Georgetown Climate Center
The Georgetown Climate Center is a nonpartisan research organization that seeks to advance effective climate and energy policies to reduce emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. The center works with government officials, academics, and local stakeholders to help them navigate federal policy, develop new policies, and share key lessons and learning experiences from different parts of the country. The center’s adaptation team works primarily with local and state officials to innovate and creatively address climate related risks. By integrating adaptation into all levels of urban planning and government decision-making, cities can become resilient strongholds for their residents. In addition, The center’s mitigation team provides resources to state and local communities that wish to cut carbon emissions across energy, transportation, and water sectors.
One of the Georgetown Climate Center’s crowning achievements is the Adaptation Clearinghouse. This website is a comprehensive database of resources for policymakers, individuals, community-based organizations, and any kind of organization seeking to learn more about how different sectors of cities can adapt to climate change. The different sectors featured include coastal, energy, public health, transportation, water, agriculture, and more. The clearinghouse’s water page offers a wide range of resource topics, from drought to climate ready water utilities. Throughout the papers, reports, publications, tools, websites, and data shared in the clearinghouse, there is a dedicated focus on equity and potential impacts to vulnerable communities. The ease of access to such information can benefit individuals and decision-makers interested in understanding the varied impacts of climate change on the water sector.
Beyond the clearinghouse, which shares resources from other organizations, the center also develops its own resources and tools to share. For example, the Green Infrastructure Toolkit is a set of strategies for managing stormwater and creating greenhouse gas reduction benefits. The guide has a specific focus on aiding communities that want to effect local change and create multiple benefits. Another area of action that the center focuses on is the impending risk of sea level rise. For coastal cities, property damage and higher storm surges pose a huge threat to residents and businesses. The center works with state and local governments to help them become better prepared to cope with these threats. By convening dialogs between states, local governments, and federal agencies, the center ensures that key lessons and examples can be shared widely to inform policy action. The center also conducts a number of case studies in coastal cities to better understand climate change, sea level rise, and the role of municipalities.
Communities of Color
Elderly
Immigrant Communities
Indigenous Communities
Limited English Proficiency
Lower-income Communities
People with Disabilities
Rural
Urban
Youth
Planning
Policy Development and Advocacy
Research and Technical Assistance