Lessons from the Past on Adapting to Climate Change | Laprisha Berry Daniels | TED

Summary

The speaker, a public health social worker, addresses the recurring issue of 100-year floods in Detroit, highlighting the urgent need for climate change preparedness. Drawing on her grandparents' migration experience, she outlines three key strategies for adaptation: acceptance of the new climate reality, establishing mutual aid communities, and investing in tools for resilience. She emphasizes the importance of learning from the past and considering social and political factors that may hinder progress in addressing climate challenges.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Detroit experienced two 100-year floods in 2014 and 2021, causing over a billion dollars in damages each time.
• 👋 The speaker greets the audience with a local phrase, 'What up doe?', setting a tone of connection and familiarity.
• 🔢 The term '100-year flood' is misleading as it does not mean a flood will only occur once every 100 years; Detroit's recent history proves this.
• 🌡 The speaker, a public health social worker, emphasizes the importance of developing interventions to improve health and prevent harm, drawing a parallel to preparing for climate crises.
• 🏡 The speaker's grandparents' migration story from the South to Detroit symbolizes a personal journey of adapting to a new 'climate', both literally and metaphorically.
• ❄️ Adapting to Detroit's weather required acceptance of new conditions, such as snow and short summers, which is a microcosm of the global climate change adaptation challenge.
• 🤝 The concept of mutual aid is highlighted as crucial for community resilience, both in the past for new migrants and in the present for flood response.
• 🛠 The need for physical adaptation, like getting shovels and covering windows, is compared to the broader need for societal adaptation to climate change.
• 🏙️ The speaker points out that social and political conditions, such as racism and discrimination, can hinder progress on climate change and other societal issues.
• 📈 The importance of learning from past experiences, like the floods of 2014 and 2021, is underscored to better prepare for future climate-related crises.
• 🌳 The three key strategies for dealing with change, acceptance, aid, and adaptation, are presented as a framework for addressing both historical and contemporary challenges.

Q & A

What is the unique greeting used in Detroit as mentioned in the script?

The unique greeting used in Detroit is 'What up doe?' which is different from the common 'what up, dog?'.

How much rainfall did Detroit experience during the 2021 flood event?

During the 2021 flood event, Detroit experienced seven inches of rain.

What were the consequences of the 2021 flood in Detroit in terms of damages and disruptions?

The 2021 flood in Detroit resulted in cars being stranded on highways, people swimming and kayaking down residential streets, and over a billion dollars in damages to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

Why does the speaker mention the 2014 flood event alongside the 2021 event?

The speaker mentions the 2014 flood to highlight the frequency of such extreme weather events and to point out that the interval between these events is much less than a century, challenging the notion of a '100-year flood'.

What is the speaker's profession and how does it relate to the topic of climate change?

The speaker is a public health social worker who focuses on developing interventions to improve health and well-being, and in this context, is concerned with preventing harm caused by climate change.

What are the three key strategies the speaker suggests for adjusting to new climates or climate change?

The three key strategies are acceptance, aid, and adaptation.

What does the speaker mean by 'acceptance' in the context of climate change?

Acceptance refers to acknowledging the reality of the new climate conditions and recognizing that they cannot be denied, avoided, or altered.

Can you explain the concept of 'mutual aid' as discussed in the script?

Mutual aid refers to communities supporting each other, helping to find housing, jobs, and resources, which is crucial for adjusting to climate change.

What are some examples of adaptation mentioned by the speaker?

Examples of adaptation include investing in tools like shovels, using sand and salt for icy conditions, and covering windows with plastic to keep out the cold.

How does the speaker connect the experiences of families moving from the South to Detroit with the concept of climate change?

The speaker draws a parallel between the adjustment these families had to make to a new weather climate in Detroit and the global adjustments needed for climate change, emphasizing the need for similar strategies of acceptance, aid, and adaptation.

What is the second definition of 'climate' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to social and political conditions?

The second definition of 'climate' refers to the social, political, and emotional atmosphere that can hinder progress on climate change and other societal issues.

What is the speaker's call to action for preparing for future climate-related crises?

The speaker calls for acceptance of climate change as a current reality, the creation and support of mutual aid systems, and adaptation of thinking and actions to prepare for current and future crises.

Outlines

00:00

🌧️ Climate Crisis and Detroit's Floods

The speaker begins by introducing the audience to Detroit's unique greeting, 'What up doe?' and then transitions into discussing the city's recent history with severe weather events. Two 100-year floods occurred in 2014 and 2021, causing over a billion dollars in damages each time. The speaker, a public health social worker, emphasizes the need to learn from the past to better prepare for future climate crises. They also share their grandparents' story of moving from a small southern town to Detroit, highlighting the need for acceptance, aid, and adaptation to new climates and conditions.

