We warmly invite you to join us on April 19, 2024 at the Tulane River and Coastal Center to discuss the recent release of the report, Community-Driven Relocation: Recommendations for the U.S. Gulf Coast Region and Beyond. The report describes how climate change has exacerbated historic inequalities and led to cycles of displacement and chronic stress for communities across the region and provides recommendations to guide a path for federal, state, and local policies and programs to better serve those most likely to be displaced.

More than 200 one-billion-dollar disasters have occurred in the United States Gulf Coast region between 1980 and 2023, with the number of disasters doubling annually since 2018. Neither the region nor the nation has a consistent and inclusive process to address risks, raise awareness, or explore options for relocating communities away from environmentally high-risk areas while seeking out and honoring communities’ values and priorities.

This new report from the Board on Environmental Change and Society examines how people and infrastructure relocate, why community input should drive the planning process, and how federal, state, and local policies should prioritize well-being and the establishment of equitable decision-making processes as they support Gulf Coast communities in relocation. Please join us to discuss challenges and opportunities to community-driven relocation and hear from community members, local officials, and other experts about the community perspectives, policies, and recommendations contained in the report.