Why Our Work is Needed
As climate impacts will only accelerate, further exacerbating current natural disaster risks that municipalities–large and small, well-resourced and constrained–face on a daily basis. Extensive and proactive planning is essential to help both safeguard communities and their residents today, but also anticipate what tomorrow’s climate (and weather) may bring to residents, city planners, homeowners, and the insurance industry.
Brief Overview of What We’re Doing
Delta Institute joined the Resilience Innovation Hub, a robust network facilitated by nonprofit partner AccelerateH20, that is focused on increasing community adaptability while lowering insurance premiums. A key goal is to reduce the overall cost burden of premiums in the face of climate change to both insurers and insurees; as such the Resilience Innovation Hub maintains a strategic alliance with the Insurance Information Institute.
Delta Institute serves as the Midwestern Hub to engage with communities and stakeholders throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
Delta Institute is undertaking activities focused on understanding the barriers to implementing resilience activities at the local and regional scale while creating innovative solutions to assist communities to implement projects and initiatives to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Delta’s key activities include creating partnerships and collaborations to identify opportunities and barriers for implementing green infrastructure and resilience activities; coordinating planning and local implementation of projects; sharing best practices and lessons learned from around the region; and, providing technical assistance, capacity and tools to reduce the cost and time for municipalities.
Indeed, multiple projects currently underway align with this partnership, including our Overcoming Barriers to Municipal Green Infrastructure project funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund. Additional projects are forthcoming in Spring 2022.
Want to Get Involved?
The Resilience Innovation Hub routinely hosts events focused on municipal planning, insurance and reinsurance issues, and climate strategy. Check out their 2022 Investor Forum to learn more.
Our Impact
Delta Institute’s partnership with the Resilience Innovation Hub corresponds directly to our new strategic program area, Nature Based Climate Solutions. By 2025, our goal is to have assisted municipalities in integrating natural and green infrastructure – improving the environment, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and strengthening communities – reducing stormwater impacts by 100 million gallons and leveraging $100 million in investment.
Keep in touch with us as more projects are implemented in the years ahead so that together we create a more resilient Midwest.