05:01

🤝 Strategies for Climate Resilience

Continuing from the previous paragraph, the speaker outlines three key strategies used by their grandparents to adjust to life in Detroit: acceptance of new weather conditions, establishing communities for mutual aid, and adaptation through necessary investments. These strategies are applied to the context of climate change, with the speaker urging for collective action and planning to prepare for future crises. They also draw attention to the social and political barriers that can hinder progress on climate change, such as racism and discrimination, and stress the importance of centering community voices in the process of planning and preparation.

Keywords

💡Climate

In the context of the video, 'climate' is used in two ways: the traditional definition referring to the long-term weather patterns of a region, and a broader definition that includes social and political conditions. The speaker uses the term to highlight the urgency of addressing climate change and its impact on communities, as seen in the repeated flooding in Detroit.

💡Flood

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry. The video discusses two instances of 100-year floods in Detroit, emphasizing the increasing frequency and severity of such natural disasters, which are a direct consequence of climate change.

💡Public Health Social Worker

A public health social worker is a professional who focuses on community health and well-being, often developing interventions to prevent harm. The speaker identifies as one, and uses their expertise to discuss the importance of community resilience and preparedness in the face of climate crises.

💡Intervention

In the video, 'intervention' refers to strategies or actions taken to improve health and well-being, particularly in the context of preventing harm from climate-related disasters. The speaker suggests that learning from past experiences can inform these interventions to better prepare for future crises.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance, as mentioned in the script, is the first of three key strategies used by families moving from the South to Detroit to adjust to a new climate. It involves acknowledging the reality of climate change and the need to adapt to it, as opposed to denying or avoiding it.

💡Aid

Aid in this context refers to mutual support systems within communities, where individuals help each other find resources like housing, jobs, and food. The speaker uses the example of how these systems were crucial during the floods in Detroit when formal government responses were insufficient.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation is the process of adjusting to new conditions or circumstances, which in the video, is applied to how communities respond to climate change. The speaker emphasizes the need for investing in tools and strategies to adjust to the changing climate, such as using shovels and sand to deal with icy conditions.

💡Racism

The video discusses how racism, both in its historical form as Jim Crow laws and in its contemporary manifestations, limits access to resources and opportunities. This social condition is highlighted as a factor that can hinder progress in addressing climate change and other societal issues.

💡Community Voices

Community voices refer to the perspectives and experiences of the people within a community. The speaker stresses the importance of centering these voices in discussions and strategies related to climate change, as they provide valuable insights and understanding of local conditions and needs.

💡Mutual Aid

Mutual aid is a concept where community members support each other, often in times of crisis. The video uses the example of Detroit residents coming together to help each other during the floods, illustrating the power of community support in the face of government inaction.

💡Climate-Related Crisis

A climate-related crisis, as discussed in the video, refers to significant events or conditions caused by climate change, such as floods, droughts, or extreme weather events. The speaker calls for preparedness for these crises by accepting the reality of climate change and adapting strategies accordingly.

Highlights

Detroit experienced a 100-year flood in 2021, causing over a billion dollars in damages.

A similar 100-year flood also occurred in 2014, highlighting the frequency of such extreme weather events.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning from past experiences to better prepare for future climate crises.

The concept of 'climate' is introduced with two definitions - one related to weather and the other to social and political conditions.

The speaker's grandparents' migration story illustrates the need for acceptance, aid, and adaptation when facing a new climate.

Acceptance involves acknowledging and planning for the reality of climate change.

Aid refers to the establishment of communities that support each other in times of crisis.

Adaptation requires investing in tools and strategies to adjust to new climate conditions.

The speaker calls for action from individuals, organizations, businesses, and governments to create and implement adaptation plans.

Racism and discrimination are highlighted as barriers to accessing resources and opportunities, impacting climate change preparedness.

The importance of considering social and political climates alongside physical climate change is emphasized for effective progress.

The speaker urges for thoughtful application of past strategies to current circumstances, centering community voices and assets.

Detroit's lack of preparedness for the 2014 and 2021 floods is used as a cautionary tale for the need for better planning.

The need for formal and informal systems of mutual aid is stressed to support community resilience.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the collective responsibility to be prepared for the next climate-related crisis.

Applause signifies the audience's appreciation for the speaker's insights and call to action.

Transcripts

Thank you, and welcome to Detroit.

Has anyone told you how we greet each other here yet?

“What up doe?”

Not "what up, dog?"

“What up doe.”

(Laughter)

Very well.

In Detroit, in 2021, we experienced a 100-year flood.

A rain event dumped seven inches of rain on Detroit.

Cars were stranded on highways,

people were literally swimming and kayaking down residential streets.

Homes, businesses, infrastructure were inundated with heavy rainfall,

resulting in over a billion dollars in flood damages.

It was unlike anything we had seen before.

Wait a minute, that's not true.

