Focus Areas
Adaptation Scenarios
What could adaptation look like in the future? How can we leverage data, creativity, and scenarios to envision bolder, more transformative, more just futures? Current projects with NIST and NCA6.
Managed Retreat
People will move as a result of climate change: how can this be supported, fair, & help communities thrive? Here are some suggestions for buyouts reform from EESI climate briefing. Also see a book & special issue in JESS.
Climate Narratives
What role do heritage, art, fiction, and video games play in climate change adaptation? I'm interested in how narratives influence climate adaptation imaginaries and values. Check out our 2024 Climate Game Jam on climategeekology.com.
Current Projects
Floodplain Management Tools
Collaborating with Dr. Miyuki Hino and Dr. Katharine Mach, funded by NSF HDBE, to investigate how and why some communities are able to grow without developing new housing in the floodplain. We are creating a national index to compare relative rates of floodplain development, and we'll look at local laws and regulations through comparative case studies. See more at our project website.
Adaptation Synthesis (NCA6)
I am leading the Adaptation chapter for the 6th US National Climate Assessment (NCA6). We'll be synthesizing the state of adaptation research and practice, now through 2027. You can see past synthesis work in the Global Adaptation mapping Initiative (see our main paper in Nature Climate Change). I was a contributing author to the 6th IPCC Assessment WG2 and 5th US National Climate Assessment.
Submit your adaptation work as technical inputs to NCA6!
Property Acquisitions (Buyouts)
Buyouts are one of the main policy tools used to reduce residential flood risk in the US, but improvements are needed to promote equity and well-being. Current projects include identifying practitioner tips, assessing a long-term rural buyout program, economic experiments with different incentives, and understanding how stakeholders think about "fair" buyouts. See an edited volume of global studies with Dr. Jola Ajibade and a special issue in the Journal of Environmental Sciences & Studies.
Adaptation Scenarios
Collaboration with Dr. Katharine Mach, Dr. Miyuki Hino, and Dr. Jennifer Helgeson (NIST) on community scenarios and projecting future adaptation efforts.
Modeling Equity
Integrating equity concepts into a dynamic decision-support model of coastal hazards: the CHEER Coastlines and People Hub. Exploring how alternate theories and metrics of equity affect recommendations (Gulrukh Kakar).
Retreat Transportation
Collaboration with Dr. Shangjia Dong, Utkarsh Gangwal, and the Delaware Department of Transportation to develop decision making processes and spatial models to prioritize areas for adaptation in situ and candidates for retreat. (See pub)
NLM Tools for Law
An NSF creativity award supports efforts to use machine learning and natural language processing tools to qualitatively code municipal laws and codes, allowing us to scale up our manual coding efforts (see local floodplain avoidance study).
Publications
Adaptation Justice & Managed Retreat
A.R. Siders, 2023. “The administrator’s dilemma: Closing the gap between climate adaptation justice in theory and practice,” Environmental Science and Policy.
A.R. Siders, 2022. “Navigating the middle space - Just transitions for U.S. coastal adaptation," Shore & Beach (Fall).
A.R. Siders. 2018. "Social justice implications of US managed retreat buyout programs." Climatic Change, 152: 239-257. DOI: 10.1007/s10584-018-2272-5
I.J. Ajibade, A.R. Siders (eds.). 2021. Global views on climate relocation and social justice (Routledge)
A.R. Siders, I.J. Ajibade. 2021. “Introduction: Managed retreat and environmental justice in a changing climate,” Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (Special Issue Editors).
C. Kraan, J. Niemann, M. Hino, A.R. Siders, K. Mach. 2021 “Evaluating and promoting equity in retreat through voluntary property buyouts,” Journal of Environmental Sciences & Studies.
A.R. Siders, I.J. Ajibade, D. Casagrande. 2021. “Transformative potential of managed retreat as climate adaptation,” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 50: 272-280.
