Kara Babcock on Community-Centered Climate Adaptation
Union’s Kara Babcock recently spoke on climate adaptation, preservation, and community-centered design at Aquidneck Island Land Trust in Newport, Rhode Island
“Come to the table with empathy in your heart, and equity in your mind. Climate adaptation will always be a local process. Collectively, we will need to determine what we build, preserve, protect and value in our communities as the climate changes.”
—Kara Babcock, Associate Principal at Union
Associate Principal Kara Babcock recently presented “Community-Centered Approaches to Climate Adaptation” at a public lecture sponsored by the William H. Donner Foundation and hosted by the Aquidneck Island Land Trust. Highlighting Union resiliency projects across Newport, RI, Salem, MA, and Charleston, SC Kara emphasized how design can support historic communities facing environmental risks.
From her early work with the Newport Restoration Foundation and the Keeping History Above Water® conference, to recent planning efforts for the House of the Seven Gables, Kara emphasized the importance of aligning resilience planning with local context and community values.
A longtime Aquidneck Island resident and mentor in the field, Kara’s approach to climate adaptation and resiliency planning reflects Union’s conviction that lasting solutions begin with listening, collaboration, and a deep respect for place.