Building resilient communities: how public agencies are using climate action planning to prepare for the future

Sustainability, climate change, adaptation, resilience—these terms echo through conference sessions, council chambers, and boardrooms across the country. Are these merely buzzwords or do they represent something essential? For public agencies, the answer is clear: they are essential. The impacts of climate change—more frequent “100-year” storms, prolonged droughts, and extreme temperatures—are no longer hypothetical. They are reshaping our communities, influencing everything from land development and the use of public spaces, to determining how we build and maintain critical infrastructure, including roads, water systems, and power grids.  

Local government and utility leaders are on the frontlines, responding to these challenges and working to ensure critical services like water, sewer, and public safety are maintained into the future. The day-to-day impacts of rising temperatures and severe weather events continue to increase local infrastructure repair and maintenance needs, touching everything from wastewater treatment plants to sidewalks. How communities prepare to be more resilient and mitigate these impacts is one of the most important challenges local government and utility leaders will face in the coming years.   

Ben Kittleson, Manager at Raftelis, co-hosts the Engaging Local Government Leaders’ (ELGL) GovLove podcast, where he talks with local government practitioners from across the country about the work they do at the local level. He has had a series of conversations centered around what local governments are doing to build resilient communities and prepare for climate change impacts. In Hoboken, NJ, a city dealing with both rising sea levels and urban flooding, they are addressing both challenges through green infrastructure while creating a public park space that serves as an amenity for the community. In Olympia, WA, the city subsidizes the cost of installing more efficient home appliances, like heat pumps, while also engaging with other organizations to plan for sea level rise. Orange County, NC, empowers local organizations to address climate challenges through a grant program that funds sustainability projects like rooftop solar, electric vehicle chargers, and even an apprenticeship program in green infrastructure for schools. Ann Arbor, MI, has a plan to bring the community to carbon neutrality and has an ambitious strategy to electrify household appliances and City buses, empower neighborhoods, and expand alternative transportation options all while incorporating equity into their work.   

All these strategies have a common theme: they are specific, and they tap into the community’s unique needs and values. While there are best practices that can be applied to each scenario, climate action or resiliency planning is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Investing in the future brings several benefits to a community:  

• Adapting to the changing climate landscape: The frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, have increased. These events damage infrastructure, risk disruption of power and water supplies, and lead to costly repairs and emergency response needs. Preparing for disasters can help mitigate risk, protect your community’s well-being, and support continuity of services during extreme weather events. 
• Economic stability and cost savings: Investing in sustainable practices—such as energy efficiency and water conservation—can result in long-term cost savings. Sustainable practices may reduce the cost of operations, minimize resource waste, and attract businesses and residents, strengthening the local economy. Unpreparedness, on the other hand, can lead to high recovery costs and economic instability. 
• Community health and quality of life: Limiting a community’s climate impact is one step toward improving air and water quality, reducing pollution, and enhancing green spaces. By focusing on climate action and resilience, local governments keep the community’s long-term health and well-being in mind. 
• Increased community engagement and alignment: We’ve seen many communities become more engaged when they work toward a common goal. Climate action and sustainability initiatives provide the opportunity for your organization to align with values shared by community members, like preserving local ecosystems, improving air and water quality, and enhancing public health. This alignment fosters a sense of shared purpose and community pride, bringing people together around common goals. Increased engagement also provides the opportunity for your organization to build stronger relationships with the community. 

Building a resilient community can feel complex and challenging, as can crafting a response to climate change. Developing an actionable plan with strategies that meet your community’s needs and clearly outline your objectives can help guide your organization into the future. If you’re interested in discussing this topic further, reach out to Ben Kittelson at bkittelson@raftelis.com or Makenna Sturgeon at msturgeon@raftelis.com.