Today, more than half of the people in the world, and 80 percent of the U.S. population, live in urban areas. Cities are on the front lines of climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise and coastal flooding, drought, and extreme weather—all of which are exacerbating existing urban challenges, including resource degradation, economic downturns, affordable housing crises and others. The ability of cities to thrive in the face of rapid growth and a changing climate will depend on the ways in which we plan, develop, and manage our cities in the coming decades.
Climate change is intensifying existing stresses on wildlife and their habitats and amplifying natural hazards that threaten people and property. The Climate-Smart Communities program helps cities and towns use nature-based approaches to prepare themselves for the impacts of climate change in ways that support people, wildlife, and habitats. Learn more about the different ways communities are already working to implement nature-based approaches with the “Green Works for Climate Resilience: A Community Guide to Climate Planning.”
Green Works for Climate Resilience outlines the nature-based approaches that communities can use to prepare for and respond to the following climate impacts:
Below are some examples from the guide that highlight some of the ways in which communities have already started using nature-based approaches.
Parker is a shining role model for all she has accomplished and her ongoing positivity, energy, and belief in changing the world for the better.
Read the StoryHear from champions for greater and safer access to the outdoors as they discuss the potential solutions to address the intersectional issues faced by Black communities.
Listen NowBy taking the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, your local leaders can commit to uniting your community around saving the imperiled monarch. Send a message today urging your mayor or head of local or Tribal government to pledge before April 30!
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Get Quotes NowMore than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 53 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.