Building resilience along coasts and watersheds
The problem: Climate change is making flooding from rivers, rain and the ocean more destructive. Around the world, more than 1.8 billion people are at risk from flooding, with low-income and marginalized communities at the most risk. Damage to natural protections like wetlands and risky economic development make the threat of flooding worse.
What we’re doing about it: We’re bringing natural flooding solutions to communities along the East and Gulf coasts of the U.S., the Mississippi River area and the Caribbean. Working with partners, we’re helping communities adapt better — especially those hit the hardest — fixing unfair flooding rules and making sure nature is valued in the process.
Our work building flood resilience
- Article
Preparing for the next hurricane
- Video
Watch: Bold plan seeks to save Louisiana‘s vanishing coastline
- Blog post
Why every state in the United States needs a Chief Resilience Officer
- Project
Inclusive insurance: Promoting post-flood financial resiliency for everyone
- Explainer
Natural infrastructure for thriving coasts and watersheds
Updates
Read the latest articles, blogs and press releases on coastal protection.
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Virginia’s Biennial Budget Includes Record Investments for Resilience, but Misses Opportunity to Support RGGI
Press release, -
33 Virginia Localities are Awarded $53.9 Million to Build Flood Resilience, but Future Funding is at Risk
Press release, -
How the U.S. Supreme Court put the nation’s wetlands at risk
Analysis, -
New EDF preliminary analysis estimates millions of acres of wetlands could now be at risk in the wake of 2023 Supreme Court ruling
Press release, -
Environmental Defense Fund, Regional Plan Association Release Report that Identifies Ways to Measure Climate Resilience
Press release, -
Developing effective ways to measure a community’s climate resilience
Blog post,
Coastal resilience resources
Dig deeper into our work with these resources for researchers, policymakers, journalists and communities.
- Article
Why should we protect wetlands? Because wetlands protect us
- Analysis
How the U.S. Supreme Court put the nation’s wetlands at risk
- Explainer
Are record-breaking hurricanes our new normal?
- Collection
Advancing flood resilience: Blog posts by EDF experts
- Initiative
Restoring the Mississippi River Delta
Our coastal resilience experts
We bring wide-ranging perspectives and skills to forging coastal resilience. Meet some of the people who make it happen.
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Will McDow
Senior Director, Climate Resilient Watersheds
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Kate Boicourt
Director, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds
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Adam Gold
Manager, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds, North Carolina and Virginia
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Carolyn Kousky
Associate Vice President, Economics and Policy Analysis
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Eileen McLellan
Lead Senior Scientist
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Emily Steinhilber
Director, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds, Virginia
Media contact
Samantha Tausendschoen
(715) 220-9930 (office)