turn ideas into action.

Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

Links in this episode:

Adaptation Evidence Bank poster presented at the 2026 National Adaptation Forum

Proposed Climate Adaptation and Resilience Evidence Bank (CAREB) + Adaptation and Resilience Incubator and Accelerator (ARIA)

Climate Change Impacts on Environmental Protection at the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: A Horizon Scan

How the Trump Administration Ended Independent Science at the E.P.A.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• Measuring climate adaptation success
• Lessons from nearly three decades at EPA
• Turning adaptation research into better decisions
• Building stronger adaptation institutions
• Preparing for the next era of federal climate adaptation For Educators & Students

• Climate adaptation policy
• Measuring adaptation success
• Evidence-based decision making
• Federal climate adaptation
• Institutionalizing climate adaptation

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation professionals
• Federal, state, and local government leaders
• Resilience and sustainability practitioners
• Researchers and university students
• Anyone interested in the future of climate adaptation governance

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!

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 257 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Ladd Keith, associate professor of planning at the University of Arizona and one of the world's leading experts on extreme heat adaptation. As Europe endures another deadly heat wave, Doug and Ladd explore why heat remains the deadliest—and one of the most overlooked—climate hazards. They discuss Arizona's progress in reducing heat-related deaths, lessons from Europe and India, the growing challenges facing rural communities, and how cuts to federal funding threaten adaptation efforts just as they are beginning to scale. The conversation also examines why communities must stop planning for today's climate and prepare for a hotter future, how urban planning can address multiple climate risks at once, and why building public awareness is essential if climate adaptation is going to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.

Transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper: We turned this conversation into a concise Policy Brief that captures the episode's key insights, practical recommendations, and implications for adaptation policy. Download it here.

New! Download the companion Meeting-in-a-Box—a ready-to-use facilitation guide that distills the episode's key insights into a one-hour discussion designed to help your team turn ideas into action.

Links in this episode:

https://www.laddkeith.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laddkeith/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/laddkeith.com

U of A Heat Resilience Initiative https://heat.arizona.edu

Center for Heat Resilient Communities publication - Building Heat Resilient Communities: A Toolkit for Local Planning, Decision-Making, & Action https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/publication/building-heat-resilient-communities/Planning for Rural Heat Resilience https://www.planning.org/publications/document/9331842/

Heat Related Episode from the America Adapts Archive

Fundamentals of Extreme Heat and Climate Change with Dr. Ladd Keith of University of Arizona The Heat Will Still Kill You First with Jeff Goodell

Climate Change and Extreme Heat End of Summer Episode with Dr. Kelly Turner and Dr. Ladd Keith

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• Europe's heat wave is a warning.
• Arizona proves adaptation works.
• Stop planning for yesterday's climate.
• Think globally, adapt locally.
• Design communities for multiple climate risks.
• Adaptation needs public demand.

For Educators & Students

• Heat adaptation in Arizona and beyond.
• Lessons from Europe's deadly heat wave.
• Planning for tomorrow's climate.
• Urban planning and climate resilience.
• Building climate-ready communities.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Urban planners and community planners
• Public health and heat resilience professionals
• Emergency managers and local government leaders
• Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners
• Students and educators in planning, climate, and public policy
• Anyone interested in how communities can prepare for a hotter future

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 this special episode of America Adapts (256), host Doug Parsons brings together leading voices from journalism, filmmaking, philanthropy, research, and climate practice to explore one of the biggest challenges facing climate adaptation: how do we communicate it? These conversations, sparked by a communications panel at the National Adaptation Forum, examine why adaptation remains "the greatest story never told," how to connect with audiences beyond the adaptation community, and what it will take to build a stronger culture of climate resilience. Along the way, an unexpected communications framework begins to emerge, with each guest offering a distinct principle for making adaptation more visible, relatable, and actionable. The conversations also point to an often-overlooked challenge: communications must be funded, prioritized, and approached with the same creativity and innovation we bring to adaptation itself. This episode was generously supported by the CO2 Foundation, whose commitment to advancing climate adaptation communications helped make these conversations possible.

