“Fishing Communities in Ghana to Benefit from Micro-Insurance”

Coastal Resources Center, four others sign agreement

The Coastal Resources Center of the University of Rhode Island and four other organizations signed an agreement Tuesday, October 11, 2016, in Accra to provide life micro-insurance for fishing communities in Ghana. This initiative is under the auspices of the USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project, a US Government Feed the Future Initiative. The initiative also forms part of a commitment to transform and develop Ghana’s Fisheries and Agricultural sector. It is also aimed at supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for poverty and hunger reduction. Read full story

41N Article- Oakland Beach-Building a New Reputation

Photo: Michael Cevoli
Photo: Michael Cevoli

Great climate change article featuring our own Pam Rubinoff and the work that she and Teresa Crean are doing in Warwick’s Oakland Beach! Excerpted from Forty-One Degrees North Magazine, a publication of Rhode Island Sea Grant & The Coastal Institute at the University of Rhode Island. Written by Jerry O’Brien, Photographs by Michael Cevoli.

Oakland Beach-Building a New Reputation

 

Registration for FORTIFIED-Wise Training Ends May 3

fortifiedtrainingHeard about FORTIFIED homes in the Providence Journal or on RI Public Radio and how they can help your clients and communities be more resilient? You too can become FORTIFIED Wise. A training session on May 10 will provide participants with a solid understanding of the FORTIFIED Home building principles, construction practices and verification requirements. The FORTIFIED-Wise accreditation is ideal for anyone who wants to learn more about FORTIFIED Home and its sponsor, the non-profit Insurance Institute for Building and Home Safety (IBHS), whether they are new to the program or not,”including architects, engineers, builders, contractors, insurance professionals, product manufacturers, building officials, students and real estate professionals.

To register, go to fortified.archtest.com

The FORTIFIED-Wise course is approved for International Code Council Education Units (CEUs) and American Institute of Architects CES.

Climate Change Expert to Speak at Beach SAMP Meeting May 3

Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, a longtime participant in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, will share his insights on emerging climate science and trends at the next Beach SAMP stakeholder meeting, Tuesday, May 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Corless Auditorium on URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus.

He recently served as a  coordinating lead author of both the IPCC’s special report on extreme climate events and disasters (called SREX) and the Fifth Assessment Report. Dr. Oppenheimer has been a member of several panels of the National Academy of Sciences and is now a member of the National Academies’ Board on Energy and Environmental Studies. He is also a winner of the 2010 Heinz Award and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

His interests include science and policy of the atmosphere, particularly climate change and its impacts. Much of his research aims to understand the potential for “dangerous” outcomes of increasing levels of greenhouse gases by exploring the effects of global warming on the ice sheets and sea level, on the risk from coastal storms and on patterns of human migration.

Pizza will be served in the auditorium library at 5:30. RSVP to beachsamp@etal.uri.edu

Block Island Times Reports on Coastal Risk Tools

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Ann Street Pier, Newport, during Hurricane Irene in 2011. (Credit: RI Sea Grant)

Many factors contribute to building true coastal resilience. The GIS-based Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI) tools developed with support from CRC are an important element. Check out this article in The Block Island Times featuring CRC-ers to learn more.

Raising Awareness about Coastal Resiliency, Sea Level Rise in Newport

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Anne Street Pier. (CRC photo)

CRC has worked with Newport stakeholders on sea level rise and waterfront resilience for the past five years, and this work has provided a foundation for the City, and the state, to build on. It also has captured the attention of state lawmakers and others interested in the sustainablility of Rhode Island’s coastline. Check out recent developments in the Narragansett Bay Blog and at The Providence Journal.

“Fortified Home” Sets New Standard in Resilient Construction

Check out Rhode Island’s first home built to “Fortified Home,” certification standards. This voluntary standard set forth by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is designed for increased resistance to storm damage. Two other homes in Rhode Island are being built or renovated to Fortified specifications, according CRC’s Pam Rubinoff. Stay tuned for more on CRC’s involvement in this important coastal resilience development.

Reminder: Beach SAMP Stakeholder Meeting is March 3

Don’t forget to attend the next Beach SAMP Stakeholder Meeting Tuesday, March 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Coastal Institute Auditorium, URI Narragansett Bay Campus. The topic is “How Can Coastal Engineering Contribute to Resilient Coastal Communities. Christopher P. Jones,  P.E., will address the question: “Coastal engineering can counteract some of the processes and forces attacking our shorelines and communities, but what are the practical and financial limits? Jones is a registered professional engineer specializing in coastal hazard identification, hazard mitigation and coastal engineering with more than 30 years of experience.

Pizza will be served at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to beachSAMP@etal.uri.edu

This Beach SAMP stakeholder meeting is cosponsored by RI Flood Mitigation Association (RIFMA)