NLCU: Managing Climate Risks 101

Course Description

NLC’s mission is to relentlessly protect the interests of cities, towns and villages by influencing federal policy, strengthening local leadership and driving innovative solutions. Nowhere could this be needed more than to understand how to manage the rapidly increasing risks associated with warmer, wetter weather. Record storms, massive wildfires, blue sky flooding, and severe cold and heat are happening more often and increasingly in places that were traditionally considered low-risk. As a result, it is imperative for all local officials to understand the multiple dimensions of risk management and resilience, ranging from pre-event systems-level adaptation to new forms of risk-transfer financing. 

Managing Climate Risks 101 is intended to be an introductory course to address precisely these issues. This three-month, six-module course aims to provide a basic understanding of the new risk data and analytical tools available to community leaders, to showcase best practices already working to enhance resilience, and to highlight innovative approaches to managing risk. The course will end with a capstone project where participants will work with subject matter experts to build a hypothetical risk management plan incorporating materials from earlier classes. 

Course participants will: 

• Gain a better understanding of their city’s risks, vulnerabilities and exposures.  
• Develop a deeper appreciation for the tools, capabilities and innovative approaches that public sector leaders are using to build resilience programs.  
• Have increased confidence in their knowledge of how to assemble a holistic and effective risk management strategy.  

Course Facilitators

This course is taught by Marsh McLennan leaders as well as state and local risk experts.