Investing in resilient infrastructure is not just a question of fixing roads, repairing bridges or building new schools. It’s also about making existing assets work better for communities to help withstand a range of climate pressures and build a more sustainable future. For example, cities that carry out proactive repairs to aging and inefficient stormwater systems can deliver significant fiscal savings while at the same time providing long-term environmental and economic benefits. And investing in more resilient urban design can help ensure that communities are safer and able to thrive despite the effects of rising sea levels, intense weather events and other climate threats.
Communities need a new approach to accelerate investment in infrastructure that is resilient to growing climate pressures. A new “resilience marketplace” can bring together a wider variety of actors and create opportunities to innovate while ensuring that investments in green infrastructure and other resilience projects yield real environmental, social and financial benefits. Having standard measures of benefits, such as reduced flood risks or improved water quality, would make it easier for utilities to pursue more innovative designs and approaches and for investors to match-make with community projects. More info https://www.illinoisrealestatebuyersinc.com/we-buy-houses-niles-il/
As leaders across the country grapple with a range of different challenges and opportunities, resilient infrastructure is increasingly being recognized as essential to economic growth. This is true not only at the federal level where the President-elect has highlighted roads and airports, but also at all levels of government, where state and local leaders are developing and implementing innovative strategies to support the economic security and competitiveness of their communities.
Some studies indicate that the return on investments in resilience is four times greater than the costs. As a result, there is compelling and scientific justification to incorporate resilience into infrastructure projects.
For example, a new airport can be designed to withstand the impact of severe storms and flooding while adding redundancy for critical systems like telecommunications or air traffic control. This can minimize the disruption to travelers, airlines and other businesses that depend on an airport’s operations.
Another example of resilience infrastructure is a city’s sewer system, which can be upgraded with more resilient technologies that will reduce flood risk for property owners and increase service reliability. Communities can use FEMA’s Flood
Mitigation Assistance program to fund these upgrades, which can provide additional benefits beyond reducing insurance claims.
In addition, governments and private developers can also incorporate resilient features into construction to improve the overall performance of buildings and neighborhoods. These include designing buildings and structures to withstand extreme weather events, improving access to water in flood-prone areas, incorporating energy efficiency and incorporating green features into urban planning.
Finally, restoring and maintaining coastal ecosystems, wetlands and forests can be an important strategy for protecting people and property from the impacts of sealevel rise. This includes enhancing coastal wetlands, forests and dunes to absorb and buffer storm surges and protect habitat for wildlife and fisheries. These types of initiatives can help communities withstand severe weather events and adapt to climate change, while also supporting healthy, diverse and productive ecosystems that can provide economic and recreational benefits for residents and visitors.