{"id":10589,"date":"2016-11-04T01:41:30","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T05:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/transportation-agency-versus-climate-change-who-wins\/"},"modified":"2016-11-05T16:21:46","modified_gmt":"2016-11-05T20:21:46","slug":"saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change?"},"content":{"rendered":"

For over 90 years, one agency has been responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the infrastructure critical to the New York\/New Jersey region’s trade and transportation network: the Port Authority of NY & NJ (PANYNJ). Its facilities include America\u2019s busiest airports, marine terminals and ports, the PATH rail transit system, six tunnels and bridges, a bus terminal, and the World Trade Center. The success of its operations affect over 17 million people who live and work in a region that accounts for almost 10% of the U.S.[i]<\/a><\/p>\n

Compared to other major cities around the world, New York is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change with over 500 miles of coastline exposed to sea level. In 2011, a presentation at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) asserted that New York City can expect to see a 20% higher sea level rise (SLR) than the global average estimate of 28 cm (1 ft.) by 2100.[ii]<\/a> This predicted an SLR of 12 to 55 inches by 2080. An examination of the PANYNJ infrastructure reveals that most of it lies near bodies of water susceptible to SLR and estimates predicted that half of these facilities could be impacted.[iii]<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Figure
Exhibit 1: Schematic showing PANYNJ locations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit New York, causing 43 deaths and nearly $19 billion in damages.[iv]<\/a> The storm surges, flooding, and loss of electrical power led to further disruptions in transportation, healthcare, and other systems. In the aftermath of Sandy, millions who had come to rely on PANYNJ facilities and services found themselves stranded.[v]<\/a> Hurricane Sandy was a sobering reminder that these estimates are quickly transitioning from being probabilities to becoming realities. With sea levels projected to continue to rise, this was just a preview of what the agency will face over the next century.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

How is the PANYNJ adapting?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Just before Hurricane Sandy, the PANYNJ had formed the Climate Change Adaptation Task Force to determine which infrastructure assets were at risk from climate change and to develop strategies to protect these assets in the long term planning of the agency.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Table
Exhibit 2: Sample Inventory of At-Risk PANYNJ Infrastructure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A risk matrix was used to prioritize assets. For example, if an asset had a high likelihood of being affected and would undermine the PANYNJ operations, it would warrant the immediate development of strategies to mitigate the risk. Since in the event of a major storm, populated areas might need to be evacuated, efforts were made to ensure that certain transportation systems continued to operate in these emergency scenarios.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

To effectively mitigate these risks, the Task Force recommended a set of strategies, ranging from steps to protect against the impacts of climate change (Adaptation), steps to minimize the magnitude and duration of disruptive events (Resilience), and steps to reduce future adverse environmental impacts of the design and operations of the agency (Mitigation).[vi]<\/a> Proposals for the adaptation steps, for example, included capital investment initiatives such as the installation of new flood barriers and elevation of certain infrastructures to maintenance-oriented initiatives such as using sandbags and portable pumps.[vii]<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

So now what?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The expansive set of strategies identified by the Task Force reflect the complexity and uncertainty in knowing how to best address the impacts of climate change. The big question is where to dedicate resources. Do they invest in flood barriers, plant a green roof, or move the building? These are not distinct approaches. While it may be tempting to first tackle resilience and mitigation strategies because the results are often associated with money savings (e.g. energy efficiency) and can be recognized within a shorter time frame, adaptation strategies lead to longer term benefits and minimize future risks.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

