Laurie Schoeman On Why Adaptation Needs A Seat At The Top Table

🎉The Climate Proofers podcast is 50 episodes old today!

Thanks to all our interviewees and — of course — you the listener for making the series the success it is today. Over the last year, I’ve interviewed some of the best and brightest in adaptation finance, tech, and policy, and been consistently blown away by the depth of talent and passion in this most important of fields.

It seems you’ve been impressed, too. We’re nearing 10,000 downloads across all platforms, and I’ve heard from many folks who are grateful that this pod — on the nerdiest aspects of adaptation — exists.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the process, though, has been hearing from past interviewees who have made new connections through the show, which have in turn led to partnerships, collaborations — and even investment opportunities.

I won’t be hanging up my headphones anytime soon, so expect plenty more Climate Proofers to come. However, like every other aspect of Climate Proof, it takes time and money to put on a good show.

If you value the podcast, want to support adaptation journalism, and keep this good thing going, then please consider becoming a member today👇

Thanks!

Louie Woodall
Editor

Who better to star in our 50th episode than Laurie Schoeman?

Laurie is a highly respected champion of climate resilience, housing policy, and sustainable investment in the US, with a career that’s taken her from construction projects in San Francisco to the heart of the White House.

For two years, she served under President Biden: first, as Senior Advisor for Climate Risk and Resilience, and then as a Senior Housing Policy Advisor. In these roles, she leveraged the power of the Oval Office to support nationwide resilience efforts and unlock adaptation finance.

Now, she serves as Chief Investment and Impact Officer at Partners for the Common Good, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides low-cost, patient capital to low-income communities.

She’s also an important voice in the effort to make Los Angeles more resilient in the wake of this year’s devastating wildfires. In her role on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery, set up by LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Laurie is advising on how to build back homes, businesses, and infrastructure to better withstand the sorts of blazes that tore through the city in January.

In today’s episode, we cover a lot of ground — from the very different climate adaptation policies of Trump and Biden, to the challenges on the ground in LA, to the importance of CDFIs amid a wholesale rollback of federal funding.

Laurie even shares her thoughts on the importance of the new American Pope in providing moral leadership at a time when so little seems to be in evidence.

Listen below, download from the Podcasts page on Climate Proof, or tune in via Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

We talk about:

👉 Laurie’s tenure in the Biden administration, the development of the first-ever Climate Resilience Framework, and efforts to embed resilience across federal agencies

👉 Why, despite the current political climate, adaptation and resilience are fundamentally bipartisan issues and how framing resilience as a material economic risk can garner support regardless of ideology

👉 Her work on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery and advocacy for long-term adaptation thinking when it comes to rebuilding

👉 Why a major barrier to the resilience of homes and properties is not a lack of knowledge, but a failure to embed best practices across the building and design lifecycle

👉 How CDFIs support financing for affordable housing and community infrastructure, and their importance as federal funding retracts

Thanks for listening!

Louie Woodall
Editor