SUGGESTIONS FOR A COURSE SYLLABUS Managing the Climate Crisis: Designing and Building for Risks and Resilience By Jonathan Barnett and Matthijs Bouw This course begins with a description of the scope and causes of the current climate crisis and then describes practicable ways to address the inevitable and growing threats from the changing climate, using constructed and nature-based design and engineering, and ordinary government programs. The content includes both adaptation and preventive measures and describes their implementation for seven climate-related threats: flooding along coastlines, river flooding, flash floods from extreme rain events, drought, wildfire, long periods of high heat, and food shortages. The course concludes with a recap of encouraging progress in managing the changing climate, describes the costs and benefits of necessary actions, and the positive ways in which managing the climate crisis can also help the U.S. to a better future. The syllabus includes three suggested assignments which can help the student see the applicability of the subject matter to familiar places. This syllabus can support a separate course about managing the climate crisis, but one or more of the three parts of the syllabus can also be used individually as part of a syllabus for courses about climate resilience and risk management in city and regional planning and landscape architecture programs, as well as in urban studies and public policy courses. One or more of the parts of this syllabus can also be incorporated into other courses, such as a more general course on climate change, or regional planning, courses on environmental studies, courses dealing with social inequality, plus courses on transportation, landscape design, and planning law. The principal text for all three parts of this course is Managing the Climate Crisis, Designing and Building for Floods, Heat, Drought and Wildfire by Jonathan Barnett and Matthijs Bouw, Island Press, 2022.
Part I: Understanding the Climate Crisis Lecture 1: The Climate Crisis: A National Security Problem The climate, which had been relatively stable for centuries, is well into a new and dangerous phase. In 2020 there were 22 weather and climate disasters in the United States, which resulted in 262 deaths. Each disaster cost more than a billion dollars to repair. This dangerous trend is continuing with unprecedented heat waves, extended drought, extraordinary wildfire seasons, torrential downpours, and increased coastal and river flooding. Reducing the causes of the changing climate is the urgent global priority, but the country will be living with worsening climate disasters at least until midcentury because of greenhouse emissions already in the atmosphere. How to deal with the changing climate is an urgent national security problem affecting almost everyone. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 1: The Climate Crisis: A National Security Problem pp 3 – 17 Klinenberg, E. “Adaptation: How can Cities be “Climate-proofed?” in The New Yorker Magazine. January 7, 2013
Lecture 2: The Causes and Dangers of a Warming Climate The effect of more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is to produce more intense, and possibly more frequent, tropical cyclones with accompanying increases in coastal flooding and storm surges. There will be more periods of heavy precipitation, higher maximum temperatures, more hot days, and longer and more intense heat waves. Winters will have higher minimum temperatures and fewer cold days, but, at the same time, there can be unseasonal freezing temperatures. There will be longer and more intense periods of drought in some regions. Even more concerning, there is a possibility that continuous changes could produce a tipping point, after which the climate crisis could become unmanageable. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 2: The Causes and Dangers of a Warming Climate pp 17 – 30 See also https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science Assignment 1: Provide answers to these two questions: What are the most serious climate risks where you live? What are current predictions for what these risks will be by mid-century?
