What is climate resilience?
In general, resilience is seen as the ability to “bounce back” from
adverse events. It doesn’t develop spontaneously — we have to take action to reduce climate disruption and adapt to the changes it is bringing to the world as we have known it.
We can mitigate the threats by doing everything possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [GHG] — but it’s a global problem, which make it difficult to see how important these actions are. It’s essential that we learn to use less energy (for our homes, businesses, and transportation), use renewable energy whenever possible, and nurture plants that absorb CO2 from the air, produce oxygen, and sequester CO2 into the soil! Rodale Institute has shown that regenerative organic growing practices strengthen these positive impacts.
We also need to reduce our vulnerability by developing ways to adapt. For most people, the biggest climate-related threats over the next few years are likely be flooding, drought, extreme heat, prolonged interruptions of electrical power, huge wildfires, and/or rising sea levels.
What will climate resilience look like and feel like?
What will it take to achieve climate resilience?
What will happen to us and future generations if we fail?
As we develop climate resilience, it is essential to make a special effort to include those who are more vulnerable — or less able to recover from — adverse events.
Email us at climate@sustainlv.org
What can I do?
Step One is to talk about climate change and climate resilience — with your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and co‑workers, and people at the stores where you shop.
Because young people need to be part of the solution, there is a critical need for schools to integrate climate change at every level and in every subject — so be sure to include school teachers and administrators!
Yes, many of these will be difficult conversations — and those are the ones we need most!
Don’t forget to speak out to political officials at all levels, both individually and in group actions. We think of them as leaders, but they are often reluctant to act until they hear our voices.
Meaningful change will come only if we start holding ourselves and others more accountable with our attitudes and actions. Looking into the past can shine a great light on the future and on how we can live in increased harmony with nature. The transformation of individual activism into collective action is a powerful force, one that we must mobilize — if we are not happy with the world we inherited, why not do everything in our power to make it better for all those who will come after us?
- SLV 2023 Table of Contents
- Voices of the Valley – Alphabetic List of Authors
- Sustainable Lehigh Valley booklet
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