climate policy and planning

Research portfolio

Climatepedia’s overarching goal in conducting research is to understand the ways in which different stakeholders plan for and manage future climate impacts and uncertainty. Often times, no established climate action plans or policies exist, or the measures and initiatives that do exist do not match stated or arguably needed climate-related goals. We seek to investigate why this disconnect occurs and what actionable policies stakeholders could implement to fill these gaps. Trained as an urban planner and an environmental social scientist, Climatepedia’s lead researcher Samuel Geldin, PhD, relies on interdisciplinary, qualitative, and mixed methods with a normative positioning, resulting in outputs that directly informs policy recommendations. Dr. Geldin specializes in the implementation of land use and flood risk management policies in the Asia-Pacific region as they affect marginalized communities, which he continues to explore through cross-country comparative work that answers questions such as:

  • How do stakeholders decide whether to adapt in place or relocate, considering future climate impacts?
  • How do these decisions and outcomes differ across community and country contexts?
  • What information, policies, or strategies leads to more effective, equitable outcomes?

For examples of past work, see Publications and Media Spotlight.

Geldin, S., forthcoming [manuscript under review]. Reimagining Strategic Adaptation: A New Agenda for Upgrading and Unsettlement. The City in the 21st Century Series. Philadelphia: Penn Press.

Geldin, S., 2025. Sri Lanka Climate Risk Profile. Adelphi. Link

Lloyd, A., S. Geldin, and E.L. Birch, 2024. “From Grey to Green: Better Data to Finance Nature in Cities.” Paris: U.N. Environment Programme. Link

Geldin, S., and I. Koh, 2024. Climate Risk Country Profile: Bangladesh. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., and I. Koh, 2024. Climate Risk Country Profile: Cambodia. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., and I. Koh, 2024. Climate Risk Country Profile: Panama. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., 2023. Climate Risk Country Profile: Colombia. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., 2023. Climate Risk Country Profile: Djibouti. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., 2023. Climate Risk Country Profile: Liberia. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., 2023. Climate Risk Country Profile: Mexico. World Bank. Link

Geldin, S., 2023. Climate Risk Country Profile: Yemen. World Bank. Link

Birch, E.L., S. Geldin, M. Rodas, and A. Lloyd, 2023. “Assessing Nature-Based Solution Investments for Urban Investments: Research Supplement to State of Nature for Cities – Time to Assess.” Philadelphia: Penn Institute for Urban Research. Link

Birch, E.L., S. Geldin, M. Rodas, and A. Lloyd, 2023. “Assessing Nature-Based Solution Investments for Urban Investments: State of Nature for Cities – Time to Assess.” Paris: U.N. Environment Programme. Link

Geldin, S., 2020. “Region-building in the Decentralizing Philippines: Reframing the Discourse on Disaster Risk Reduction to Implement the New Urban Agenda.” Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 9th World Urban Forum Conference Paper. Researchgate. Link

Geldin, S., 2019. “Wolman, Wial, St. Clair, and Hill: Coping with Adversity: Regional Economic Resilience and Public Policy.” Journal of the American Planning Association 85(2): 177-178. Link

Geldin, S., 2019. “Advancing Urban Adaptation Where It Counts: Reshaping Unequal Knowledge and Resource Diffusion in Networked Indonesian Cities.” Environment and Urbanization 31(1): 13-32. Link

Geldin, S., 2017. “The Evolution of Indonesian Waste Banks: Two Tales, Two Cities, One Reality.” Tropical Resources Bulletin 36: 17-26. Link

Winata, E. S., S. Geldin, and K. Qui, 2017. “Adaptive Governance for Building Urban Resilience: Lessons from Water Management Strategies in Two Indonesian Coastal Cities.” Jurnal Perencanaan Pembangunan: The Indonesian Journal of Development Planning 1(2): 146-157. Link

Geldin, S., 2016. “Building Virtual Knowledge Capacity: An Evaluation of Global and Regional Adaptation Networks.” Delhi, India: 9th International Geographic Union Conference Paper. Researchgate. Link

Geldin, S., M. Hoffman, D. Pocta, X. Qiu, and S. Shah, 2015. “Statewide Climate Action Scorecard.” California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, UCLA Inst. of Environment and Sustainability. Link

Geldin, S. “Rethinking the Heavy Hand of Flood Prevention in Informal Settlements: An Investigation of Retreat-Related Practices in the Philippines.” Penn Institute of Urban Research. 26 May. 2022. Link

Geldin, S. “Upgrading the Safety Net: A Relocation Alternative in Philippines Informal Settlements.” Penn Urban Studies. 11 Nov. 2021. Link

Geldin, S. “Managing Floods in Metro Manila: A Necessary Roadmap for Short and Long-Term Reforms.” Urban Water Atlas. 12 May. 2019. Link

Geldin, S. “Climate Action Networks in Indonesia.” Yale Tropical Resources Institute. 24 Aug. 2016. Link

Geldin, S. “Panel of UCLA Professors to Discuss Climate Change, Solutions.” Daily Bruin. 15 May. 2014. Link

Geldin, S. “Economic Uncertainty for Canada’s Northwest Passage.” The Generation. 15 Apr. 2013. Link

 

Surabaya, Indonesia

Published in Jurnal Perencanaan Pembangunan: The Indonesian Journal of Development Planning, 2016

Crossing the Manggahan Floodway, Pasig, Philippines

Published in World Urban Forum Conference Paper, 2016

Rosario Weir Floodgates, Pasig, Philippines

Urban Water Atlas, 2019

Fishing Village, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia

Published in Environment and Urbanization, 2016