Discussions on climate change generally focus on the necessity of reducing carbon emissions, while recognizing that such action will take a long time to materialize. Lawrence Susskind contends that communities can take action to combat climate change now, through steps that have the benefit of moderating the effects of flooding, heat waves, and drought-events already occurring with increasing frequency.

Lawrence Susskind teaches full time at MIT. He is the author or co-author of twenty books, including Managing Climate Risks in Coastal Communities and Environmental Diplomacy.