Climate

Featured Cases:

The Challenge

Leaders at all levels of government grapple with the impact of climate change. They need policies to address threats ranging from rising sea levels to impacts on critical habits. As nations struggle to implement agreements designed to slow or reverse global warming, local leaders endeavor to understand the challenges in their own backyards. Meanwhile, scientists work to create credible projections to help shape government policies, and industries work individually and collectively to reduce their carbon footprints. This all plays out in an environment of inadequate funding, outdated regulatory structures, and diverse public opinion on issues. 

Our Approach

CBI mediators and facilitators understand these complex challenges. We have a long track record of managing interdisciplinary teams, promoting creative planning, and bringing technical experts and policymakers together to build new networks for problem solving. CBI’s staff has:

  • Supported international, national, and locally driven climate change-related dialogues
  • Helped elected officials, planners, businesses, non-profits, scientists, and residents work productively together despite the uncertainties inherent in climate change science
  • Helped community groups explore and select strategies for responding to their most pressing climate change-related risks
  • Piloted new strategies for incorporating climate change impacts into ongoing planning efforts

CBI has worked with local communities along the eastern seaboard to develop coastal adaptation strategies ranging from slowing storm surge through natural-based features to adopting new resilience-promoting building codes. We have even spearheaded development of a Climigration Network to support locales considering the toughest challenge of all: moving out of harm’s way.

Areas of Expertise:
  • Coastal adaptation and vulnerability assessments
  • Resilience planning
  • Use of green infrastructure/natural and nature-based features
  • Carbon/Greenhouse gas emission reductions
  • Renewable energy policy and siting
View cases & related resources
  • CBI’s services were invaluable to three community climate resilience projects we launched on the Hudson.  CBI helped us create governance structures, ensure a range of community voices were heard, and kept us focused and productive throughout.  When it comes to collaboration, I consider CBI’s services to be central to success.

    Sacha Spector

    Program Director for the Environment

    Doris Duke Charitable Foundation