09/25/2026
Cities can no longer look to the past to prepare for the future. That’s a key takeaway from a major new climate change report developed by leading scientists and researchers, including HOK’s Director of Resiliency, Ann Kosmal.
Ann’s section of “Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States” highlights seven important lessons for planners, designers, policymakers and community leaders:
1. Cities need to plan for multiple crises happening at once. The old assumption that hazards occur one at a time is no longer reliable.
2. Stop planning infrastructure in silos. Transportation, energy, water, communications and housing systems are deeply interconnected. Risk management should be too.
3. Climate vulnerability is also a social issue. The communities facing the greatest climate risks often have the fewest resources to adapt.
4. Better decisions require better information. Cities, businesses and governments need reliable climate data to plan effectively for an uncertain future.
5. Land-use planning is a resilience strategy. Where and how we build can be just as important as the infrastructure we construct.
6. Nature can be infrastructure. Urban forests, wetlands and other nature-based solutions can help reduce heat, manage stormwater and improve quality of life.
7. Prioritize solutions that deliver multiple benefits. From building retrofits to renewable energy and green infrastructure, the best investments can reduce emissions while improving resilience, public health and affordability.
Ultimately, climate resilience is about understanding how entire urban systems respond to a changing climate and making smarter decisions today to reduce risk tomorrow.
