Publication Date
1 February 2025
Comparing Extreme Rainfall Exposure to Climate-Focused Planning Efforts
Science
To better understand what attributes have led some communities to address climate-related planning imperatives but not others, this study assesses whether municipalities along the United States Atlantic coast are more likely to have climate-focused plans in place if the municipality has previous experience with extreme precipitation events.
Impact
- Of 461 municipalities studied, only 18% had a standalone climate plan.
- Coastal communities seem to engage in more climate-focused planning.
- Coastal places show positive relationships between extreme rainfall and climate planning.
- Riverine communities exhibit negative relationships between extreme rainfall and climate planning.
Summary
Extreme precipitation is evaluated as a motivator for climate planning due to its high visibility, role in flooding events, association with tropical cyclones, and expected changes as global temperatures increase.
Point of Contact
Kevin Reed
Institution(s)
Stony Brook University
Publication
Miller, Naomi, Donovan Finn, and Kevin A. Reed. 2025. “Comparing Extreme Rainfall Exposure To Climate-Focused Planning Efforts: A Mixed Methods Analysis In The Northeastern United States”. Urban Climate 59. Elsevier BV: 102258. doi:10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102258.