Building a Resilient Tomorrow: How to Prepare for the Coming Climate Disruption

by Alice C. Hill, Leonardo Martinez-Diaz

Climate change impacts-more heat, drought, extreme rainfall, and stronger storms-have already harmed communities around the globe. Even if the world could cut its carbon emissions to zero tomorrow, further significant global climate change is now inevitable. Although we cannot tell with certainty how much average global temperatures will rise, we do know that the warming we have experienced to date has caused significant losses, and that the failure to prepare for the consequences of further warming may prove to be staggering.

Building a Resilient Tomorrow does not dwell on overhyped descriptions of apocalyptic climate scenarios, nor does it travel down well-trodden paths surrounding the politics of reducing carbon emissions. Instead, it starts with two central facts: climate impacts will continue to occur, and we can make changes now to mitigate their effects. While squarely confronting the scale of the risks we face, this pragmatic guide focuses on solutions-some gradual and some more revolutionary-currently being deployed around the globe. Each chapter presents a thematic lesson for decision-makers and engaged citizens to consider, outlining replicable successes and identifying provocative recommendations to strengthen climate resilience. Between animated discussions of ideas as wide-ranging as managed retreat from coastal hot-zones to biological approaches for resurgent climate-related disease threats, Alice Hill and Leonardo Martinez-Diaz draw on their personal experiences as senior officials in the Obama Administration to tell behind-the-scenes stories of what it really takes to advance progress on these issues. The narrative is dotted with tales of on-the-ground citizenry, from small-town mayors and bankers to generals and engineers, who are chipping away at financial disincentives and bureaucratic hurdles to prepare for life on a warmer planet. For readers exhausted by today's paralyzing debates on yearly "fluke" storms or the existence of climate change, Building a Resilient Tomorrow offers better ways to manage the risks in a warming planet, even as we work to limit global temperature rise.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Climate Change

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Sophie Pesek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this after seeing Alice Hill speak—she rocks and this book has some fantastic adaptation anecdotes.

[Marwa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I hated reading this book during my English class, this book is amazing.

I’m rereading it right now for my project. Instead of scaring the population about climate change and the potential effects, this book gives concrete solutions and is extremely true and realistic. It takes everything in consideration (inequalities, economy, countries in development, ressources, etc.) and proposes possible projects.

Definitely a book to read once in a lifetime. (Bit repetitive however)

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a well-organized overview of policy options and examples for climate adaptation/resilience. I was surprised to find that I was eager to keep reading about climate finance and catastrophe insurance because it was so well-written.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last 15 pages moved it from 4 stars to 5 stars. This book is a good balance of breadth and depth. Critically important and very broad impacts across society.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I think this book is good if you are just getting into the area of climate change adaptation. It is particularly useful for American's entering the climate change adaptation / resiliency space - particularly if you are entering government (municipal, sub-national, and national), industry, corporate sectors, etc. If you are not American, it can still be helpful; but there are many other resources out there that would likely be more applicable to your work / life than this book. I guess it depends on what you are looking for... It wasn't for me and will not likely be for you if you are already working in this sector / not American.

The book is written in the annoyingly repetitive and overused 'Silicon Valley non-fiction style' we are seeing often these days. It goes like this, over, and over again... "...There once was a great American person/company/event in the year 19XX that dealt with a very big issue. They did the miraculous A, incredible B, and stupendous C, and it was amazing. Now, we should take this fully out of context and apply it to X, Y and Z and take great wisdom in this." Over, and over again. However, the book does carry some good policy recommendations under "Prescriptions and Provocations" that are helpful. I would have preferred just reading those pages and ignoring all the rest...

I suppose I should have known that a book by Alice Hill and Leonardo Martinez-Diaz would be focussed almost entirely on the United States. I was hoping for something more global, but handy reminders (under "prescriptions and provocations") for those of us working in the sector (just read those pages as you stand in the book store aisle and when you're done, go find another book).

Lastly, I find the subtitle of this book and its reference to the "coming climate disruption" odd and frustrating given the climate "disruption" is already very much present and happening. Disruption sounds like a firetruck going by at 3a.m. and briefly waking you up... climate change is more like a crisis - you know, where the sea fills your home, the fires overtake vast swaths of land, cyclones flatten entire communities and arable land becomes infertile and barren...

[Russell Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title suggests, this book concentrates on resilience, which in this context means resilience against the consequences of climate change. The authors who are experts in the field, describe various ways organizations and governmental entities can provide that resilience. They address such issues as building on or near shorelines or in flood plains, modifying laws to shift liability for climate disasters to incentivize parties to build in more resilient ways, or to relocate, preparing the health care system better to respond to floods, hurricanes, investing in better climate and disease modeling, and so forth. Most of their suggestions are sensible and useful.

Some of the better ones are: to encourage architecture schools to include climate risk and methods to ameliorate it in its curriculum; government subsidies to insurance companies faced with catastrophic losses should be phased out so that insurance companies weigh the true risks of climate disasters better and raise rates to incentivize developers and homebuyers to make better choices; local community leaders should develop and implement heat emergency plans and centers. Some are little more than wishful thinking or meaningless technobabble, like "governments should apply insights to advance climate resilience" or "business leaders should lead a process to develop a protocol that enables companies to better understand climate risks."

The book is aimed entirely at governments at all levels and people in a position to influence policy on a large scale such as industry leaders. It is an advocacy piece. There is little here for the average reader. I had hoped that after reading it I would be more prepared personally for coming climate-related risks, but I was disappointed in that respect.

[Sam Mullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully approachable and practical novel of climate resilience and adaptation. I find that sometimes these books can be a bit overly academic and repetitively trying to fill out a 300-page publisher quota for a relatively simple concept. However, this book pleasantly surprised me.

It was full of gripping antidotes and compelling advice for anyone interested in climate resilience. It perfectly balanced a breadth of topics, but held appropriate depth of subject-matter to get under the hood of many solutions and challenges within the space.

I would have loved a less US-centric approach, but can only blame myself as I was warned of that in the introduction.

[Julien · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read on the subject et resilience on climate change. It was a very interesting take on how the society can prepare, be it in term of require law change, economic and even military.

This approach, resilience, is also applicable to many other things. Even if personally I cannot directly apply those suggested changes. It can help me decide on how to vote or how to simply talk about various subjects (and of course climate change).

[Hunter Radecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Audiobook]

Well crafted, informative book on policy adaptation regarding climate change. Solution oriented book that utilizes intersectionality to exemplify the importance of action before it’s too late. Strengthening our communities in advance of (at this point, pragmatically) adverse effects of our changing climate pays dividends in the long run.

[Lili Dugas · Rating 5 out of 5]

an incredibly hopeful and inspiring read regarding social, political, economical and anthropological solutions to climate change. with graphs and images, it is easy to understand and is well chaptered. big kuddos to the author, i loved this book and turn to it when i feel hopeless about our futur.

[Abrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Strategies for future challenges with real examples in resent years.

[Margaret Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of climate resilience issues.

[Louis C Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blueprint for surviving climate change

The collective and cultivated ignorance about climate change that is now enveloping the world is a crime against humanity. These authors detail how to move forward.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smart, clear eyed book about the types of policies we need to adapt to climate change. The focus on adaptation leaves no room for fretting about what is coming or even if we can stop it - it conveys a sense of hope and practicality on what we need to do now.

[Brian Penoyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The views expressed herein are mine alone and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Commandant or of the United States Coast Guard.

A wonderful survey of the choice and policy options out there. The chapter on rethinking national security - environmental security issues as a source of instability - is particularly important!