In the wake of the raging California wildfires, environmental groups are shifting the climate conversation away from mitigation, toward climate adaptation and resilience.

Whether people believe humans cause climate change, simply make it worse, or have no impact at all is “irrelevant at this point,” said Jillian Blanchard, vice president of Climate Change and Environmental Justice at the California nonprofit, Lawyers for Good Government.

“We need money to adapt, to be resilient, and to mitigate, if for no other reason, than for economic impacts,” she said, regarding the importance of climate adaptation.

Blanchard helped craft California Governor Gov. Gavin Newsom's climate change and climate adaptation platform in 2018 as part of his reelection campaign. She still advises cities and public agencies on infrastructure, environmental, and energy issues.

In 2024, there were 28 natural disasters in the U.S. each totaling more than $1 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This year’s California wildfires have already totaled more than $275 billion in damage as the fires continue. “It’s the most expensive wildfire in history,” Blanchard said, emphasizing the need for climate adaptation.

Scott Aaronson, senior vice president of security and preparedness for the Edison Electric Institute, which represents U.S. investor-owned utilities, said the shift in the threat environment has happened relatively quickly.

“The number of ‘one in 100-year’ storms or ‘absolutely extraordinary weather conditions’ we’ve seen is mind-numbing on some level,” he said, noting that Los Angeles has had only .17 inches of rain since June.

The Electric Industry’s Role in Climate Adaptation

Climate adaptation and resilience are core competencies for the electric industry. From natural disasters to cyber risk, electric utilities play a central role in maintaining national security, economic competitiveness and the health and safety of the communities, Aaronson said.

“We’re working with operators, policymakers, regulators to understand the threat environment is evolving and that operations and resilience and climate adaptation and hardening and preparedness have to evolve with it.”

“Being without power for any period of time isn’t just inconvenient, it can be dangerous,” Aaronson said, emphasizing the importance of climate adaptation.

Read the full article about climate adaptation by Dipka Bhambhani at Forbes.