M. Araos et al. 2021. “Equity in adaptation: A systematic global review,” One Earth, 4: 1454-1467.
A.R. Siders and J.M. Keenan. 2019. "Variables shaping coastal adaptation decisions to armor, nourish, and retreat in North Carolina." Ocean & Coastal Management, 183: 105023, DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.105023
A.R. Siders, L. Gerber-Chavez*, “Resilience for whom? Insights from COVID-19 for social equity in resilience,” in COVID-19: Systemic Risk and Resilience (I. Linkov, J. Keenan, B. Trump, eds., Springer)
Managed Retreat - Buyouts
A.R. Siders, L. Gerber-Chavez. 2021. US floodplain buyouts: Common practices and lessons learned (The Nature Conservancy) (Disaster Research Center Report 63).
K.J. Mach, A.R. Siders, 2023. “Reframing strategic, managed retreat for transformative climate adaptation,” Science, 372: 1294-1299.
A.R. Siders. 2019. "Managed retreat in the United States." One Earth, 1: 216-225, DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2019.09.008
A.R. Siders, M. Hino, K.J. Mach. 2019. "The case for strategic and managed climate retreat." Science, 365(6455): 761-763, DOI: 10.1126/science.aax8346 (Full Text available here)
K.J. Mach, C.M. Kraan, M. Hino, A.R. Siders, E.M. Johnston, C. Field. 2019. "Managed retreat through voluntary buyouts of flood-prone properties." Science Advances, 5(10): eaax8995 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax8995
L. Paul, C. McGranaghan, A.R. Siders, P. Dineva*, L. Palm-Forster, K. Messer. 2024. “Addressing coordination problems in residential buyouts: Experimental evidence for managed retreat in the face of climate change-related threats,” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization.
P. Dineva*, C. McGranaghan, K.D. Messer, L. Palm-Forester, L.A. Paul, A.R. Siders, 2022. “Promoting spatial coordination in flood buyouts in the United States: Four strategies and four challenges from the economics of land preservation literature,” Natural Hazards Review.
M. Scott, M. Lennon, D. Tubridy, P. Marchman, A.R. Siders, K. Leilani Main, V. Herrmann, D. Butler, K. Frank, K. Bosomworth, R. Blanchi, C. Johnson. 2020. "Climate disruption and planning: Resistance or retreat?" Planning Theory & Practice, 21(1): 125-154, DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2020.1704130
A.R. Siders and C. Hulet. 2019. "Climigration and the Private Sector." Community Development Innovation Review (Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco) 14(1): 79-86.
K. Mach, J. Niemann, R. Donald*, N. Seeteram*, A.R. Siders, X. Cortada, A. Nyburg, J. Owley, A. Roberti, I. Wright. 2023. “Practitioner perspectives on climate mobilities in South Florida,” Oxford Open Climate Change.
J. Peterson, M. McMillan, A.R. Siders, L. Shi, G. Griggs. 2023. “Federal leadership for relocation of coastal communities,” Environmental Law Reporter.
A.R. Siders, K. Mach. 2023. “As coastal flooding worsens, some cities are retreating from the water,” The Conversation on Water (Gerlak, ed., Johns Hopkins Press).
K. Mach, M. Hino, A.R. Siders, S. Koller, C. Kraan, J. Niemann, B. Sanders. 2022. “From flood control to flood adaptation: Managing changing risks and promoting just well-being,” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Environmental Science (Water Resources Management and Policy volume).
A.R. Siders, 2021. "Agenda for climate relocation research and practice." Proceedings of the Perry World House Global Shifts Symposium.
A.R. Siders. 2013. “Anatomy of a Buyout Program -- New York Post-Superstorm Sandy.” 16th Annual Conference on Litigating Takings Challenges to Land Use and Environmental Regulations. New York, NY: Vermont Law School.
Adaptation Synthesis (and Natural Language Processing Tools)
L. Berrang-Ford, A.R. Siders et al. “A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change,” Nature Climate Change, 11: 989-1000.
A.R. Siders, A.L. Pierce. 2021. “Deciding how to make climate change adaptation decisions,” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 52: 1-8.
E. Grubert & A.R. Siders. 2016. "Benefits and applications of interdisciplinary digital tools for environmental meta-reviews and analyses." Environmental Research Letters, 11(9): 093001 DOI: 0.1088/1748-9326/11/9/093001
N. Simpson, K. Mach, M. Tebboth, E. Gilmore, A.R. Siders, P. Holden, B. Anderson, C. Singh, S. Sabour, L. Stringer, H. Sterly, P. Williams, A. Meyer, G. Cundill, S. Rosengaertner, A. Nunow, K. Amakrane, C. Trisos, “Research priorities for climate mobility,” One Earth.
