Data-Driven Governance for Urban Climate Resilience

The USL has worked closely with city governments like the City of New York, Phoenix, Atlanta, San Juan, PR and others for nearly a decade. In NYC the USL recently co-led development of the City’s first Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) to support equitable adaptation planning. The FVI goes beyond hazard exposure to include social and infrastructural susceptibility and the capacity to recover—offering a multidimensional view of urban vulnerability. Integrated into the City’s official Climate Vulnerability, Impact, and Adaptation (VIA) study, the FVI may help shape future investment in GI and flood mitigation strategies.

The USL has also played a key role in helping the City develop the first Stormwater Resiliency Plan, working with colleagues at CUNY and other institutions to perform a hydrological and hydraulic analysis of the City’s pluvial flooding from stormwater events. Our team has also advised on development of NYC’s Cool Neighborhoods program and provides critical heat information to assist with emergency response and planning.