Go Deeper: We turned this conversation into a concise Policy Brief that captures the episode's key insights, practical recommendations, and implications for adaptation policy. Download it here.

New! Download the companion Meeting-in-a-Box—a ready-to-use facilitation guide that distills the episode's key insights into a one-hour discussion designed to help your team turn ideas into action.

Experts in this Episode:

Karen Wolfgang – Executive Director of the CO2 Foundation - Transcript

Olga Loginova - Documentary Filmmaker and Podcaster - Transcript

Beth Gibbons – Director, Resiliency Office, Washtenaw County - Transcript

Shaun Martin - Director of Adaptation, WWF-US - Transcript

Pearl Marvell - Yale Climate Connections, Editora de YCC en español - Transcript

Dr. Deb L. Morrison - Learning Scientist focused on climate adaptation and Lead Author for the IPCC's Seventh Assessment Report on Climate Information and Services - Transcript

Memorable Quotes from This Episode

Doug Parsons, America Adapts "Does adaptation have an awareness problem, a language problem, or an identity problem?

Karen Wolfgang, CO2 Foundation "We need to tell a similar story—that there's something worth adapting for."

Shaun Martin, World Wildlife Fund "People hear what they want to hear—not necessarily what I want them to hear, which is the adaptation story."

Olga Loginova, Filmmaker & Journalist "I love people. And I'm fascinated with the stories that people tell."

Pearl Marvell, Yale Climate Connections "One of the best things you can do when it comes to climate change and climate action is just to start a conversation about it."

Dr. Deb Morrison, University of Washington "Just speaking to people about your message is, in fact, not communication."

Beth Gibbons, Washtenaw County Resiliency Office "You're not leading with adaptation. You're leading with what people locally care about, but you're bringing the adaptation story into that topic."

Panel Communication Framework

1. Communications is Critical Infrastructure (Doug Parsons) Adaptation only scales if successful ideas are communicated, shared, and put into action. 2. Actionable Knowledge Transfer (Karen Wolfgang) Share what works—and what doesn't—so communities can learn faster and adaptation can spread. 3. Keep Adaptation Visible (Shaun Martin) Don't let adaptation disappear inside conservation, disasters, AI, or other compelling narratives. 4. Tell Human Stories (Olga Loginova) People connect with people, trust, identity, and lived experience—not reports.5. Know Your Audience (Pearl Marvel) Different audiences require different messages, framing, platforms, and storytellers. 6. Co-Produce Communication (Dr. Deb L. Morrison) Build understanding with communities, not just messages for communities. 7. Treat Communications Strategically (Beth Gibbons) Meet people where they are, work with trusted partners, and make communications part of every adaptation effort—not an afterthought.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• Why Climate Adaptation May Be the Greatest Story Never Told
• Building Climate Adaptation Through Better Communications
• Knowledge Transfer as the Key to Scaling Adaptation
• The Power of Human Stories and Community Voices
• Knowing Your Audience and Communicating with Purpose
• Why Communications Should Be Core Adaptation Infrastructure
• Funding, Innovation, and the Future of Climate Adaptation Communications

For Educators & Students

• Climate Adaptation Communications
• Science Communication & Public Engagement
• Environmental Journalism & Storytelling
• Community Engagement & Co-Production
• Adaptation Planning & Knowledge Transfer
• Strategic Communications for Climate Action
• Philanthropy, Funding & Scaling Adaptation

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate Adaptation & Resilience Professionals
• Climate Communicators & Journalists
• Grantmakers & Philanthropic Leaders
• Government & NGO Climate Practitioners
• Researchers, Academics & Students
• Community Engagement & Outreach Professionals
• Anyone Working to Scale Climate Adaptation

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:

