I teach because I am passionate about training leaders who can inspire and facilitate positive social change. We live in a world dominated by “wicked problems,” environmental issues that require navigating a field of scientific uncertainty, conflicting values, and inequitable access to resources and a meaningful quality of life. My goal is to motivate others to think critically and holistically about the barriers and solutions we must consider when pursuing a sustainable and resilient society. As a teacher, I strive to inspire others to understand the theories and research that exist in the field of environmental studies and to transfer that knowledge into leveraging social change. I want my students to feel passionate about their learning and empowered to create change. My aim is for people to understand the ‘why’ but, more importantly, the ‘how to’ in order to be effective in making change. This will allow students to take the knowledge they learn and apply it to real-world situations. Because of this, my teaching methods tend to involve hands-on projects. By exposing students to recent research, they gain the opportunity to apply what they learned to real-world projects.
Director
Resource Management & Administration
Director
Climate Resilience Professional
- Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Studies, Antioch New England Graduate School
- Master of Science in Resource Management and Administration, Antioch New England Graduate School
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Pace University
My research focus is how we can engage the public and achieve local equitable climate resilience. This is an urgent issue because of the discrepancy between the broad scientific consensus that anthropogenic climate change is occurring and the limited political will and public support to address the issue. The local level has been considered the scale where climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience can have the most impact. Communities that are considered climate leaders in the United States may have adopted climate change plans, yet few have actually implemented the policies, projects and recommendations in those plans. This is due in part to significant implementation barriers (socio-psychological, physical, economic, and legal/political) decision makers face at the local level.
Adding to this wicked problem, is the definition of “bouncing back” that is often used by decision makers. Unfortunately, such a prior state may have included social injustice, inadequate public infrastructure and housing, hazard vulnerabilities, and environmental degradation. My goal is to overcome this obstacle toward positive social change by showcasing how climate resilience can be transformational in order to plan for an alternate future that improves the current socio-ecological system.
My primary research area centers around communities planning and implementing climate resilience through land use practices, planning, and stakeholder engagement. In a recent multi-phased project, I focused on how the lack of concern and efficacy played a substantial role in the lack of engagement on the issue of climate change. This project included the use of visualization and meaningful dialogue to test the effectiveness of innovative communication methods to increase public engagement. My past findings indicate practitioners should consider strategies and methods that utilize communicating information through imagery and meaningful dialogue to prompt engagement on climate change.
- Fang, Clara, Jessica Hench, Christa Daniels, and Abigail Abrash Walton. Centering Equity in Climate Resilience Planning and Action: A Practitioner’s Guide. Climate-Smart Communities Series, Vol. 3. Antioch University New England 2022. 10.25923/765q-zp33 https://library.oarcloud.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/OAR/CPO/Climate_Smart_Communities/Vol_03_CSC_CenteringEquity.pdf
- Daniels, C. and Simpson, M. (2021). City for the Future: Resilient, Equitable, and Regenerative. Research Document 051121, Center for Preparedness and Community Resilience, Keene, NH, 99 pp. https://communityresilience-center.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Daniels-Simpson-City_for_Futuredocx.pdf
- Moser, S.C. and Daniels, C. (2018). Look Ahead San Francisco: Results from Visualization Research Conducted for San Francisco. Results prepared for the City and County of San Francisco. Hadley, MA: Susanne Moser Research & Consulting.
- Daniels, C., “Landscape Visualization: Influence on Engagement for Climate Resilience” (2018). Dissertations & Theses. 403. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/403
- Abrash Walton, A., Simpson, M., Rhoades, J., & Daniels, C. (2016). Local solutions report: Identifying and meeting the needs of local communities adapting to climate change. Keene, NH: Antioch University New England Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience.
- Moser, S.C., Daniels, C., Pike, C. and Huva, A. (2016). Here-Now-Us: Visualizing Sea Level Rise and Adaptation Using the OWL Technology in Marin County, California. Susanne Moser Research and Consulting, Santa Cruz and Climate Access, San Francisco.
