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iDEA: DREXEL LIBRARIES E-REPOSITORY AND ARCHIVES

iDEA: DREXEL LIBRARIES E-REPOSITORY AND ARCHIVES

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Changing Climate in Philadelphia

Details
Title
Changing Climate in Philadelphia: Expert Elicitation of Climate Risks and Recommendations
Author(s)
Kidd, Griffin M.
Advisor(s)
Montalto, Franco
Keywords
Environmental engineering; Climatic changes -- Risk assessment-- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia; Climatic changes -- Research-- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Date
2015-06-01
Publisher
Drexel University
Thesis
M.S., Environmental Engineering -- Drexel University, 2015
Abstract
Philadelphia residents and business are at risk from current climatic conditions that exist in the region: risks of damage to property and infrastructure from flooding and extreme storm conditions, economic impacts due to loss of productivity, as well as risks of severe health impacts and death from poor air quality and extreme heat events. While there is historical data that can be used to determine the current extent of these risks, the regional effects of climate change will have a strong affect on the extent of these risks in the future. This thesis discusses the political and operational structure of Philadelphia services in regards to the feasibility of implementing climate change adaptation plans, reviews several climate action plans that have been developed for Philadelphia, and provides current expert views on climate risks and adaptation strategies designed to reduce the climate risks in Philadelphia. Expert views were collected through the use of a semi-structured interview conducted with 20 experts in Philadelphia and their responses have been synthesized in order to determine the main climate risks in Philadelphia, identify populations that are most vulnerable to these risks, and establish a list of recommended strategies to adapt to these risks in order to limit the long term impacts of a changing climate. There are several climate risks that experts identified for Philadelphia: Stormwater runoff and localized flooding, excessive heat, increased storm intensity, poor air quality, coastal flooding, invasive species and water pollution. While these risks are currently present in Philadelphia and currently cause negative economic and health impacts, with the progression of the regional effects of climate change these conditions as well as their impacts on Philadelphia will certainly get worse unless some intervention is implemented. The vulnerable populations that were identified are: coastal property, flood prone neighborhoods, elderly, children, and the poor. Experts offered many ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change through the implementation of several adaptation strategies: greenhouse gas reduction, reducing impervious surfaces, retreat from flood prone areas, flood resiliency, more public green infrastructure, more private green infrastructure, greater tree canopy, and more public engagement. Given the current predictions of climate change for America it is imperative for the health and survival of American cities to adopt a climate change strategy that incorporates both mitigation strategies as well as adaptation and resiliency strategies and address the regional predictions of climate change for the city, (Karl et. al. 2009). This thesis is designed to provide the prevailing expert opinions on the climate risks and recommendations to address these risks, which provides the first step towards enacting meaningful change in Philadelphia.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1860/idea:6525
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Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

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