National Adaptation Forum https://www.nationaladaptationforum.org/

Yale Climate Connections https://yaleclimateconnections.org/

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

In episode 255 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founder and director of Football for Future, about how the world's most popular sport can become a powerful platform for climate adaptation and communication. Elliot shares how his organization is engaging clubs, players, governing bodies, and fans while expanding the football climate conversation beyond sustainability and emissions. Doug and Elliot discuss Football for Future's Pitches in Peril report, which examines climate risks facing 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities and stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including extreme heat, flooding, risks to players and fans, adaptation funding, and how major sporting events can leave behind a resilience legacy. They also explore whether global sporting events can help unlock new sources of funding for resilience. Elliot argues that "politics follows culture," leading to a broader conversation about adaptation's communications challenge and what the resilience community can learn from football about storytelling, influence, marketing, and reaching audiences far beyond the traditional climate space.

Transcript for this episode.

FIFA World Cup

Links in this episode:

https://footballforfuture.org/pitchesinperil

The Future of Adaptation Funds in Global Sport

https://afddf8e8-2dfc-4526-9ba6-71e1899413f3.filesusr.com/ugd/e9e304_a61ef14e0fdf41ddb6961067f737089d.pdf

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• The World's Most Popular Sport Meets Climate Change
• The 2026 World Cup as a Climate Stress Test
• Football's Role in Climate Communication
• Funding Climate Adaptation Through Sport
• Extreme Heat and the Future of Outdoor Sports
• Reaching Billions Through Culture and Storytelling
• Creating a Resilience Legacy Beyond the Tournament For Educators & Students
• Climate Change and the World's Most Popular Sport
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup as a Climate Stress Test
• Extreme Heat, Stadium Resilience, and Athlete Safety
• Adaptation Finance and New Funding Models
• Climate Communication Beyond Traditional Audiences
• Why Politics Follows Culture
• Using Sports to Make Climate Adaptation Visible and Relevant

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Anyone curious about how climate change is affecting the world's most popular sport
• Climate adaptation and resilience professionals
• Sports executives, sustainability managers, and event organizers
• Climate communicators, journalists, and storytellers
• Students and educators interested in adaptation and public engagement
• Funders exploring new approaches to climate resilience
• Fans wondering what climate change means for the future of football

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 254 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons heads to the National Adaptation Forum to meet some of the people shaping the future of climate adaptation. With help from guest interviewers Shaun Martin of WWF and documentary filmmaker and podcaster Olga Loginova, Doug speaks with leaders working in public health, urban forestry, climate communications, sports, Indigenous engagement, adaptation finance, and immersive storytelling. These short conversations highlight the creativity, innovation, and collaboration driving adaptation efforts today, while also raising an important question: how do we bring even more people, sectors, and ideas into the adaptation movement? If you've ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at the people and conversations defining the adaptation field, this episode is for you.

Guest Hosts:

Shaun Martin - Vice President Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, WWF-US

Olga Loginova - Documentary Filmmaker and Podcaster

Experts in this Episode:

• Clara Kitongo - Tree Equity Manager at Tree Pittsburgh (transcript)
• Elliot Arthur-Worsop - Co-Founder, Football For Future (transcript)
• Katie Basile - Coastal Resilience Specialist (transcript)
• Juliano Calil - Founder, Virtual Planet Technologies (transcript)
• Leanne Spaulding - Resilience and Data Lead, , Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) (transcript)
• Silvia Duque Añez – Sustainability Coordinator City of Fort Lauderdale (transcript)
• Dr. Rachit Sharma - Research Scientist, BIRCHE Lab, University of California, Berkeley; Household Energy Initiative (transcript)
• Jonathan Cook - Blackpoll Consulting (transcript)
• Dr. Lara Hansen - Executive Director, EcoAdapt; Co-Founder and Organizer, National Adaptation Forum (transcript)

