Environmental investor advocacy group Ceres conducted a survey of 330 insurers representing 87 percent of the U.S. insurance market on how they respond to climate change based on their governance structures, climate risk management programs, computer modeling, stakeholder engagement, and measuring and reducing GHG emissions. Only 10 percent of companies had issued public risk management statements. Property and casualty insurers - at the frontline of climate risks - have the highest ratings, but are not addressing risks comprehensively. Instead, they are shifting responsibility and risks to local communities and institutions by limiting coverage or withdrawing from disaster-prone areas. (Reuters)

According to "The New Climate Economy," adapting to climate change can help generate economic growth. This perspective can help catalyze a new approach to climate engagement, focusing less on the costs of climate change and more on the opportunity that climate change presents to America and the world. (Report)

Climate change linked to increased violence

Weather service's storm forecasts get more localized

The National Weather Service's new high-resolution computer model will dramatically improve forecasts for storms up to 15 hours in advance. The model should more accurately pinpoint where and when tornadoes, thunderstorms, and blizzards are expected, allowing people to prepare and take cover. (US News)

Global land and sea temperatures were the highest ever recorded for September. Combined land and sea temperatures for the first nine months of 2014 exceeded the 20th century average by 1.2 F (0.68 C), and if this same trend continues for the rest of the year, 2014 will surpass 1998 as the hottest year ever since record-keeping began in 1880. Warming in the oceans is particularly notable, breaking record temperatures 3 times in 2014 alone, with record warmth observed in parts of every major ocean basin. (NOAA)  

Credit: Scape

A comprehensive climate change adaptation and community development project, Living Breakwaters, has been announced as winner of the 2014 Fuller Challenge, "socially responsible design's highest award." The project will dissipate the force and impact of 100- and 500-year storms through ecological interventions, integrating components ranging from ecologically engineered "Oyster-tecture" to transformational education around coastal resiliency and the restoration of livelihoods traditional to the community of Tottenville in Staten Island. (ArchDaily)

The United States should combat the negative effects of climate change by shoring up its natural defenses like living shorelines and wetlands, rather than reaching for so-called gray infrastructure that contributes to erosion and other problems, a new report by the National Wildlife Federation argues. The report lays out seven recommendations for how the federal government can improve its green infrastructure defenses to better respond to the more frequent storms, sea-level rise and other effects of warming. (Report)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation requiring state agencies to assess the risks of climate change when approving projects like updates of wastewater treatment plants. The Community Risk and Resiliency Act also calls for official projections of sea-level rise and standards for storm surges and flooding that state officials must use when issuing some major permits or approving funding for a range of projects, including large water infrastructure systems, local parks, waterfront revitalization efforts, and coastal rehabilitation work. The measure will also provide model adaptation laws for local officials. (Link)

Photo: Kari Goodnough/Bloomberg

Federal studies find that the 300-year-old port of Mobile will be flooded under almost every climate scenario, and could be under as much as 25 ft of water. The port supports 127,000 jobs and serves major companies like Airbus, ThyssenKrupp, and Kimberly-Clark. Alabama is one of 12 states that has done nothing about climate change, according to a 2012 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council. But local residents can see for themselves the evidence of worsening flooding and storm surges. (Bloomberg)

CalFire has released a grant solicitation for projects funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (the proceeds from cap and trade) for urban and community forestry. All projects are required to reduce GHG emissions, but many project types also have important adaptation benefits, such as urban tree planting project and reclaiming and restoring blighted, unused urban lands. Concept proposals will be due November 13, 2014. There will be six public workshops (TBA) on the grant solicitation. (Grant solicitation)

Through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program, EPA will select 25 communities, including underserved communities, coastal communities, small cities and rural areas, for technical assistance on bikeshare planning, equitable development, infill development for distressed cities, sustainable strategies for small cities and rural areas, and/or flood resilience for riverine and coastal communities. The program aims to increase resilience to natural disasters and strengthen the economy while protecting human health and the environment. The program provides quick, targeted technical assistance to communities using tools with demonstrated results and widespread application. Applications will be due November 20, 2014. EPA will host a webinar to discuss the application on Thursday, October 30, from noon to 1pm PDT. (EPA)

October 29, 10am-12pm PDT

This webcast will share findings from the most recent National Climate Assessment report concerning climate change and water resources. It will also discuss a new workbook from EPA that will help communities develop risk-based adaptation plans. The workbook can provide guidance for environmental managers and planners on conducting risk-based climate change vulnerability assessments and developing adaptation action plans. (Workbook, Webinar registration)

October 29, 2014, 1-2pm

October 30, 2014, 5:30-7:30pm

Preview the Aggie Sol Solar Decathlon Team net-zero house and learn more about the goal of designing and building an affordable green house. Meet the students and faculty involved in the project and find out how you can be involved. The event will include an unveiling of the draft design, appetizers, and beverages. Hosted by UC Davis Extension Land Use and Natural Resources with AIA, APA, and ULI. (RSVP, [email protected]). 

November 13, 2014 9:00-10:15am PDT

January 29-31, Baltimore, MD

Registration is now open for the nation's largest smart growth and sustainability event. The theme for the 14th annual NPSG conference is "Practical Tools and Innovative Strategies in Creating Great Communities," underscoring the stronger emphasis on implementation. The program will feature tools, strategies, focused training, and new technologies that will help communities NOW. The conference will explore practical strategies for identifying and over-coming barriers to more sustainable development along the East Coast and the rest of the nation. The program features a session on regional adaptation collaboratives, along with many other topics of interest to adaptation practitioners. (NPSG)

This online, open-access, peer-reviewed journal is seeking submissions for a special edition on preparing for and building resilience to climate change. The journal emphasizes the translation of research into formats that are useful and usable to practitioners and policy makers, and welcome submissions that bridge the science-policy divide. Manuscripts are due November 3, 2014 online. For more information see the guidelines. 

The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative is a membership based collaborative network designed to promote greater climate change resilience planning coordination in the six-county Sacramento Region. The purpose of this collaborative network is to create a forum where leaders from government, academia, environmental and community groups, the business community, and labor can come together to exchange information, identify vulnerabilities and data gaps, leverage resources, and advance comprehensive solutions in an effort to create stronger, sustainable, and economically viable communities in the Sacramento Region.  If you are interested in learning more about the Climate Readiness Collaborative, joining the Collaborative, or being added to the list serv, visit: www.climatereadiness.info/