Dale Bryan’s letter is right on target in pointing out that resilient communities are integral to the work of combating global climate change. The accelerating greenhouse effect will make extreme weather events both more frequent and more intense in the coming decades, and many aspects of our lives will be forced to change as a consequence.
It’s relatively simple to handle damage to public infrastructure — roads, bridges, utility and communications lines are all built to meet mandated standards of durability and reliability; repairs and upkeep are straightforward. But social infrastructure is another matter entirely.
The bonds which bring us together in neighborhoods and communities are vulnerable not just to storms, droughts, and wildfires, but to bigotry, prejudice, and xenophobia. A diverse society in which people respect and celebrate one another’s differences while working together for a common cause is more likely to survive and prosper, even in the face of devastating climatic transformations.
– Warren Senders