Mar 22, 2022 · 17m · green-blueprint
Why ‘maladaptation’ is getting so much attention
gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions
This episode explores the concept of climate maladaptation, analyzing how multi-billion-dollar adaptation projects in Miami and across the globe can inadvertently worsen flooding risks and socio-economic inequities. Through insights from climate journalist Alex Harris and IPCC author Dr. Lisa Schipper, the discussion emphasizes the need to balance rapid infrastructure investment with long-term community resilience.
How this conversation actually went
Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. The hosts hold 0.3% of the talking time here. How this is scored →
speaking balance: gold is the hosts, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)
Schipper points out that many organizations act in the name of climate adaptation without truly understanding what it requires.
Hardest push from the hosts ▶ 12:26 Lacey questions if federal funding accelerates maladaptationLacey challenges the optimism surrounding massive infrastructure spending by probing whether it could actually incentivize more maladaptation.
Biggest teaching moment ▶ 11:35 Schipper explains infrastructural failure in FijiSchipper educates the audience by illustrating how a protective seawall in Fiji failed by trapping rainfall on the inside.
The host holds their own ▶ 6:47 Lacey cites Miami Beach property value dataLacey demonstrates domain knowledge by citing a specific city study showing an 11% property value increase following road raising.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
| Chapter | Topic | The hosts as informed peer | Guest teaching | Guest disagreement | The hosts pushing back | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experiencing Sunny Day Flooding in Miami | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Lacey provides narrative framing around the UN climate report and the concept of maladaptation, while Harris describes on-the-ground flooding realities in Miami. The dynamic is fully collaborative and explanatory. | |
| The Carbon Copy Introduction and Defining Maladaptation | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Lacey introduces Dr. Schipper and contextualizes political reactions to king tides in Miami. Schipper defines maladaptation and Harris shares statistics on avoided tidal floods after road-raising. | |
| Climate Gentrification and the Unintended Consequences of Adaptation | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Lacey cites specific city study data showing an 11% property value increase from road raising. Schipper explains how adaptation infrastructure can simply displace risk or trigger climate gentrification. | |
| Global Perspectives on Maladaptation and Infrastructure Pitfalls | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Lacey grounds the discussion in the 1990s origins of the term maladaptation. Schipper educates listeners by breaking down three categories of maladaptation and detailing a Fiji seawall case study. | |
| Navigating Urgent Infrastructure Spending and Climate Resilience | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Lacey presses on whether urgent federal infrastructure spending could inadvertently drive maladaptation. Schipper candidly acknowledges the tension between the ticking clock to act and the risk of poorly designed projects. | |
| Human Impacts and Key Takeaways for Urban Adaptation | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Lacey summarizes key takeaways from the IPCC findings. Harris emphasizes the social dimension of adaptation, noting that policy leaders must prioritize vulnerable residents alongside physical infrastructure. |