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:

https://www.policyinnovation.org/leanne-spaulding

Geos Insitute ClimateInsights: https://climateinsights.app

EPIC: https://www.policyinnovation.org

Nature Moves. Our Rules Don't.: https://www.policyinnovation.org/insights/nature-moves-our-rules-dont

Data Foundation: https://datafoundation.org

https://householdenergy.org/rachit-sharma-mbbs-mph-phd/

https://sehataurclimate.carrd.co/

National Adaptation Forum https://www.nationaladaptationforum.org/

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

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

In episode 248 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons is joined by Professor Mark Nevitt of Emory University School of Law to unpack the repeal of the Clean Air Act's Endangerment Finding and what it means for climate governance in the United States. Long considered the legal backbone of federal climate regulation, its rescission raises fundamental questions about agency authority, the role of the courts, and the durability of federal climate policy. Mark explains the legal theory behind the repeal, how it intersects with Supreme Court precedent, and what likely comes next in federal court. The conversation also explores the practical implications of regulatory instability — from increased climate litigation to the shifting balance between federal, state, and local responsibility. For listeners working in adaptation, public policy, infrastructure, law, or risk management, this episode offers a clear look at how legal shifts at the federal level can reshape the broader climate landscape — and why adaptation efforts must continue regardless of political volatility.

Transcript for this episode here.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• What the Endangerment Finding actually did under the Clean Air Act
• Why Massachusetts v. EPA mattered
• The legal basis for the repeal
• How the repeal affects federal climate regulation
• The role of the Supreme Court and administrative law
• What happens next in federal court
• More emissions and rising adaptation costs
• States and cities filling the federal vacuum
• The growing role of climate litigation
• Adaptation continuing — but in a more fragmented system

Previous appearances by Mark Nevitt on America Adapts

Destroy, Rebuild, Repeat: How to Break the Climate Disaster Cycle with Mark Nevitt

Climate Change and the Legal System: Why the U.S. Constitution Needs to Adapt with Law Professor Mark Nevitt

Climate Adaptation Predictions for 2025: What the Experts Say

For Educators & Students

• The structure and limits of federal agency authority
• The interaction between executive action and judicial review
• How Supreme Court doctrine reshapes environmental governance
• Federalism and the division of climate authority between states and Washington
• Legal uncertainty and its impact on infrastructure and long-term planning
• Climate governance in periods of institutional instability
• The evolving role of courts in climate policy disputes
• Risk management when regulatory frameworks shift abruptly
• Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience professionals navigating shifting federal policy
• State and local government officials responsible for long-term planning
• Urban and regional planners integrating climate risk into infrastructure decisions
• Insurance, reinsurance, and financial sector professionals assessing regulatory volatility
• Corporate risk, legal, and strategy teams tracking climate governance shifts
• Environmental law and public policy scholars following administrative law developments
• Funders and foundations evaluating the durability of climate investments
• Climate communicators explaining governance instability to broader audiences

ClimateTech Connect Conference Mentioned in the Episode!

ClimateTech Connect Registration

Use code: AAVIP for 25% discount off ticket prices

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!

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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

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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 247 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Mekala Krishnan, partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, for an inside look at how one of the world's most influential private research institutions is approaching climate adaptation. Drawing from MGI's recent report, Advancing Adaptation, the conversation explores what it would actually cost to protect people and economies from escalating heat, flooding, drought, and wildfire — and why investment still falls short even when the economic case is strong.. The discussion also examines how ideas developed within a private firm travel into real-world decision-making, and why governance, leadership, and awareness remain critical to ensuring that new data and tools translate into action. For listeners working at the intersection of climate risk, finance, infrastructure, and policy, this episode offers a clear view into how the private sector is framing adaptation — and what that framing could mean for the future of the field.

