Local Governments Adapt to Climate Change By Improving Infrastructure, Planting Trees

Local governments are adapting to climate change impacts by making improvements to stormwater systems, planting trees to lower temperatures, and undertaking other efforts, representatives from an association of local governments said Dec. 6.

But local governments face huge funding obstacles in pursuing these initiatives, government officials said during a news conference by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and the World Wildlife Fund.

Norfolk, Va., which is home to the world’s largest naval base, has experienced a relative sea level rise of 14.5 inches since 1933, accounting for both rising sea levels and sinking and compressed land, said Denise Thompson, environmental protection ...