Abbey Abramson

Climate flood control infrastructure integrity Concrete That Crumbles: Infrastructure Integrity Under Climate Stress Why engineering integrity is a life-safety issue Picture this: a family living by the river wakes up at midnight to the sound of rushing water. Panic sets in as they evacuate, chilled by rising floodwaters and uncertainty. Their home, once a safe haven, is now threatened by both natural disasters and hidden infrastructure flaws. In emergencies, survival hinges on details often ignored: rebar spacing, concrete strength, riprap thickness, culvert size, pump capacity, and whether the O&M crew greased a bearing last week. Climate change is driving heavier downpours and more frequent floods (IPCC, 2023). When these hazards meet weak, poorly maintained assets, manageable disasters turn deadly. In short, corners cut today become deaths tomorrow (IPCC, 2021; 2023). To navigate these risks, this chapter first translates "engineering integrity" into plain language. ...

  Climate change flood control structures Case Study: Philippines flood-control structures—substandard materials and duplicate contracts In 2024–25, the Philippines confronted an extraordinary scandal over flood-control projects. Following internal and external reviews, media and official statements alleged ghost projects, substandard works, contractor monopolies, and copy-paste budgets across hundreds of contracts. While these events highlight a significant case of corruption, they also represent a missed opportunity for the nation to pursue resilient development and infrastructure growth. The improper conduct not only led to immediate negative consequences, such as a cabinet resignation, procurement suspensions, and blacklisting moves (Reuters, September 2025; GMA News, September 2025; ABS-CBN, October 2025) but also detracted from long-term potential improvements in disaster resilience, economic stability, and community safety. By framing this episode as a significant loss in ac...

  Climate adaptation funding and projects The promise and the paradox Each year, governments and development partners announce billions for “resilience,” “adaptation,” and “green recovery.” Ideally, these funds should flow directly to river dikes, drains, elevated roads, early-warning sirens, cyclone shelters, mangrove belts, drought-resilient wells, and climate-proofed schools. In reality, significant funds are lost due to paperwork, padded contracts, or unfinished projects that fail during floods. The paradox: as climate hazards intensify, the integrity of public spending becomes even more crucial (IPCC, 2023). This chapter provides a roadmap for understanding and improving climate finance. It maps the ecosystem in developing countries, illustrates funding sources, and then pinpoints where integrity typically breaks down. The chapter equips readers with a citizen’s 'money trail' checklist, progressively tracing how funds are intended to flow and where they get stuck or diver...