By Katie Pyzyk
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy announced a new coalition focused on advancing practical solutions for sustainable and resilient infrastructure in light of climate change. The coalition will work to break down barriers to action and close the resilience investment gap.
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Engineers focus on building infrastructure that lasts at least 50 to 100 years, and new technologies, approaches and materials help to ensure the infrastructure is more sustainable as future plans are made, ASCE Executive Director Tom Smith told Smart Cities Dive via email. "Our future depends on resilient infrastructure," he said. "Engineers take their role of protecting the safety of the public seriously and are doing what we can to retrofit buildings to modern standards."
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Cities are making moves to increase the rate at which they build green and climate resilient infrastructure. New York City is doubling the size of its green infrastructure program by creating more than 5,000 curbside rain gardens to soak up stormwater and prevent flooding. The city also announced a $500 million resiliency plan to reinforce coastal areas, extend shorelines and improve flood protection in lower Manhattan.
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Engineers need to anticipate and plan for different climate challenges in different portions of the country, Smith said. Coastal cities like Miami need to boost infrastructure for sea level rise whereas those on the West Coast are preparing for a major seismic event. Cairo, IL and Omaha, NE are among the Midwestern cities dealing with more frequent and severe flooding while cities like Phoenix and Atlanta are experiencing drought.
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