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Southern Environmental Law Center Policy Proposals for Environmental and Climate Justice in Resiliency Planning in NC

By Aklesia Maereg, Brandon Tubby, Carter Vilim, Claire Hernandez, Nicole Prowse, Valerie HeInstructor - Cassandra R. Davis, Ph.D.Public Policy Capstone, Spring 2020

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Literature Review Results

• Buyout policies are often implemented as a last resort, which can lead to mismanagement in terms of considering community needs post-buyout as well as development of the land

• Implementation of buyout and managed retreat policies often prioritize homes with higher property values

Case Study –Hurricane

Sandy

• An example of buyout implementation at the local level after Hurricane Sandy –Oakwood Beach, NY

• Middle to low-income neighborhood with majority being homeowners• Community advocacy and planning led to state providing funding for buyouts• Over 90 percent of residents accepted buyout offers

Interview

• Expert view on managed retreat policies and sustainable climate mitigation strategies at federal and state level

• Community members look at buyouts more favorably than government officials, especially at state/local level

• Successful and equitable implementations start pre-disaster by building trust between community and government

LiteratureReview Results

• Natural infrastructure (NI) outperforms gray infrastructure• There is an abundance of different methods of green infrastructure, but not enough data

to determine the best practices in each area of the design• NI can be designed to target helping different types of environmental issues

Case Study -Living

Shorelines

• An example of living shorelines – Eastern NC• NC shorelines, estuaries under increasing pressure: shoreline erosion and water quality• Over 20 miles shoreline walled per year in NC as defense mechanism (NCCF)• Consists of oyster reefs, marshes, and native plants forming a natural defense• Improvements in water quality through stormwater filtration, shore erosion, biodiversity• Reduction of wave energy; more resilient than gray structures after hurricanes

Case Study -Green Streets

• An example of green city revitalization of Philadelphia• Unique project that utilizes localized solutions to increase collection of stormwater

• Utilize $2.4 billion over 25 years to construct green infrastructure that would improve stormwater management and water quality, be cost-effective, and comply with state and federal mandates

• Construction of 172 stormwater tree trenches, 25 stormwater bump-outs, 48 rain gardens, 50 porous paving sites, and 132 other green stormwater infrastructure projects

Literature Review Results

• Hazard mitigation and resiliency plans must work in tandem with other community plans and reflect community social and economic needs

• emBRACE framework (see below)• Hazard mitigation plans treat climate change differently according to state

Case Study –Florida

BuildingCode

• Florida Building Code – Implemented in 1998 after Hurricane Andrew• Guides the construction, modification, repair, and demolition of public and private architecture throughout Florida

• A recent study of insured loss data has shown that the Florida Building Code reduced windstorm losses by 72% and saved $6 for every $1 of added cost

Interview

• Expert view on hazard mitigation and resilience planning• Rockefeller Institute (100 Resilient Cities) - Leader in resilience planning launched 80+ resilience strategies and 4,000 actions and initiatives for resilience planning

• Start the political conversation early and not in a post-disaster context• Consider social policy in resilience planning above engineering

To outline existing literature, research, and policies that reflect environmental justice in hazard mitigation planning for the Southern Environmental Law Center.To focus on hazard mitigation and resiliency planning, buyout and relocation/retreat policies, and policies supporting natural infrastructure.To include policy recommendations for SELC to utilize in their work with local and state plans, mainly as the state works to update the North Carolina Hazard Mitigation Plan for 2023.

Goal of Project

Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency Planning

Policies Supporting Natural Infrastructure

Buyout and Relocation/Retreat Policies

).

Source: (Kruse et al., 2017, p.2325

#4

#5

#6#3

#2

#1

Ensure that promises to work with local

governments are being upheld

Encourage the state to develop and distribute custom workbooks and toolkits for local planning officals on natural infrastructure projects

Update the plan to include the phrase "Natural

Infrastructure" or "Green Infrastructure"

(Ex. Action NC-6)

Collect feedback from participants post-buyout to ensure equity and improve future programs

Encourage the prioritization of Action NC-27 to

access a new funding stream through grants

Advocate for the establishment of a centralized communications organization to better facilitate buyout programs

Key Findings and Applications for NC