How We Build Climate Resilience

A diverse group of people sitting around a large conference table in a modern brick-walled office, engaged in a discussion with a woman speaker at the head of the table. There are snacks, drinks, and a laptop on the table. A whiteboard with diagrams is visible behind them, and large windows let in natural light.

Since 2008, we have been at the forefront of developing resilience. We lead with evidence-based solutions that prioritize at risk communities and focus on creating efficient, financially viable, and enduring resilience actions.

Partnering with clients across government, nonprofit, corporate, and philanthropic sectors, our work emphasizes implementation and fundability to deliver solutions that protect lives and strengthen infrastructure.

Our Approch

Our practical insight, research, and reporting work to bridge the gap between planning and practice. As climate resilience evolves, fresh investigations are essential to accelerate equitable outcomes. Drawing from decades of experience across private, nonprofit, government, and academic sectors, CRC equips clients with forward-looking insights grounded in real-world practicality.

We are unwavering in our commitment to implementation during what we call the “resilience decade” (2020–2030). From resilience hubs to green infrastructure, innovative finance, and transformative policy, we deliver forward-thinking solutions to create a more resilient world.

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Apply Recent Research

Our projects bridge between science and real-world decision-making, producing solutions that are practical and actionable. We established one of the world’s first climate adaptation strategies for the City of Chicago in 2008, pioneered the world’s first resilience measurement system, and have developed mapping and measurement tools for cities around the globe. We are physical and social scientists who help bridge the gap between the latest scientific developments and real-world decision-making from Wall Street to Main Street.

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Emphasize Community

Our projects ensure that climate resilience is centered around community benefits, and we emphasize solutions that improve situations for those facing risks to hazards. We work to address the disproportionate climate change risks faced by communities who are hit first and worst by the physical impacts of climate hazards. We work to transform mainstream systems that build resilience and improve social and economic outcomes. By doing so, we hope to both center those who face climate risks and contribute to thriving communities through climate resilience.

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Craft Consensus for Future Forward Results

Our projects consistently secure both internal and external buy-in, enabling the successful implementation of complex initiatives, even when resources are limited. With experience spanning federal and city governments, nonprofits, academia, and the corporate sector, we understand the need to deliver immediate, tangible benefits while simultaneously mitigating long-term risks. Known for our practical future-forward insights, we help our clients achieve meaningful progress.

Climate Resilience Consulting’s Commitments

Climate Resilience Consulting is a social enterprise, a purpose-driven company, that addresses environmental and community challenges while reinvesting profits to further our mission to save lives and improve livelihoods amid climate change disruption.

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Community

As part of our commitment to the community of practice making the world more resilient in the face of climate change, we donate 5% of our profits to nonprofits that support human resilience in our community and around the US.

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Engagement

We contribute at least 5% of our employee hours to pro bono civic engagements. We are appointed founding directors of several international and national nonprofit and social enterprise boards including the Anthropocene Alliance, American Society of Adaptation Professionals, and Telesto Strategies.

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Value Chain

We give preference to suppliers owned by women or individuals from underrepresented populations, and 100% of our significant suppliers are from these populations. At least 50% of CRC's project teams are BIPOC and CRC is women-owned.

To check out a selection of the over 150 articles we have written about climate change adaptation, see here

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Environment

100% of our electric power is from onsite solar panels. Every year, we give more electricity to the grid than we use. We explicitly reduce airplane travel and purchase carbon insets related to our travel emissions, supporting urban trees in our communities.

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Governance

We treat our social and environmental impacts as a primary measure of success for our business and prioritizes those impacts even in cases where they may not drive profitability. We have amended the traditional corporate governing documents to indicate this treatment and have included these impacts in all team KPIs.