N. Ulibarri et al. 2022. “A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation,” Climate Policy, 22: 77-96.
N. Simpson, P. Williams, K. Mach, L. Berrang-Ford, R. Biesbroek, M. Haasnoot, A. Segnon, D. Campbell, J. Musah-Surugu, E. Joe, A. Nunbogu, S. Sabour, T. Andrews, C. Singh, A.R. Siders, J. Lawrence, M. van Aalst, C. Trisos, 2022. “Adaptation to compound climate events: A systematic global stocktake,” iScience (Special issue on compounding hazards).
T. Doeffinger‡, A.R. Siders. 2024. “A method for evaluating historical climate change adaptation pathways of coupled natural-human systems,” Environmental Science & Policy.
L. Turek-Hankins, E. Coughlan de Perez, G. Scarpa, P. Shwerdtle, E. Joe, E. Galappaththi, E. French, S. Austin, C. Singh, M. Sina, A.R. Siders, M. van Aalst, S. Templeman, A. Nunbogu, L. Berrang-Ford, T. Agrawal, K. Mach. 2021. “Climate change adaptation to extreme heat: A global systematic review of implemented action,” Oxford Open Climate Change.
Contributing Author to Adaptation Chapter, in Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fifth National Climate Assessment (Crimmins et al., eds.), US Global Change Research Program.
O'Neill, B. et al. 2022. “Key Risks Across Sectors and Regions.” In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press.
Adaptation Narratives - Games & Heritage
L. Duckert, A.R. Siders. 2024. “Crisis and Quietus: Climate change and emotional turmoil in Harvestella,” in Playing to Save the World: Environmental Humanities and the Video Game (Aliano, ed.)
A.R. Siders, M. Rockman, “Connecting Cultural Heritage and Urban Climate Change Adaptation,” in Toward Sustainability + Equity (E. Avrami, ed., Columbia Books on Architecture and the City).
N. Shepherd, J. Cohen, W. Carmen, M. Chundu, C. Ernsten, O. Guevara, F. Haas, S. Hussain, F. Riede, A.R. Siders, C. Singh, P. Sithole, A. Troi, 2021. “’Solutions’ White Paper,” The role of cultural and natural heritage for climate action, International Co-Sponsored Meeting on Culture, Heritage, and Climate Change, IPCC and ICOMOS.
A.R. Siders, D. Veron, “Advancing climate education through integrated activities to promote inclusion, creativity, and mental health,” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
Time Management & Saying No
A.R. Siders, N. Ulibarri, A.E. Cravens, R. Nelson. 2023. "How to slay zombie research projects and move on," Nature Careers.
A.E. Cravens, R. Nelson, A.R. Siders, N. Ulibarri. 2022. “Why four scientists spent a year say no,” Nature Careers. 10.1038/d41586-022-02325-3
A.R. Siders, C.M. Brooks, A.E. Cravens, R.L. Nelson, D.R. Reineman, N. Ulibarri. 2020. "How to beat isolation? Academic feedback groups fit the bill and promote growth as scholars and humans." Nature Careers. 10.1038/d41586-020-01432-3
Flood Risks & Floodplain Management
A.R. Siders, M. Hino, E. Shields*, A. Lafferty*, J. Huang*, L. Cano*, S. Tamima*, C.J. Williams‡, L. Gerber-Chavez*, T. Doeffinger‡, A. Agopian*, C. Samoray*, K. Mach. 2024. “How local governments avoid floodplain development though consistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances, plans, and programs,” Oxford Open Climate Change.
A. Agopian*, M. Hino, A.R. Siders, C. Samoray*, K. Mach, “A nationwide analysis of community-level floodplain development outcomes and key influences,” Earth Futures.
C. Samoray*, M. Hino, A.R. Siders, A. Agopian, K. Mach, “Housing amenity and affordability shape floodplain development,” Land Use Policy.
