City: San Diego Country / US State / US Territory: California Type of Solution: Awareness Campaign / Community Outreach and Education Program Climate Impact: Extreme Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect; Air Quality; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding Social Value Created: Community Engagement; Public Education; Public Health and Safety; Equitable Services and Access; Social Justice and Equity for Vulnerable Communities
The Environmental Health Coalition is a community-based organization focusing on bringing climate justice to low-income communities of immigrants and refugees in San Diego, California. The program has developed bilingual education materials, such as brochures, posters, and promotoras, about air pollution, climate change, and climate impacts. These materials focus on solutions community members can implement that will also save money.
EHC has also facilitated the development of a climate action plan for these communities, focusing on transportation justice, energy justice, good jobs, climate change resilience, and bold goals, state, and local climate laws.
Fig: Example of a sign used to communicate the health risks of climate change
City: Miami Country / US State / US Territory: Florida Type of Solution: Awareness Campaign / Community Outreach and Education Program Climate Impact: Sea Level Rise; Hurricanes and Extreme Storms; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding Social Value Created: Community Engagement; Social Justice and Equity for Vulnerable Communities
Miami faces flooding risks due to sea level rise and inundation, extreme precipitation, and hurricanes and storm surge. Miami received a $400 million general obligation bond (GOB), and $192 million of the bond was dedicated to projects to manage sea level rise and flooding. GOBs are typically used for non-bankable projects, which are projects where there is not a consistent stream of revenue generated. Projects will include solutions such as drainage systems and anti-flooding pumps, raised roads, and sea walls.
The Citizens Oversight Board was created to help oversee these projects and allow for residents to have input into the projects. Local community non-profit organizations, Catalyst Miami and Miami Climate Alliance, provided recommended criteria for board members selected. For example, the board members must reflect the overall composition / demographics of the city, composed of a diverse group of residents.
The Citizens Oversight Board review process includes examination of projects’ social, environmental, and economic benefits. Projects aim help to address socioeconomic inequality issues affecting vulnerable communities, as well.
Fig: Graphic showing a drainage system and anti-flooding pumps, raised road, and seawall (Photos Retrieved from https://www.miamiforever.org/)
Sources:
City of Miami. [City of Miami Gov]. (September 22, 2017). City of Miami Forever General Obligation Bond [Video File]. Retrieved from http://miamigov.com/miamiforever/#faq.
Urban Environment League of Greater Miami (UEL). (November 4, 2017). Taking a look at the Miami Forever Bond. UEL. Retrieved from http://uel.org/2017/11/04/taking-a-look-at-the-miami-forever-bond/
*Note: This case was documented from an interview with a city practitioner.
City: Miami Country / US State / US Territory: Florida Type of Solution: Awareness Campaign / Community Outreach and Education Program Climate Impact: Seal Level Rise; Hurricanes and Storm Surge; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding Social Value Created: Public Education; Community Engagement; Social Justice and Equity for Vulnerable Communities
The Eyes on the Rise Toolkit is a Florida International University project that is aimed at informing citizens of South Florida about the potential impact of sea level rise in their neighborhoods. The Toolkit is an application that allows citizens to enter their location to see a sea level rise simulation and show elevation data.
Citizens are also provided with data and resources, including flooding reports, flood insurance data, tide measurement, elevation, and groundwater levels. Citizens can also use the application to report a flood. The Toolkit is aimed to help improve community knowledge systems, increasing community awareness and engage vulnerable communities in sea level rise adaptation.
