National Policy Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show · Burt Cohen

In Our Climate Threat, There Are Opportunities

July 9, 2024·59 min·5 clips

A new report warns that U.S. coastlines may flood monthly, threatening over 1,100 critical infrastructure assets by 2030.

This episode of Keeping Democracy Alive focuses on a new report detailing the immediate risks of sea-level rise to U.S. coastal infrastructure. Host Burt Cohen interviews Dr. Rachel Cleetus, the policy director for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. The discussion centers on the UCS report "Looming Deadlines for Coastal Resilience," which finds nearly 1,100 critical infrastructure assets are at risk of frequent flooding. The report projects a 20% increase in at-risk infrastructure by 2030 and that over 1,600 assets could flood twice annually by 2050. Critical infrastructure includes power plants, schools, hospitals, public housing, and toxic waste sites. Data from NOAA on sea-level rise and digital elevation models were used to map infrastructure vulnerability. States with the highest risk are California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. A key insight is that flooding risks are not just from storms but from accelerating "sunny day" high-tide flooding. The report finds disadvantaged communities, as defined by a White House screening tool, have twice as much critical infrastructure at risk per capita. Dr. Cleetus explains that upfront resilience investments can have a benefit-cost ratio as high as 31-to-1, saving money long-term. She argues the insurance industry's retreat from high-risk areas is a "harsh market adjustment" signaling urgent need for action. The conversation highlights the human dimension, citing colleague Juan Declet-Barreto on how flooding can destroy community cohesion by forcing school closures and spreading pollution. Dr. Cleetus notes lessons from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where advocates push for a resilient, decentralized clean energy grid. She states that fossil fuel companies continue lobbying against climate action despite billions in disaster costs. The tone is urgent and educational, blending scientific data with policy advocacy and personal anecdotes. Cohen and Cleetus maintain a conversational style while detailing complex climate projections and equity issues. Listeners interested in climate science, coastal policy, and environmental justice will find this episode compelling. Those seeking a debate on climate change fundamentals or optimistic technological solutions may find its warnings too dire.

As heard by us

Climate risk is measured here in infrastructure, equity, and who gets protected first.

Climate change comes through here as a policy problem with real stakes, not an abstract warning. The discussion stays close to the Union of Concerned Scientists report, Looming Deadlines for Coastal Resilience, and keeps the focus on coastal infrastructure at risk as water…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want climate reality translated into concrete public stakes, not slogans.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from National Policy Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show