Community Resilience to Climate Change: Theory, Research and Practice

251 STUDENT EXERCISES (1) Based on your current understanding of the concept, define resilience. Using diagrams, words, or sentences, describe your understanding. (2) Look back at your response to EXERCISE 1.1. How has your understanding of resilience changed (or not) after completing this course? (5-10 sentences) (2) What questions or curiosities do you still have about this topic? What have we missed? FOR INSTRUCTORS: SAMPLE FINAL PROJECT This project will allow students to apply the ideas they have developed during the course to a real-world problem context, similar to what they may encounter as practicing planners. Furthermore, in step 2, they are encouraged to go beyond their comfort zones, and think about solutions that are creative and transformative. This exercise also includes an applied component, as a summary of results will be shared with practitioners in the student’s chosen focal area. Choose a specific site that does not have a climate adaptation or resiliency plan - rather than a whole city, you may select something at a smaller scale (e.g., neighborhood, reservation, rural town, beach community). Identify climate-related threats and likely indicators of resilience (e.g., economy, housing, health, culture, ecosystem services) for this location. PART 1: Working within realistic parameters of how our society understands resilience, responds to climate threats, and operates within a neoliberal, bureaucratic system, craft a plan to address the issues you have identified. [5-10 pages including maps, models, and other visuals] PART 2: Now, assume that those parameters are flexible, and that transformative action is possible. Use your imagination and adjust your initial plan to push those boundaries. Without political or financial constraints, what could a truly transformative, equitable plan for this site look like? Have fun with this! [5-10 pages including maps, models, and other visuals] PART 3: Now, determine who in your selected site represents the ‘Community of Practice’ (i.e., those responsible for planning and implementing climate reactive or adaptive strategies). Write a one-page description of your findings and ideas to share with this group.