Leading communities to successful
futures through up-to-date climate research.
From droughts to floods to forest fires, the West is not immune to extreme weather conditions and climate events – and only seems to be getting worse. In a 2012 study by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, more than half of Americans felt extreme climate events had been getting worse over the years. But how do you plan for these extreme scenarios?
It’s no longer enough to be reactive or simply monitor trends. We must be proactive, working to anticipate climate events and protect our communities’ people, resources and infrastructures. It’s this interconnectedness that makes climate adaptation and preparedness so important. Take heat for example. An extreme heat wave requires water conservation, a robust healthcare structure, economic planning and more. These are all foundational elements of our communities and they are directly affected by our ever-shifting climate.
Climate events affect you, so it should come as no surprise that it’s an important part of the work that we do at the Sonoran Institute. We work with local governments to compile climate preparedness toolkits. We study the disproportionate effects extreme climate events have on poor and underserved communities in an effort to protect residents and maintain healthy economies. We work with city policymakers to account for climate events during the early stages of expansion. It’s not just about the weather. It’s about protecting you, your home, your job and your environment.
