Toward Better Public-Private Partnerships in Resilience Planning

The public sector and the private sector need a better system of incentives to deliver on the infrastructure and development investments necessary to prepare for climate change and other environmental threats.

1 minute read

August 22, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Miami

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

"Many cities are turning to other partners to work on their resiliency efforts," according to an article by Jackie Snow. Other partners, that is, meaning the private sector.

However, much of the article focuses on the remaining disconnect between the public sector and the private sector on the work remaining to be done to build resilience—not just resilience plans. Ernst & Young and 100RC released a study called "How can cities build resilience thinking into their infrastructure projects?" for instance, "found that city governments think they understand the challenges of urban resilience better than they actually do, with only 30% of private sector agreeing that cities understand the work around urban resiliency."

The disconnect is perpetuated like challenges like term limits (politicians are interested in wins during their tenure, not in thinking on the timelines of climate change) and project budgets (private sector entities are afraid of overbidding on requests for proposals. In fact, the "study found that both the public and private sector agree there is insufficient incentives to incorporate resilience thinking into infrastructure," according to Snow.

Thursday, August 17, 2017 in Smart Cities Dive

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 30, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

The mayor of Baltimore speaks into a microphone in front of a rally for more state transportation funding from Maryland.

‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan

Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.

October 2, 2026 - Baltimore Sun

A rendering of the waterfront development, which shows a lit-up stage by the waterfront and people walking about.

Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment

Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.

October 2, 2026 - ABC 7

A rendering of the courthouse. The middle section is glass, the far left and right pillars are white.

Planned $2 billion courthouse in MA sparks tension with local government

Springfield owns an essential piece of the land developers intend to build on, and some city officials do not want to see the project come to fruition.

3 hours ago - Boston Globe

A person installing solar panels on a wall. The panels are tilted slightly, the head of the person is hidden under one of them.

Californians can now transform balconies into power generators

Gov. Gavin Newsom has legalized plug-in solar technology, which allows residents to plug solar panels directly into their outlets

4 hours ago - Grist

An aerial view of the new state park, with a forest and lake visible under a sunset.

This 85-year-old ranch is Texas’ newest state park

The 650 acre ranch is one of the largest parcels of land along Lake Palestine.

5 hours ago - Houston Chronicle

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design