David Simpson
Fifth Third Bank Professor of Community Development and Chair, Urban & Public Affairs/Director, Master of Urban Planning Program
"There are many impacts on our communities from climate change – from sea level rise, increasing storm intensities, extreme heat or cold, or prolonged drought – all of which produce challenges for urban systems and infrastructures."
See Prof. Simpson's faculty profile
Though I was not all that surprised, I noted recently Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump identified climate change as a “hoax” (Trump: you’re fired!).
I do believe we are having an adverse impact on the environment, but I won’t review that debate here. What I will mention are the very real impacts that climate variability have in my own research. My training is in urban planning, and I tend to have a longer view of how we consider our urban fabric and can improve the long- and short-term quality of our economic, social, and natural environments, while preserving resources for future generations.
Forward thinking cities already have “Climate Action Plans,” and comprehensive planning processes that address environmental impacts. Words becoming more common in community dialog are the idea of “sustainability” (of all systems), and creating “resilient” communities. My focus in planning is natural hazards and disasters, and there are many impacts on our communities from climate change – from sea level rise, increasing storm intensities, extreme heat or cold, or prolonged drought – all of which produce challenges for urban systems and infrastructures. Our settlements tend to be in risk prone areas (rivers, coasts, fault lines), and as those areas become more populated, intensified environmental impacts will increase the injuries and damages from events.
Another interest I have is sustainability. If our goal is to create sustainable communities, then our energies will also be focused on creating resilient individuals, families, neighborhoods, cities, and global communities. As Chair of the University Sustainability Council, I have been fortunate to work with many talented colleagues in A&S and around the campus on a wide variety of projects and initiatives related to sustainability, including academic programming. If climate change, or sustainability, is an interest of yours, please contact myself or another member of the council and get involved!