Part II: Managing Climate Threats Lecture 3: Flooding from Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges Coastal areas across the U.S. are seeing an increase in sunny day flooding, and the threats from storms are increasing, overwhelming the usual protective barriers in some places. In highdensity areas incorporating flood walls into shoreline open spaces will be necessary, but working with natural systems – not opposing them – will be the most effective method in many situations. Risks can be reduced by using polder systems, by repairing the natural environment, by giving people incentives to move out of danger, and by reducing the vulnerability of individual properties. All of these approaches will require making choices based on the latest and most accurate climate predictions, extensive community involvement, and amended regulations and need to be in place to meet increasingly challenging conditions that will happen by midcentury. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 3, Flooding from Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges, pp 33 – 58 Jacob, Klaus H., “Sea level rise, storm risk, denial, and the future of coastal cities,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 2015, Vol. 71(5) 40–50
Lecture 4: Flooding along Rivers Unlike coastal flooding, there has long been a consensus in the United States that protection from river flooding is a government responsibility. But existing dams and levees need extensive repairs, and there is always a risk of disastrous failures. The changing climate also requires alternatives and additions to conventional flood protection – including restoring floodplains, deepening channels, using natural systems to preserve river shorelines, and increasing the flow downstream at river outlets. It is also important to intercept and reduce the flow of stormwater before it reaches streams and rivers. Retaining stormwater in urban areas is especially necessary. The room for the river projects in the Netherlands are a useful example of systemic flood management, as communities plan for meeting the flooding predicted for midcentury. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis Chapter 4: Flooding along Rivers, pp 59 – 78 The government of the Netherlands describes their program for managing flooding along rivers at https://www.dutchwatersector.com/news/room-for-the-river-programme
Lecture 5: Flooding from Extreme Storm Events For years, engineers believed that the faster stormwater could leave an area the better. More recent research shows the opposite. Stormwater should be retained to allow it to percolate into the groundwater system. This approach reinforces measures necessary to meet the standards of the Clean Water Act, where cities can no longer let flows of stormwater cause water treatment
plants to overflow, discharging untreated waste. Retaining stormwater means going from traditional pipe and pump systems to regional, nature-based stormwater retention, such as examples from Copenhagen and Amsterdam, and Asian prototypes. Urban areas need to add nature-based stormwater infrastructure to meet conditions predicted for midcentury. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis Chapter 5: Flooding from Extreme Storm Events, pp 79100 You can look up the First Street Foundation’s estimate of flood factors for an individual property at https://firststreet.org/risk-factor/flood-factor/
Lecture 6: Life-Threatening Heat Today, although heat waves are already a major health threat, extreme heat is only encountered a few days a year in most of the United States. By midcentury dangerous heatwaves will affect much of the country. Techniques for managing extreme heat outdoors include greening areas that are paved now, using water and shade to cool public spaces, and changing work hours to keep people from being exposed to the worst mid-day heat. Inside buildings, geothermal-based cooling can replace conventional heat pumps, and enhanced natural ventilation and shading devices can reduce the need for artificial cooling. Local governments can legislate maximum interior temperatures for summers, just as they require at least a minimum amount of heat in winter. They can also limit outdoor work during the hottest part of the day. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 6: Life-Threatening Heat, pp 101 – 122 Kristina Dahl et al, Killer Heat in the United States Climate Choices and the Future of Dangerously Hot Days, Union of Concerned Scientists, 2019. Available at https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/killer-heat-united-states-0
Lecture 7: Shortages of Fresh Water The western part of the United States is becoming increasingly dry, with record droughts taking place in the southwest. Water shortages are expected to become more severe by midcentury. Current water use has been based on an assurance of ample supplies. That will have to change. There are ways to conserve water-use in agriculture, in buildings, in power generation, and in maintaining landscapes – both natural and artificial. It will also become more and more important to safeguard water supplies from pollution from saltwater intrusion, and from industrial uses, like fracking. There are opportunities to increase the supply of freshwater by capturing rainwater, reusing wastewater, and – in some situations, desalination plants. Current drought management plans for Colorado River Basin cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, provide insights into what will be needed in many other places by midcentury. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 7: Shortages of Fresh Water, pp 123 – 148
Brian Richter, “Seven Principles for Sustainability,” in Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability, Island Press, 2014, pp 75 - 96
Lecture 8: Wildfire Catastrophic wildfires are among the most visible signs of a changing climate. Currently most wildfires are taking place in the western part of the U.S., but a substantial amount of development around the country is within what is called the wildland urban interface, and could be at risk of burning in the future. Wildfire is a natural process, and a century of immediately suppressing fires as soon as possible after they break out, has created some especially flammable landscapes. Much more funding needs to go into wildland management to reduce fire risks, or to make any fires that take place less intense. These prevention measures are much less expensive than the annual cost of fighting fires. Buildings close to wildlands can also be made more fire-resistant, and non-flammable spaces can be created around buildings, and, at a larger scale, around communities, as part of community wildfire protection plans. As with flooding, there may be some places where protection from wildfire is not possible, and planned retreat from these dangerous areas will be the best option. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 8: Wildfire, pp 149 – 168 Nowicki, Brian and Todd Schulke “The Community Protection Zone: Defending Homes and Communities from the Threat of Wildfire” in The Wildfire Reader: A Century of Failed Forest Policy, edited by George Wuerthner, Island Press, 2006
Lecture 9: Food Shortages Food production is not only of vital importance for the United States, but U.S. agricultural exports will be increasingly important as less-favored parts of the world experience food shortages. Preserving prime farmland from erosion and urbanization should be a national priority as current trends will jeopardize both the nation’s food supply. Crops and pasturage will have to be adjusted to a changing climate. Reducing wasted food will also be important. Changes can be made to the microclimate on farms: more shade for animals, more protection for row crops. Aquaculture and fish farming can be sustainable ways of augmenting the food supply, as is greenhouse agriculture, already a trend, particularly on rooftops in urban areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture already has programs that can be used for adapting to a changing climate, but their administration may have to change and funding will need to increase. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 9: Food Shortages, pp 169 – 187 “Section 4: Sustainable Farming Trends,” in The Economics of Sustainable Food; Smart Policies for Health and the Planet, edited by Nicoletta Bettini, Island Press, 2021.
