All News & Ideas

With the increased severity and frequency of climate-driven compounding disasters, the uncertainty of federal support and the limitations of isolated home buyouts to address community capacity and connections to place, “Strategies for Climate Refuge” focuses on the bright side: What strategies are working, and how can they come together to support a holistic process for creating climate refuge?

Mithun associate principal Laura Durgerian, alongside practitioners from planning, coalition-building, design and philanthropy, will present working strategies for creative financing, processes for self-determination and addressing compounding hazards. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about a framework for creating climate refuge developed in Mithun’s Equitable Managed Retreat R+D work. Four case studies from flood, fire and funding contexts will provide tangible examples to support this framework, before participants form groups to workshop and refine a process for climate refuge that complements the lessons shared with the experiences and knowledge brought by those in the room. The workshop aims to build a community of thought and generate ideas for leveraging government programs and philanthropic support to fund a holistic process for climate refuge – from coalition building to visioning to implementation and adaptive management.

Laura’s co-presenters include NC State Coastal Dynamics Design Lab director and professor Andy Fox, Buy-In Community Planning executive director Kelly Main, Fire Adapted Communities Network strategy director Tiernan Doyle and Center for Disaster Philanthropy vice president for fund management and coalition building Sharad Aggarwal. Workshop co-facilitators include Climigration Network director Kristin Marcell and Emory University associate professor Jola Ajibade.

Click here to learn more about the conference and register.

Date Posted: 06.16.2025