Giving Compass' Take:

• The Boston-based Barr Foundation discusses the importance of resiliency in the climate change battle and which strategies organizations should embrace, including strengthening public awareness through interactive tech.

• It's also important to get city stakeholders involved in this effort, as we've seen the devastation natural disasters can inflict across the country. How do we help vulnerable populations prepare for the next big storm?

• Here's how to make more of an impact after hurricanes, fires and earthquakes.


Barr Foundation Climate Program Co-Directors Mariella Puerto and Mary Skelton Roberts outline the rationale, priorities, and early steps of Barr’s newly-expanded focus on resilience.

Strategy #1: Build Awareness of Climate Impacts, Risks, and Resilience Strategies. Strengthen the development of data and research that informs solutions that are equitable, relevant, timely and actionable. Increase public awareness and engagement through the use of interactive experiences such as apps, charrettes, and other opportunities that engage residents. Develop and disseminate value propositions (“why this matters to me”) that engage key stakeholders, including low-income and communities of color.

Strategy #2: Mobilize key constituencies to advance policy and implement resilience plans. Strengthen leadership development and capacity of communities to inform local and regional climate-resilience planning, policy development, and implementation. Support professional networks of real estate developers, architects, landscapers, engineers, planners, and healthcare providers to encourage them to incorporate resilience into their work.

Strategy #3: Support Demonstration Projects that Integrate Resilience into the Fabric of Cities. For instance, support the use of green infrastructure and other natural systems that manage storm water, mitigate heat and provide co-benefits to communities.

Read the full article about strategies for climate resilience by Mariella Puerto and Mary Skelton Roberts at Barr Foundation.