Assignment 2: Select one of the seven threats we have been discussing as it applies to the area where you live and outline a program to keep people safe up to mid-century.
Part III: Implementing Climate Management Lecture 10: Recent Progress in Managing Climate Threats All levels of government are becoming aware of the need to manage climate threats. There has been progress at administrative levels of the Federal government, and substantial numbers of states and cities have prepared risk assessment and resilience plans, including North Carolina, Dallas, Houston, Colorado, California, and Seattle. Miami Dade County has prepared a plan that makes a business case for climate adaptation, based on the economic growth that necessary expenditures for adaptation will produce. Priorities for all plans should include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, specific adaptation plans, changing land use regulations to include climate factors, and close attention to social equity issues as part of climate adaptation. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 10: Recent Progress in Managing Climate Threats, pp 191 – 208 The Georgetown University Climate Center maintains a State and Local Government Adaptation Progress Tracker at https://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/plans.html
Lecture 11: Costs and Benefits of Managing Climate Threats The policies and investments needed to protect lives and property are affordable if they begin now, and are planned and budgeted over the next 30 years. Preventive actions can also be a tremendous opportunity, not only to create jobs, but also to remake cities and landscapes to be better for everyone. Flood defenses can be incorporated into new waterfront parks. The green designs needed to control flash floods can also help shield communities from excessive heat. Combating wildfires can produce healthier forests and generate creative designs for lowignition landscapes and more fire-resistant buildings. Capturing rainwater can make cities respond to severe weather more naturally, while conserving farmland from erosion and encouraging roof-top greenhouses can safeguard food supplies. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis, Chapter 11: Costs and Benefits of Managing Climate Threats, pp 209 – 234 Ahern, J. "From Fail-Safe to Safe-to-Fail: Sustainability and Resilience in the New Urban World," Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011: 341-343.
Lecture 12: How Managing the Climate Crisis Can Transform the United States A changing climate requires new design and planning models that will protect people and places, as well as ecosystems, trees, and green spaces, from flooding, heat, drought, and wildfire. There needs to be expanded access to expand access to healthy, locally produced food. Urban and rural development needs to be energy efficient and climate resilient, using renewable, reliable, and affordable energy. There needs to be increased access to sustainable, affordable transportation. Communities should be zero waste and most air pollution needs to be eliminated so everyone can breathe clean air. Implementing these objectives requires a climate atlas so decision-makers act according to reliable information. There needs to be long-term adaptation budgets. Planning of cities and towns should be rethought around a neighborhood resilience module using a community tool kit of proven methods for managing climate change. Managing the climate crisis up until midcentury will be difficult, but it is possible. Readings: Managing the Climate Crisis Chapter 12: How Managing the Climate Crisis Can Transform the United States, pp 235 – 253 Matthijs Bouw and Erik van Eekelen (eds.), Building with Nature: creating, implementing and scaling Nature-based Solutions NAi010 publishers, Rotterdam, 2020 Assignment 3: How should strategies for managing climate threats be used in your city or town, and can they also benefit the whole community?
About the authors of Managing the Climate Crisis: Jonathan Barnett is a Fellow of the Penn Institute for Urban Research, Professor Emeritus of City and Regional Planning, and former director of the Urban Design Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Designing the Megaregion: Meeting Urban Challenges at a New Scale, and, with Larry Beasley, of Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs, as well as many other books and articles about city and regional design. Matthijs Bouw is a Professor of Practice in Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the McHarg Center Fellow for Risk and Resilience at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a founder of One Architecture & Urbanism, an award-winning architecture and planning firm, established in 1995, with main offices in New York City and Amsterdam. His projects in the U.S. include continuing planning work for Climate-Ready Boston and climate-resilience plans for New York City.