Although the existence of climate change is still being debated, a New York Times article reports that Chicago’s urban planners are preparing the city for a permanent heat wave, based on projections made by climate scientist.  Walkways are being repaved with water permeable materials, drought resilient trees are being selected for additional shade, and roof gardens are being added to known hot spots.

With more extreme weather conditions city and state planners feel the first step is to acknowledge and then adapt to climate change. Local governments are also being pressurized to act by insurance companies who threaten to increase premiums, especially in urban areas. Melissa Stults, climate director of Local Governments for Sustainability, states that many administrators are “discreetly integrating preparedness into traditional planning efforts.”

A risk assessment indicated that at the current pace of global carbon emission, Chicago could experience “heat related deaths reaching 1200, a year” and lose billions of dollars in infrastructure degradation from varying factors from extreme temperature changes to structural damage caused by termites.

The city is also expecting more severe storms and is adapting the old alleyways that did not have any drainage provisions.  Solutions include widening sidewalks, and landscaping with plants that absorb water runoff and filter chemicals from de icing salt. The city has also gotten support from Foundations and local agencies like Civic Consulting Alliance, a nonprofit that has been instrumental in helping to create electric car infrastructure and plan for a zero waste city.

Is your jurisdiction tackling climate change?  Look at the documents on the Knowledge Network to see what other cities are doing to adapt.

• Getting Smart about Climate Change is a 2010 ICMA publication that provides practical guidance on strategies that promote economic growth and development while reducing impact on the environment. 
• Greenworks Philadelphia builds on the 2007 Local Area Action Plan for climate Change and sets up long term targets and goals for making Philadelphia the “greenest city in America.”
• Phoenix: A Sustainable City  provides an overview of the City’s sustainability plans including water resource planning, green infrastructure, climate change protection and environmental leadership.
• Engage Your Community in Bold Initiatives on Climate Change gives instances of how municipalities are involving their citizens to ensure success and effectiveness of their initiatives.

You can look though more resources on climate change by visiting the Knowledge Network topic pages on Sustainability, Environment,  Air, Climate, Water, Smart Growth,  Planning and Urban Design and the ICMA Center for Sustainable Communities.