THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Board on Environmental Change and Society and Committee on Population
Committee on Managed Retreat in the U.S. Gulf Coast Region
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Congressional Briefings
Monday, January 22, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.
and
Friday, January 26, 2024 – 10:00 a.m.
via Zoom
on
Community-Driven Relocation:
Recommendations for the U.S. Gulf Coast Region and Beyond
Between 1980 and mid-2023, 232 billion-dollar disasters occurred in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, with the number of disasters doubling annually since 2018. The variety and frequency of storms have exacerbated historic inequalities and led to cycles of displacement and chronic stress for communities across the region. While disaster displacement is not a new phenomenon, the rapid escalation of climate-related disasters in the Gulf increases the urgency to develop pre-disaster policies to mitigate displacement and decrease suffering. Yet, neither the region nor the nation has a consistent and inclusionary process to address risks, raise awareness, or explore options for relocating communities away from environmental risks while seeking out and honoring their values and priorities.
This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, examines how people and infrastructure relocate and why community input should drive the planning process. This report provides recommendations to guide a path for federal, state, and local policies and programs to improve on and expand existing systems to better serve those most likely to be displaced by climate change.
These briefings were for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on January 17, 2024 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.