Empowering Communities
Interstate 11 Corridor
Ensuring a healthy coexistence of our built and natural environments is a critical piece of the work we do at Sonoran Institute. When initiatives like the Interstate 11 Corridor are proposed, it’s our job to weigh all the options and seek to understand the economic and environmental impacts, both positive and negative.
Our report included site visits, GIS analysis and stakeholder interviews. The result? We found that, if properly planned, the proposed “multi-modal” corridor (highway, rail , utility, data, renewable energy transmission, etc.) could achieve its economic goals with minimal harm to the natural environment. Which is exactly what we’re after.
Resilient Communities Starter Kit
The communities of the West are an integral part of what makes this region so unique. And just like their natural environments, communities are faced with unique challenges, particularly, climate. We’re researching how changing climate conditions affect local communities and economies so we can better prepare them for the future.
Our Resilient Communities Starter Kit is a road map for communities to manage shifting climates and changing environments. It’s become a go-to resource for community leaders, and can be downloaded for free or presented in a facilitated workshop setting.
Climate Impacts on Communities
The cumulative effects of poor air quality and its associated health impacts, along with higher energy and water bills due to drought and climbing average air temperatures, are likely to have a disproportionate impact on undeserved and poor communities throughout the West.
We’re working with such communities to find ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change and prepare them for an uncertain future. These action plans will help community leaders build awareness of this growing issue.