Transcript of episode available here.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• Why the McKinsey Global Institute is focusing on adaptation now
• What it costs to respond to rising physical climate risk
• The resiliency gap and why investment remains insufficient
• How climate risk is entering mainstream economic thinking
• What large-scale adaptation models include — and exclude
• Governance, leadership, and awareness as scaling constraints
• The need for shared language between public and private actors

Links & Resources from This Episode

Advancing adaptation: How evolving hazards could shape the agenda

Dr. Mekala Krishnan

Ten key requirements for a systemic approach to climate adaptation

For Educators & Students

This episode is well-suited for courses on climate adaptation, environmental economics, climate risk management, corporate sustainability, public policy, or infrastructure finance.

Key themes include physical risk modeling, cost-benefit analysis, capital allocation, governance constraints, and the expanding role of the private sector in adaptation.

Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners
• Corporate sustainability, risk, and strategy professionals
• Urban and regional planners working on long-term resilience
• Insurance, finance, and reinsurance professionals
• Researchers and students studying climate governance or environmental economics
• Government staff involved in adaptation planning
• Funders interested in scaling adaptation solutions
• Climate communicators bridging public and private perspectives

ClimateTech Connect Conference Mentioned in the Episode!

ClimateTech Connect RegistrationUse code: AAVIP for 25% discount off ticket prices

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 246 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Shiran Victoria Shen, assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, for a closer look at how climate adaptation actually emerges in China. Drawing on her research after the devastating 2021 Henan flood, Shen shows how public demand for adaptation surged—not through climate change language, but through calls for safety, infrastructure, and risk reduction, often using formal government channels. The conversation highlights adaptation as a lived governance issue rather than an ideological one, and surfaces practical lessons about public participation, the limits of top-down approaches, and what governments everywhere tend to respond to when climate risk becomes impossible to ignore.

Transcript of interview here.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• How public demand for climate adaptation emerges after extreme disasters
• Why people often ask for adaptation without using "climate change" language
• The 2021 Henan flood as a national turning point for adaptation awareness in China
• Public participation and formal governance channels, including the Local Leaders' Message Board
• Differences between adaptation and mitigation from a governance perspective
• The limits of top-down adaptation and where citizen influence realistically ends
• What adaptation in China reveals about public engagement globally
• Lessons for policymakers, planners, and communicators working outside the U.S.

Links & Resources from This Episode

• Shiran Victoria Shen – Faculty Page (Washington University in St. Louis)
• The 2021 Henan flood increased citizen demand for government-led climate change adaptation in China
• Shiran Victoria Shen – Research & Publications
• Dialogue Earth article: How the Chinese public is engaging in climate adaptation
• China's National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (latest version)
• Background on the 2021 Henan Flood

For Educators & Students

• This episode is well-suited for courses on climate adaptation, environmental governance, public policy, or comparative politics.
• Key themes include public participation, disaster response, adaptation without climate language, and institutional limits.
• Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners
• Urban and regional planners working on risk, infrastructure, or public engagement
• Researchers and students studying climate governance, adaptation, or comparative policy
• Government staff and policymakers involved in disaster response or long-term planning
• Funders and foundations interested in how public demand shapes adaptation outcomes
• Climate communicators looking to move beyond technical or ideological framing
• Anyone interested in how climate adaptation is unfolding outside the United States

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 245 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons is joined by legendary climate journalist Jeff Goodell, author of The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet for a conversation about what's happened since the book came out — and what hasn't. Extreme heat is no longer a future risk or a background climate issue; it's a present-day killer that exposes deep failures in public health, labor protections, urban design, and climate communication. We also talk about how recent political shifts have pushed the U.S. further backward on heat response, weakening protections and leaving communities more exposed just as the risks accelerate. This isn't a book recap — it's a reckoning with the legacy of the warning, and why heat will still kill first if we keep refusing to take it seriously.

Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here!

Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

Donate to America Adapts

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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/

Links in this episode:

https://jeffgoodellwriter.com/books/

https://jeffgoodellwriter.com/about/

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.

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