The People Fleeing Climate Disasters Are Going to Transform the American South
October 6th, 2024 Via the New York Times, a look at how people will move to avoid future climate disasters: When Hurricane Helene, the 420-mile-wide, slow-spinning conveyor belt of wind and water drowned part of [...]
Hurricane Helene Destroyed Roads. Here’s How to Rebuild—and Flood-Proof Them for Next Time
October 5th, 2024 Via Wired, a look at how – as it becomes clear that climate change devastation can hit anywhere – engineers are considering how best to protect vital thoroughfares from intense storms: A [...]
Air Conditioning: A Moral Imperative
October 5th, 2024 Via The Washington Post, commentary on how – despite its contribution to climate change – the demand for AC will soar and must be met: Air conditioning transformed the world. Cities such [...]
Nowhere in America Is Safe From Climate-Fueled Storms and Fires
October 4th, 2024 Via Bloomberg, a look at how billion-dollar weather disasters have touched every corner of the US in the past five years: Forecasters had warned for days that Hurricane Helene was likely to cause [...]
Climate Change Is Destroying American Homes. Who Should Have To Move?
October 2nd, 2024 Via Grist, commentary on how it’s unfair to force people out of their homes, but we have to do it anyway: Consider the following scenario: A local government wants to relocate a neighborhood that [...]
Before The Floods, Asheville Was Called A ‘Climate Haven.’ Is Anywhere Safe?
October 1st, 2024 Via The Washington Post, a look at how – as climate change leads to more severe hurricanes – mountain communities like Asheville, N.C., face growing flood danger: Asheville, N.C., seemed [...]

ABOUT
BLACK SWANS GREEN SHOOTS
Black Swans / Green Shoots examines the collision between urbanization and resource scarcity in a world affected by climate change, identifying opportunities to build sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure through the use of revolutionary capital, increased awareness, innovative technologies, and smart design to make a difference in the face of global and local climate perils.

'Black Swans' are highly improbable events that come as a surprise, have major disruptive effects, and that are often rationalized after the fact as if they had been predictable to begin with. In our rapidly warming world, such events are occurring ever more frequently and include wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought.

'Green Shoots' is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during a downturn. It references a period of growth and recovery, when plants start to show signs of health and life, and, therefore, has been employed as a metaphor for a recovering economy.

It is my hope that Black Swans / Green Shoots will help readers understand both climate-activated risk and opportunity so that you may invest in, advise, or lead organizations in the context of increasing pressures of global urbanization, resource scarcity, and perils relating to climate change. I believe that the tools of business and finance can help individuals, businesses, and global society make informed choices about who and what to protect, and I hope that this blog provides some insight into the policy and private sector tools used to assess investments in resilient reinforcement, response, or recovery.