Connecticut town commissions and boards can play a pivotal role in building climate change resilience into local decision making. Conservation Commissions have the authority to advise land use boards and can play a role in increasing climate resiliency by advocating for nature-based solutions for problems like flooding, excessive heat, erosion, shoreline stabilization or poor water […]

2022 was an exciting year for several CIRCA projects.  Most recently, our Institute’s Norwalk heat study made the CT Mirror’s “BEST OF 2022” stories for the article, How heat affects health: An overlooked outcome of climate change.  Additionally, we were honored to receive two awards: Each year the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association […]

Norway and Palau founded this “High Level Panel on the Sustainable Ocean Economy” in 2018.  It includes a group of heads of states and 15 countries. John Kerry introduced speakers and the moderator, Eliza Northrup, Secretariat to the Ocean Panel. Panel members in the photo include senior officials of the governments of member nations: Espen […]

Ten years ago the reality of stronger storms, climate change, and sea level rise arrived on our shore with Super Storm Sandy. The storm damaged approximately 3,000 homes in the state and knocked out power to over 600,000 customers. It was reported that the Town of Madison had the highest recorded wind speed in Connecticut […]

The University of Connecticut (UConn) seeks applicants for the position of Community Resilience Planner (Research Assistant 2) at CIRCA to provide support for various phases of the Resilient Connecticut program as well as support to new programs. CIRCA is a multi‐disciplinary center that coordinates applied research and engagement programs to develop and advance practical solutions […]

  June 22, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. REGISTER The Resilient Connecticut project focuses on regional climate planning through research and engagement to inform municipal-to-regional scale pilot projects. Phase III of Resilient Connecticut will develop seven site specific projects that build on regional assessments of extreme heat and flood vulnerabilities and the resulting 63 “Resilience Opportunity […]

CIRCA is pleased to announce two new climate research seed grants to the following UConn faculty. These awards are intended to support the development of competitive grant proposals while advancing CIRCA’s mission. Since seed grant projects will be completed in 12 months, results are expected at the end of spring 2023. Ensemble Backcasting of Wave […]

Stratford Point, CT. Photo Credit: Jennifer Mattei May 9, 2022 News Story: by Eduardo Cuevas Rockland/Westchester Journal News In the shadows of Playland Park, a stretch of shoreline has already receded, another product of climate change. Westchester County officials estimate up to 40 feet has been lost in the last decade with repeated storms battering […]

CIRCA is pleased to announce our 2022 Municipal Resilience Grant Program (MRGP) awards to the following four communities.  Projects need to be completed in a 12 month timeframe and will be completed in spring, 2023. Town of Fairfield: Benefit Cost Analysis for Climate Resilience   Town-wide flood planning in Fairfield has identified coastal areas in […]

CIRCA has received State funds to expand Resilient Connecticut’s work from southwest Connecticut to the entire State. “Resilient Connecticut 2.0” will include a statewide expansion of the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) followed by climate adaptation project development in the communities of the Hartford area and southeastern Connecticut. This planning effort will help develop the […]