New Evaluation Discusses Function Of Managed Withdrawal In Response To Local weather Change – Watts Up With That?
Researchers analyze the benefits of withdrawal as a proactive option in the face of climate change
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL OF MARINE & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
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PICTURE: MANAGED RETREAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MOVING PERSONS, BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURES OUT OF AREAS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OVER SWIMMING, SLOPE LEVEL OR OTHER HAZARDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE STRATEGICALLY USED.
MIAMI – In a new analysis of managed retreats – the response to climate change to get people and property out of the way – researchers examine what it takes for a managed retreat to support people and their priorities. An important starting point is withdrawal alongside other measures such as coastal armor and not just as a last resort.
In a new article in Science magazine, Katharine Mach, a researcher at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, argues that managed withdrawal should be viewed as a proactive option that can support communities and livelihoods in the face of climate change.
“Managed retreats can be more effective at reducing risk – in a socially just and economically efficient way – when it is a proactive part of climate-induced transformations,” said Mach, associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at UM Rosenstiel School. “It can be used to address climate risks along with other types of responses like building levees or limiting new developments in vulnerable regions.”
In the review, Mach and her colleague AR Siders from the University of Delaware reviewed the existing literature on the subject to argue that societies will be better prepared for the intensification of climate change – such as more frequent and severe storms, floods, and sea levels. Promotion – when considering the potential role of strategic and controlled retreat.
“Towns, cities, towns, and cities are now making decisions that affect the future,” said Siders, a core faculty member at the UD’s Disaster Research Center and assistant professor at the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and Geography and Spatial Sciences. “As we make these decisions now, we should also consider all the options that are on the table now, not just the ones that are keeping people in place.”
In the United States and in many parts of the world, a retreat is already taking place in the face of relatively moderate climate change and has occurred throughout human history.
“Early discussions about a controlled retreat – and where, when and why its use may or may not be considered acceptable – significantly increases the likelihood that a future climate retreat will benefit societal goals,” said Mach.
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In a related study in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Mach and UM PhD student Carolien Kraan provided an initial comprehensive overview of equity concerns expressed in voluntary property purchases and offered policy options to address these concerns.
For example, they suggest that local governments involve residents in the buying process from the very beginning and provide homeowners with professional assistance to guide them through the process to reduce frustrations.
“The article offers practitioners and researchers a synthesis of policy options aimed at improving social justice outcomes in voluntary property purchase programs,” said Kraan, a PhD student at the UM Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.
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The review, titled Reframing Strategic, Managed Retreat for Transformative Climate Adaptation, was published in Science on June 18.
The study, entitled “Promoting Equity in Retreat through Voluntary Property Buyout Programs,” was published on May 11 in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. Authors include Jennifer Niemann from UM Rosenstiel School, AR Siders from the University of Delaware, and Miyuki Hino from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Both studies were funded by the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.
About the Rosenstiel School of the University of Miami
The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The university’s mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and its research, and build a foundation for university initiatives. The Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science was founded in the 1940s and has developed into one of the world’s leading institutions for marine and atmospheric research. The Rosenstiel School offers dynamic interdisciplinary academics and aims to help communities better understand the planet, participate in setting environmental guidelines, and contribute to improving society and the quality of life. For more information, please visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu and Twitter @UMiamiRSMAS
From EurekAlert!
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