Local and Regional Climate Action Plans
- The NOAA Roadmap Tool in Context: Climate Preparedness in Coastal New Hampshire, Contributor and Editor, 2011
- NADO, A Time for Action, Contributor and Editor, February 2010
- Cool Monadnock Sustainability Plan, Co-Author and Editor, 2010
- Energy Chapter for Temple NH Master Plan, Author, 2010
- Maine Energy Handbook, Co-Author, 2010
- NY Climate Smart Communities, A Guide to Local Officials, Contributor and Editor, 2009
- Planning for Climate Change: A Community Toolkit for the U.S. Northeast, Creator and Co-Author, 2009
- Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan, Co-author and Editor, June 2008
- City of Portland ME Municipal Climate Action Plan, Co-Author, 2008
- APA, Planning for a Low Energy Future DVD, Creator and Co-Author, 2008
- City of Keene Climate Action Plan, Author, February 2004
- Building a World-Class City: Community Connections, September 2023, Facilitator for Virtual Break-out Discussion, National
- Sustainability & Our Environment: A New City Design, October 2022, Telosa Webinar, National
- Climate Resilience in the Monadnock Region, 2022, Leadership Monadnock, November 2022, Harris Center, Hancock NH.
- Mobilizing Action: Effective Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Strategies, May 2018, Local Solutions: Eastern Climate Preparedness Conference, Manchester NH
- Civic Engagement in the New Political Environment, May 2018, Local Solutions: Eastern Climate Preparedness Conference, Manchester NH
- Planning for Action: Creating Climate Resilient Communities, July 2017, Beaches 2017, Wells, ME
- Trajectory for Livable and Sustainable Regions, May 2017, American Planning Association Annual Conference, NYC
- Communicating for Action: Civic Engagement for Climate Resilience, April 2017, Adapting Forested Watersheds to Climate Change, Keene, NH
- Building Local Capacity to Respond to the Impacts from a Changing Climate, January 2017, NCSE 2017 Annual Conference, Washington DC
- When and How Do Our Communities Act? Creating Political Will and Public Support for Planning and Climate Resilience at the Local Level, September 2016, Northern New England Planners Association Conference, Portsmouth NH
Lunch Keynote: Effective Engagement for Local Climate Resilience, May 2016, Resilient VT Conference, Northfield, VT
21st Century Agriculture in New England, October 2012, Northern New England Planners Association, Belfast, ME - Climate Change and Public Health, June 2011, New Hampshire Planners Association, Keene, NH
- Preparing for the Changing Climate, Northeast Needs Assessment, December 2011, The 2011 New Hampshire Coastal Climate Summit, Greenland, NH
- Climate Adaptation, April 2011, CAMNet Annual Rendezvous, Keene, NH
- Innovative Solutions to Climate and Sustainability Planning, March 2011, CT Climate Summit, New Haven, CT
- Building Community Relationships and Engaging the Public, March 2011, Local Energy Solutions Conference, Concord, NH
- Roadmap for Adapting to Coastal Risk, November 2011, Greater Bridgeport Regional Council Workshop, Bridgeport, CT
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with Historic Districts, November 2011, Keene State College, Keene, NH
- Bolstering Community Climate Preparedness, October 2011, Greater Bridgeport Regional Council, Bridgeport, CT
- Regional and Statewide Initiatives in NH, February 2010, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Meeting, Concord, NH
- Roadmap of Municipal Climate and Energy Programs, September 2010, Public Utilities Commissions, Concord, NH
- Climate Communication and Adaptation, October 2010, Northern New England Planner’s Association, Maine
- US EPA Region 1 Community Energy Challenge, Supporting Local Energy Committees in their Efforts to Reduce Energy Use and GHG Emissions, 2009-2011, various locations around New England
- Municipal Energy Planning, June 2009, New Hampshire Local Energy Conference, Concord, NH
- Regional Climate and Energy Initiatives, November 2008, Adirondack Youth Climate Summit, Tupper Lake, NY
- Creating and Implementing Solutions to Climate Change, April 2008, New Jersey Green Expo, NJ.
- Planning for a Low Energy Future, 2008, American Planning Association National Conference, Philadelphia, PA
- Greater Portland Regional Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, September 2008, Greater Portland Council of Governments Annual Meeting, Portland, ME
- Municipal Climate Planning, April 2007, Bedford Town Board, Bedford, NY
- Climate Migration
- Climate Change: Science, Risk and Uncertainty
- Climate Impacts: Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
- Climate Impacts: Vulnerability and Adaptation Planning
- Climate Change: Public Health
- Climate Response: Cost and Financing; Climate Mitigation
- Adaptation and Resilience; Proposal Writing and Project Management
- Land Use and Protection Techniques
- Political Economy and Sustainability
- Regeneration and Sustainable Development
- Climate Resilience Capstone
- Professional Internship