Laurie Schoeman On Why Adaptation Needs A Seat At The Top Table

Who better to star in our 50th episode than Laurie Schoeman?

Laurie is a highly respected champion of climate resilience, housing policy, and sustainable investment in the US — with a career that's taken her from construction projects in San Francisco to the heart of the White House.

For two years, she served under President Biden: first, as Senior Advisor for Climate Risk and Resilience, and then as a Senior Housing Policy Advisor. In these roles, she leveraged the power of the Oval Office to support nationwide resilience efforts and unlock adaptation finance.

Now, she serves as Chief Investment and Impact Officer at Partners for the Common Good, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides low-cost, patient capital to low-income communities.

She's also an important voice in the effort to make Los Angeles more resilient in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires. In her role on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery, set up by LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Laurie is advising on how to build back homes, businesses, and infrastructure to better withstand fires and other catastrophes.

In today's episode, we cover a lot of ground — from the very different climate adaptation policies of Trump and Biden, to the challenges on the ground in LA, to the importance of CDFIs amid a wholesale rollback of federal funding.

Laurie even shares her thoughts on the importance of the new American Pope in providing moral leadership at a time when so little seems to be in evidence.

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Questions? Comments? Email Louie at louie@climateproof.news.