PANYNJ will need to recognize how the strategies overlap, when they are reliant on one another, and how to mitigate risks across them all while maintaining flexibility to address unexpected disasters. The goal for the PANYNJ should be to limit climate change impacts to a level that enables the agency to adapt to it, all while trying to minimize its negative impact on climate change through its operations.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Word count: 799<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Cited Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[i]<\/a> Brian J. McLaughlin, Scott D. Murrell, and Susanne DesRoches, \u201cAnticipating Climate Change,\u201d Civil Engineering <\/em>(2011): 50-55, accessed November 2, 2016. https:\/\/www.panynj.gov\/about\/pdf\/Eng-Climate-Change-Article.pdf.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[ii]<\/a> Richard Black, \u201cNew York Set to Be Big Loser as Sea Levels Rise,\u201d BBC News,<\/em> April 8, 2011 (as cited in Mills-Knapp).<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[iii]<\/a> Christopher Zeppie and Lena DeSantis, \u201cAdapting to Climate Change at the Port Authority: Preparing and Progressing Strategies\u201d (presented at the 91st<\/sup> Annual TRB Meeting, January 24, 2012), http:\/\/cta.ornl.gov\/TRBenergy\/trb_documents\/2012_presentations\/565_Zeppie_Adapting_to_Climate_Change.pdf.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[iv]<\/a> NYC.gov. \u201cChapter 1: Sandy and its Impacts,\u201d http:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/html\/sirr\/downloads\/pdf\/final_report\/Ch_1_SandyImpacts_FINAL_singles.pdf.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[v]<\/a> Jeff Goodell, \u201cCan New York Be Saved in the Era of Global Warming?,\u201d Rolling Stone, <\/em>July 5, 2016, accessed November 2, 2016, http:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/politics\/news\/can-new-york-be-saved-in-the-era-of-global-warming-20160705.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[vi<\/a>] Sara Mills-Knapp, Emily Bourdeau, Gregory Falco, Cathy Resler, Harold Tovar, and Stephen Zoegall, \u201cClimate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Design at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey\u201d (Columbia University, May 11, 2011), http:\/\/www.earth.columbia.edu\/sitefiles\/file\/education\/capstone\/Capstone_final_5_11_11_reduced.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[vii]<\/a> Brian J. McLaughlin, Scott D. Murrell, and Susanne DesRoches, \u201cAnticipating Climate Change,\u201d\u00a0Civil Engineering\u00a0<\/em>(2011): 50-55, accessed November 2, 2016. https:\/\/www.panynj.gov\/about\/pdf\/Eng-Climate-Change-Article.pdf.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Other Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Exhibit 1 & 2:<\/span>\u00a0Christopher Zeppie and Lena DeSantis, \u201cAdapting to Climate Change at the Port Authority: Preparing and Progressing Strategies\u201d (presented at the 91st<\/sup>\u00a0Annual TRB Meeting, January 24, 2012), http:\/\/cta.ornl.gov\/TRBenergy\/trb_documents\/2012_presentations\/565_Zeppie_Adapting_to_Climate_Change.pdf.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Feature image:<\/span> NBC New York,\u00a0http:\/\/www.nbcnewyork.com\/news\/local\/Flooded-Subways-NYC-Brooklyn-Battery-Queens-Midtown-Tunnel-MTA-Hurricane-Sandy-176359011.html.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hurricane Sandy gave them a glimpse into the future with climate change. Now they've invested the time and money to make a plan. Can the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey get its act together to save itself?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2125,"featured_media":10590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1613,1218,1438,1226,640,1614,1612,633,1182,1615,1611,164],"class_list":["post-10589","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agency","category-climate-change","category-flooding","category-global-warming","category-government","category-hurricane-sandy","category-new-jersey","category-new-york","category-nyc","category-panynj","category-port-authority","category-transportation"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nSaving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change? - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change? - Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hurricane Sandy gave them a glimpse into the future with climate change. Now they've invested the time and money to make a plan. Can the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey get its act together to save itself?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-11-05T20:21:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Climate-change_3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"653\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"367\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/\",\"name\":\"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change? - Technology and Operations Management\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/Climate-change_3.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-04T05:41:30+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-11-05T20:21:46+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/Climate-change_3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/Climate-change_3.jpg\",\"width\":653,\"height\":367},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Submissions\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\",\"name\":\"Technology and Operations Management\",\"description\":\"MBA Student Perspectives\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"性视界Action\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change? - Technology and Operations Management","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change? - Technology and Operations Management","og_description":"Hurricane Sandy gave them a glimpse into the future with climate change. Now they've invested the time and money to make a plan. Can the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey get its act together to save itself?","og_url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/","og_site_name":"Technology and Operations Management","article_modified_time":"2016-11-05T20:21:46+00:00","og_image":[{"width":653,"height":367,"url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Climate-change_3.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/","name":"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change? - Technology and Operations Management","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Climate-change_3.jpg","datePublished":"2016-11-04T05:41:30+00:00","dateModified":"2016-11-05T20:21:46+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Climate-change_3.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Climate-change_3.jpg","width":653,"height":367},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/saving-nyc-can-a-transportation-agency-beat-climate-change\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Submissions","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Saving NYC: Can a transportation agency beat climate change?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/","name":"Technology and Operations Management","description":"MBA Student Perspectives","potentialAction":[{"@type":"性视界Action","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/10589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hck-submission"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/10589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}