Communities striving to recover from hurricanes must incorporate lessons from the past, realities of the present, and an understanding of future challenges to intentionally create places that can persevere. Climate adaptation is the process that enables communities to adjust and prepare for the observable and predicted effects of climate change.
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The challenge of climate change takes many forms, and touches every aspect of our lives, both directly and indirectly. It can show up directly through the impacts of floods, heat, hurricanes, and droughts. This cascade of challenges also shows up in higher flood insurance rates, building permitting reforms, population migration, coastal land loss, rising house prices, clean water, and food insecurities.
This report examines the myriad ways that the city of New Orleans and its surrounding parishes have deployed ingenuity and passion to address these impacts in the 20 years since Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore in 2005, leading to the failure of the federal levees. From bioswales to managed stormwater runoffs to amphibious architecture to cope with flooding, and from compact fluorescent lamps and solar powered Community Lighthouses to provide resilient light and power, New Orleanians are coming together to adapt at record speed to the challenges before them.
More specifically, this report documents climate adaptation in metropolitan New Orleans with a focus on urban green restoration, increased housing security, and workforce development initiatives in climate-adaptation professions. I first examine the impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the effects of the changing climate over the course of the 21st century, then detail how the city and its surrounding parishes are embracing climate adaptation. I close with three recommendations that build on what New Orleanians have achieved to date—enact regional tree restoration programs, develop pathways for more innovative and sustainable building permits backed by flood insurance, and enable more local clean energy options supported by dedicated workforce development programs.
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This report is part of a series from Brookings Metro and The Data Center examining the New Orleans metro area across key policy areas including housing, community safety, and flood adaptation. The series provides local leaders with tools to mitigate future disaster risks for the most vulnerable communities.
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