Public Infrastructure
Rethinking Risk: Why Local Governments Can’t Shoulder Climate Burdens Alone
The majority of U.S. infrastructure is funded, built, and maintained by city councils, county boards, and state legislatures. But aging infrastructure, escalating climate risk, and other factors are converging to leave local communities less prepared to absorb their growing risk.
Investing to Minimize Flooding and Protect Critical Water Resources: A Case Study from Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Historically, strong federal environmental regulations drove government action to manage water resources -- that’s changing as more communities experience flooding and see the benefits of nature-based solutions to mitigate those impacts.
Local Governments Can Be Champions for Flood Management: A Case Study from Algonquin, Illinois
Municipal leaders have an opportunity to lead their communities to a resilient future and mitigate flood risk. A case study from Algonquin, IL highlights resiliency investments that have fundamentally transformed how flooding affects the community and have yielded significant cost savings.
Disaster Response Dilemma: Why defunding FEMA would require strengthening state and local resilience
A smart transition of FEMA toward state and local disaster responsibility would encompass 1) reform to the Stafford Act to rebalance federal and state contributions, 2) a restructuring of state disaster relief funds, and 3) a shift toward regionalization of disaster response.
Deep Dive: Opportunities for Resilience in the Municipal Bond Market
The muni bond market presents an opportunity to finance resiliency in a way that aligns policy-makers, community stakeholders, business interests, and investors. By strengthening local infrastructure to render assets less vulnerable to climate shocks, it can reduce disaster costs for communities.