Achieving Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation

Our population is aging—by 2034, the US will have more people over 65 than under 18, and older residents make up a disproportionate number of casualties from climate-fueled disasters, ranging from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to the Maui wildfires of 2023 – and countless events in between. These rates of death have not improved in nearly 20 years, making it imperative that a renewed focus on climate resilience is centered in the needs of older adults.

This talk will provide an overview of how and why climate change differently impacts older people, and the range of solutions and strategies that can be deployed to reduce risk. Strategies include interventions in housing, transportation, emergency management, health care, utilities, and social infrastructure which can deliver a more climate-resilient community when designed with the needs of older adults in mind. With a role for people in all sectors and at all levels, achieving climate resilience for an aging nation truly is a job for all of us.

Presenter: 

Danielle Arigoni is an urban planner and community resilience expert. She currently serves as Managing Director for Policy and Solutions at National Housing Trust, where she provides strategic direction for the organization’s sustainability and resilience policy efforts, and oversight and guidance for NHT’s state and local advisory services. She is also author of Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation which explores the impacts of climate change on a rapidly growing demographic – people over 65 – and the need for community-scale solutions to reduce risk for all. Prior to joining NHT in 2022, Danielle served as Director of Livable Communities at AARP and held several leadership positions at HUD, EPA and USAID working to advance sustainable and equitable communities. She holds planning degrees from Cornell University and University of Oregon, and serves as a Board Member for the League of American Bicyclists and Smart Growth America.

Intended Audience: 

This presentation is intended for general interest. Results may be of particular relevance to policy makers and advocates.

 Registration Fee

• OGA members: Free!
• Non-members: $10
• Non-member students/seniors and registrants with limited financial means: $5

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OGA is a non-profit organization run by volunteers. Events and donations are our main sources of income to fund our educational and networking programs.

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Please note that we offer CEUs only for our annual conference in October, not for our regular events. However, we are happy to issue a Certificate of Attendance upon request for those who attend this webinar for its entire length. To request one, please send us an email after the event.

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