Erik Backus, the Howard E. Lechler Endowed Director of the Construction Engineering Management Program at Clarkson, and a Professor of Practice in Civil and Environmental Engineering has been appointed as a working group member of NYSERDA’s newly launched New York State Climate Impacts Assessment: Understanding and Preparing for Our Changing Climate. Backus is the immediate past Volunteer Chair of the NY Upstate Community Board of the US Green Building Council and a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel who served as an Army Reserve Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Liaison Officer in the Pentagon starting during Superstorm Sandy and departing after the Okanogan Complex Fire of 2015.
He will be working with a diverse group of experts and stakeholders from across the state to develop a science-based assessment of observed and projected climate impacts on New York’s communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, and economy.
The assessment will seek input from a range of stakeholders and users, including policymakers, advocates, business leaders, environmental justice communities, and more. The assessment team is committed to ensuring its findings and products are relevant, accessible, and useful to all New Yorkers. The final research and outreach products will provide an accurate and comprehensive scientific understanding of probable climate change-related impacts so everyone can be empowered to make informed decisions around climate resiliency, preparedness, and environmental disaster response and recovery. If you’re interested in staying up to date with assessment news, subscribe for updates and follow @nysclimate on Twitter.
https://www.clarkson.edu/news/clarkson-professor-named-nys-collaborative-climate-research-effort