Urban Ocean Lab

#ClimateWeekNYC is officially underway, and we're thrilled to see so many organizations engaging in discussions about securing a more resilient future for coastal communities. For more information on how the federal government can support these efforts, check out our latest publication "Protecting Coastal Communities from Climate Impacts: An Agenda for the Next President" ⤵️

🗣️ Some good news: BILLIONS in funding is still available for climate readiness in coastal cities! 💸💸💸 We’ve identified over $2.5 billion currently available through programs funded by the #IRA and #IIJA. Additionally, $12.8 billion in funding has or will be awarded, and another $3.2 billion is expected to be made available through future funding announcements. With only weeks left in this presidential term, cities must act quickly to take advantage of these opportunities. This magnitude of climate funding is unlikely to pass again in the near future, and even pending funding could be rescinded once the next administration takes office. So, we dug through all the funding announcements and details so you don’t have to. Our updated guidebook can help coastal cities navigate open opportunities and make sure every available dollar is spent on climate action. 💰 Coastal cities, get that money! https://lnkd.in/ewFadqds

Thank you CNN Fareed Zakaria for having me on the show. With this crew of climate deniers coming back into the White House, state and local work to advance climate solutions is more important than ever. Much more to come from our team at Urban Ocean Lab on how coastal cities can lead the way. #climate #climatenews #climatepolicy

Now, more than ever, local action on climate solutions is critical. When it comes to coastal cities, our latest analysis finds that in the U.S., there are 379 coastal cities that are home to more than 66 million people. Climate impacts to coastal cities are also a justice issue: Almost 60% of coastal city residents are people of color, 51% are renters, and 15% are living in poverty—all higher than the national average. In the absence of strong federal support, and the presence of a rapidly changing climate, coastal cities will need to champion ambitious, proactive, and innovative policies that safeguard communities, cultures, ecosystems, and economies. Read our latest findings: https://lnkd.in/e3imSBHN And keep an eye out for our updated directory of IRA and IIJA funding opportunities coming soon. (Hint: there’s still billions available for climate preparedness in coastal cities!).

While the Biden-Harris Administration has made unprecedented progress in addressing climate change, there is much more work to be done. To help the next administration foster a more equitable and sustainable future for millions of people, we’ve released "Protecting Coastal Communities from Climate Impacts: An Agenda for the Next President." Drawing on our Climate Readiness Framework for Coastal Cities, the agenda identifies how the next administration should support and invest in ocean climate solutions across our five policy themes. As #ClimateWeek gets underway, policymakers and activists can use our agenda to envision how strong and sustained federal support can help coastal cities adapt to and manage climate risks. Read the full agenda: https://lnkd.in/ecKnqARi

"Coastal cities have many opportunities to increase near- and long-term climate-preparedness, rather than continuing the cycle of picking up the pieces after disaster strikes. Doing so requires sharing knowledge, experience, and science in order to secure a more climate resilient future for all communities." Our latest newsletter came from our Program Director, Sheetal Shah. In it, she discussed how tools like our Climate Readiness Framework and recently launched resource hub can help coastal cities proactively prepare for a climate-changed future. Visit https://lnkd.in/eDSqxe8f to read the full letter. 🔵 If you're not already a subscriber, sign up for our newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/exAuCwB8 🔵 Read the recommendations in our Climate Readiness Framework for Coastal Cities here: https://lnkd.in/gejDYnuF 🔵 Explore our resource hub here: https://lnkd.in/dBmaz6GR

That's a wrap on National Ocean Month, and UOL has been busy! A few of our highlights: 1. 🤝 We co-hosted Upwell: A Wave of Ocean Justice with Center for American Progress and Azul, where Ayana Elizabeth Johnson moderated a panel on climate-driven relocation. Watch a recording of the conversation: https://lnkd.in/eSkHjg3i 2. 🗣 We joined Sea Change, a podcast produced by WWNO New Orleans Public Radio and WRKF Baton Rouge Public Radio, to discuss the importance of climate-ready coastal cities. Listen to the episode: https://lnkd.in/eUvpQB4M 3. 👩💻 We launched our resource hub, an open-access tool with hundreds of resources to support climate adaptation in coastal cities. Explore the hub: https://lnkd.in/dBmaz6GR 4. ✍ Our Policy Director, Alexandra (Ali) C., contributed to "Turning the Tide: Biden Administration Leadership on Ocean Climate Action & Recommended Next Steps", in collaboration with 60+ environmental organizations and ocean advocacy groups. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/eagzjQyh

📻 Our Program Director Sheetal Shah joined the latest episode of Sea Change, the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning podcast produced by WWNO New Orleans Public Radio and WRKF Baton Rouge Public Radio, to chat about UOL's mission: creating climate-ready coastal cities. Check out the episode to hear how leaders around the world—from Mobile, Alabama to Lagos, Nigeria—are preparing their cities for a climate-changed future: https://lnkd.in/erEY9m8z

Adapting to climate impacts in coastal cities requires excellent policy grounded in reliable data. Right now, coastal cities across the country are facing information deficits: More than half of U.S. coastal communities underestimate sea level rise, and many cities aren’t using the latest science in their risk assessments. To help close this knowledge gap, we’re launching an open-access resource hub stacked with vetted content from trusted sources. Featuring everything from case studies and datasets, to example legislation and policy memos, the hub is packed with critical information to support policymakers and other practitioners working towards more resilient coastal cities. Resources will be updated and added regularly, so if your organization creates work that supports climate-ready coastal cities, please email info@urbanoceanlab.org with a link to your publication, and we’ll see if it’s a fit! Explore hundreds of resources at https://lnkd.in/dBmaz6GR.

📢 Upwell: A Wave of Ocean Justice if officially underway! Tune in to hear directly from leaders paving the way to a more just, equitable, and inclusive future for our coastal communities. Follow along on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eET9Mkgh