U. Gangwal*, A.R. Siders, J. Horney, H. Michael, S. Dong. 2022. “Critical facility accessibility and road criticality assessment considering flood-induced partial failure,” Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure.
Adaptive Capacity & Adaptation Governance
A.R. Siders, B. Ristroph, “Adaptation – Federal Law,” in Law of Environmental Protection (Environmental Law Institute, Reuters)
A.R. Siders. 2019. “Adaptive capacity to climate change: A synthesis of concepts, methods, and findings in a fragmented field.” WIREs Climate Change, e573 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.573
A.R. Siders, “Resilient Incoherence – Common language for climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development,” in The Role of International Environmental Law in Disaster Risk Reduction (J. Peel and D. Fisher, eds., Brill).
A.R. Siders. 2017. "A role for strategies in urban climate change adaptation planning: Lessons from London." Regional Environmental Change, 17(6): 1801-10 DOI: 10.1007/s10113-017-1153-1
A.R. Siders, R. Stanley, K.M. Lewis. 2016. "A dynamic ocean management proposal for the Bering Strait region." Marine Policy, 74: 177-185 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2016.09.028
Michael Gerrard and A.R. Siders. 2012. “Mexico's General Climate Change Law.” In What are the next steps? Legal perspectives on Mexico's General Law on Climate Change. Mexico-US Climate Law Network.
Policy Reports
A.R. Siders, L. Gerber-Chavez. 2021. US floodplain buyouts: Common practices and lessons learned (The Nature Conservancy) (Disaster Research Center Report 63).
Inclusive & Creative Climate Education Workshop: Report on Design, Activities, and Lessons Learned (2023), for the President’s Advisory Committee to the University Corporation on Atmospheric Research (PACUR).
A.R. Siders, L. Gerber-Chavez, S. Adams, D. Richardson, K. Reece. 2021. Local Wetland and Watercourse Regulations: Potential Tools for Floodplain Management, Lessons from Three New York Towns (The Nature Conservancy) (Disaster Research Center Report 62).
A. Reilly, A.R. Siders, D. Niemeier. 2021. Eliminate billion-dollar disasters: Equitable science-based US disaster policy for a resilient future (Day One Project).
F. Bendimerad, J. Declan, M. Padilla, A. Dalena, A.R. Siders, R. Crozier, V. Seva, R. Tanhueco. 2015. Naga City Case Studies: Risk Sensitive Land-Use Planning and Incentives for Disaster Risk Reduction (Asian Development Bank, EMI; Philippines).
S. Barley-Greenfield*, J. Huang*, J. Pullano*, R. Stanley*, M. Caldwell, J. Martinez, A.R. Siders. 2015. Local barriers to nature-based strategies for coastal hazard mitigation in California (Stanford Law School).
S. Barley-Greenfield*, J. Huang*, J. Pullano*, R. Stanley*, M. Caldwell, J. Martinez, A.R. Siders. 2015. Legal analysis of eligibility of nature-based flood mitigation strategies for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Funding (Stanford Law School).
A.R. Siders. 2013. Managed Coastal Retreat: A Handbook of Tools, Case Studies, and Lessons Learned. New York, NY: Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School.
Data Sets, Coding Tools and Protocols
Agopian, A., M. Hino, A.R. Siders, C. Samoray, K. Mach, "A Nationwide Analysis of Community-Level Floodplain Development Outcomes and Key Influences.” DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-ga7q-3j10
L. Berrang-Ford, A. Lesnikowski, A.P. Fischer, A.R. Siders, et al. 2021. “The Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI): Part 1 – Introduction and overview of methods,” Nature Protocol Exchange, 10.21203/rs.3.pex-1240/v1
A. Lesnikowski, L. Berrang-Ford, A.R. Siders, et al. 2021. “The Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI): Part 3 – Coding protocol,” Nature Protocol Exchange, 10.21203/rs.3.pex-1242/v1
A.R. Siders. 2020. Coder reliability and intercoder reconciliation for qualitative meta-analyses and syntheses, GitHub repository (R Code); 10.5281/zenodo.4010763
A.R. Siders. 2017. R script for creating a cross-citation network, GitHub repository. 10.5281/zenodo.1422870
Vector images by vectorportal.com CCBY4.0 or publicdomainvectors.org