What is Climate Resilience and Why Does It Matter?

Home » Community Action » Resilience Plans » What is Climate Resilience and Why Does It Matter?

What is Climate Resilience and Why Does It Matter?

Home » Community Action » Resilience Plans » What is Climate Resilience and Why Does It Matter?

Climate Resilience is the ability to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to the impacts of our changing climate. We are already experiencing more frequent and severe weather, ocean warming and acidification, extended periods of drought and extreme temperatures, and other harmful impacts of climate change. These cannot be dismissed. We need to address these changes and include resilience in all of our comprehensive climate action programs. This document, published by Center for Climate and Energy Solutions does a great job explaining what climate resilience is and why it must be an essential part of our planning processes.

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The Resilience Calendar

  • Designing Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) for Sustainable Growth
    Date: December 15, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    The Maryland Department of Planning is presenting a webinar, “Designing Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) for Sustainable Growth”. APFOs ensure that infrastructure and community facilities can keep pace with growth, but if not designed…

  • Managing Forests as Habitat in a Changing World
    Date: December 16, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    This 12-part monthly webinar series will feature interactive panel discussions that explore shifting impacts on forest habitats and adaptation options for natural resources management. Panels will represent a diversity of scientists and natural resource…

  • Accelerating Climate Progress with AI: From Science to Action Workshop
    Date: January 13, 2026
    Location: Virtual

    The National Academies is organizing a workshop to explore innovative ways AI can enhance climate science and support decision-making for resilience and mitigation. The workshop will identify critical applications where AI can inform climate…

  • RVCA Agriculture Working Group
    Date: January 22, 2026
    Location: Virtual

    Resilient Virginia Collaborative Alliance Agriculture Working Group monthly meeting. Anyone is welcome to join the conversation!

    RVCA Agriculture Working Group
    Thursday, October 23 · 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Time zone: America/New_York

Latest News & Resources

Introducing the Resilience Foundations Certificate: Empowering Practitioners to Build a More Resilient Commonwealth

Virginia is facing growing challenges from sea-level rise, recurrent flooding, extreme heat, and economic disruption—making coordinated resilience planning more essential than ever.
Beginning in 2026, Resilient Virginia will launch the Resilience Foundations Certificate Program, a first-of-its-kind professional development initiative that brings together leaders from government, business, academia, and community organizations to advance systems-level resilience across the Commonwealth.

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Resilient Virginia News: Fall 2025

The Power of Partnership … Spotlight On Webinar Series … Resilience Certificate Survey … Interactive StoryMaps Advance Climate Equity … RVCA Updates … Tackling Emerging Contaminants Water Technical Assistance … Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Initiative … Firewise Virginia Community Hazard Mitigation Grant Program … more.

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Where Data Meets Story: Mapping Equity in Virginia

VCU RISE has launched interactive StoryMaps to highlight environmental justice issues in Charles City County, Emporia, and Richmond. Learn how these equity-focused tools blend local data, maps, and community stories to support planning, resource access, and climate resilience.

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The Power of Partnership: What It Means to Be a State Affiliate of ASBN

Resilient Virginia has joined the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) as a proud state affiliate—connecting our local work to a powerful national movement for a just, equitable, and sustainable economy. This partnership gives us—and our members—greater access to resources, national campaigns, funding opportunities, and a stronger policy voice. Learn how this affiliation is helping us scale impact and drive sustainable change across Virginia.

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