On this epidode of the Capitol Beach podcast, Derek Brockbank sits down with Jeffrey Peterson, author of the book A New Coast: Strategies for Responding to Devastating Storms and Rising Seas. Drawing on four decades of experience at the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Senate, Peterson presents the science behind predictions for coastal impacts. He explains how current policies fall short of what is needed to effectively prepare for these changes and how the Trump Administration has significantly weakened these efforts. While describing how and why the current policies exist, he builds a strong case for a bold, new approach, tackling difficult topics including: how to revise flood insurance and disaster assistance programs; when to step back from the coast rather than build protection structures; how to steer new development away from at-risk areas; and how to finance the transition to a new coast.
Capitol Beach podcast is a production of the American Shoreline Podcast Network. Thanks to the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association for their partnership in this endeavor.
