Find us at the 2024 National Adaption Forum in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on May 14–16. Known as the place where leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders from various sectors come together to address the pressing challenges of climate change adaptation, this unique conference serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and innovative solutions to build resilience in the face of a changing climate. With a focus on collaboration and action, the Forum facilitates discussions on strategies to mitigate risks, protect communities, and promote sustainability. From policymakers and researchers to community organizers and tribal leaders, participants engage in workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and drive meaningful change. Join us as we work towards a more resilient and adaptive future for all.
Exploring Adaptive Interdependence in Community Infrastructure
Tuesday, May 14th | 10:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Every community relies on a system of interdependent civic infrastructure, from transportation and energy to water and development. These systems are complex; it is hard to understand how changes to one system will affect other systems and community health. The session’s format will introduce dependent systems; present research and case studies at a range of scales; and end with a Q&A session.
This session has case studies across four functional systems:
- Transportation – How can digital twins and activity-based models inform coordinated investments in tree canopy or inform the impacts of a bridge closure?
- Energy – How do we incorporate equity, justice, and affordability for all into grid reliability and energy resilience policy and infrastructure investments?
- Water – How can we integrate equity into flood risk assessments to help communities make informed adaptation decisions?
- Building & Sites – How does uncertainty and ranges of plausible futures help building owners and design teams evaluate potential climate change impacts across building lifespans?
Alta Speaker: David Wasserman
Inclusive Walk Audits: Adapting a Transportation Planning Tool to Enable Walking in a Warming World
Thursday, May 16 | 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
We need more people to walk for transportation to fight climate change, but climate change is increasingly making walking less comfortable, resulting in a vicious cycle. People walking are suffering the impact of the heat, poor air quality, and extreme weather associated with climate change, leading many to drive rather than walk, even relatively short distances, thereby further contributing to climate change. Those who do not have the option to drive are disproportionately people with disabilities and people with low incomes. We can break the cycle and make walking a more comfortable and safe option. The field of transportation planning already has a proven (and fun!) tool for bringing together government decision makers and the most impacted members of the public to focus attention on the needs of people walking: the walk audit. Adaptation practitioners, advocates, and community members can use this tool to build awareness and support for adaptation actions on public streets. Join us for an interactive training to learn how to lead an inclusive walk audit. This session will include a half-mile walk roundtrip from the RiverCentre. We’ll share best practices and welcome your ideas on ways to leverage walk audits as a tool for adaptation.
Alta Speaker: Maria Wardoku