Because, in 2014 ...

Detroit had a 100-year flood.

Four to six inches of rain were dumped on Detroit.

Cars were stranded on highways,

people were literally swimming and kayaking down residential streets.

Homes, businesses and infrastructure

were inundated with heavy rainfall

and sustained over a billion dollars in flood damages.

Now I'm no mathematician,

but 2014 to 2021 is not 100 years.

(Laughter)

I am a public health social worker,

and what that means is I focus on developing interventions

that help to improve the health and well-being

of individuals and communities.

In particular, I'm concerned with preventing harm.

I think there are ways that we can learn from the past

in order to apply some lessons so that we do better when preparing

for near-future and distant-future climate crises.

So let's start by thinking about the past.

My grandparents were born and raised in a small town in the southern US,

Boligee, Alabama.

They decided, like many families in the '50s,

to leave the South and to move north,

to pursue a better life.

In particular, my grandfather

wanted to leave the agricultural industry and find work in the automotive industry.

So my grandparents, Martha and Booker O'Neil,

packed up their four children, their hopes and dreams,

their practices and prayers, their tried-and-true traditions,

and headed north.

Boligee was a small farming town with about nine surnames,

about 150 residents,

and the cows outnumbered the people.

It was very different than Detroit.

Detroit was wildly different.

At the time, it was the fifth-largest city in the US,

so it had a little over a million residents,

busy streets, an active nightlife.

What they experienced when they came here

could be considered, in some senses of the word,

climate change.

I know that's different

than how we usually think about climate change,

but stay with me, I'll make sense of it as we go.

When families moved here from the South,

they experienced weather in ways that they never experienced it before,

a lot like what we're experiencing right now, across the globe, right?

They had to contend with snow in Detroit

and very short and mild summers

that really didn't compare to the summer heat that they were used to.

There are two definitions of climate.

The first is the one that we all expect to talk about

during this summit:

"Climate: the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place."

And then, there's another definition of climate

that we'll get to later,

and talk about how that affects climate change.

For the first time ever,

families that arrived here from the South were experiencing this new climate.

And they had to have strategies in order to adjust to the new climate.

They used three key strategies --

acceptance, aid and adaptation.

So first, acceptance.

They had to acknowledge

that they would not experience the weather the same way they had in the past.

They had to recognize that they could not deny, avoid or alter it.

As we do a better job of accepting that this is our new climate,

then we could do a better job of planning, preparing, responding and recovering.

We have to realize that climate change is not a distal threat.

It is at our front doors,

or in the case of Detroit during the floods,

in our basements.

The second strategy they used was aid.

When folks arrived here in the city, they set up communities,

communities of mutual aid,

where they helped and supported each other.

They helped each other find housing, and jobs and land to grow food.

In part, our ability to adjust to climate change

is reliant upon our willingness to support each other.

In 2014 and 2021, when there were floods in Detroit,

residents responded.

Neighbors, congregations, friends responded,

when government was not nimble enough

to respond to the critical needs of community members.

The third way that they survived this new climate was adaptation.

They had to recognize that it was important to invest

in the tools that they would need in order to adapt to this new climate.

They had to get shovels.

They had to have sand and salt to deal with icy conditions,

they had to cover their windows with plastic

to keep the cold winds from coming in.

We must take action to adapt

for our current and near-future climate change,

and it will take us all --

community members, community organizations,

business, industry, local government

must come up with plans, and then put those plans into action.

In the '50s, many who migrated north

thought that they would escape Jim Crow laws.

What they found is a new form of racism in the North.

Bigotry, racism and discrimination

limited their access to healthy housing,

the best neighborhoods, the best jobs,

political power, et cetera.

In the '20s,

the 2020s ...

bigotry, racism, discrimination

limit access to healthy housing, the best neighborhoods,

political power --

you know where I'm going with this.

It is important, then, that we pay attention

to the second definition of climate,

and that has to do with the social conditions

and political conditions

and feelings and opinions

that get in the way of us making progress on climate change

and in other areas that we're trying to make progress in.

So the three strategies are acceptance, aid and adaptation.

When we're looking at climate change, we also have to be mindful

of how social and political conditions can stifle progress

and get in the way of our progress

toward preparing and planning for climate change.

Being thoughtful about how we apply these three key strategies

that worked in the past

to our present circumstances,

while remembering to center community voices

and experience and honor community assets

is our best bet at success.

In 2014, it rained,

and we were surprised and not prepared.

In 2021,

we weren't that surprised,

but still ill-prepared.

It's going to rain again, no surprise.

We have to make sure that we're prepared.

We can be prepared for the next climate-related crisis,

by accepting that climate change is our current reality,

creating and supporting formal and informal systems of mutual aid,

and adapting our thinking and our actions to prepare

for current and future crises.

Thank you.

(Applause)