Across Virginia, local governments, businesses, and communities are facing rapidly changing conditions that are reshaping risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities—particularly across energy systems, environmental conditions, and local economies. These dynamics are placing new demands on decision-makers to act quickly, strategically, and with limited resources.

This session, led by Thomas D. “Tom” Peterson, President and CEO of the Center for Climate Strategies, focuses on practical, proven methods for scoping and prioritizing critical resilience challenges at the local level. Drawing on real-world experience from Virginia and beyond, Tom will present actionable approaches to defining key issues, identifying priority audiences and stakeholders, and designing effective planning and assessment processes.

Participants will gain tools and frameworks to strengthen local capacity, improve public engagement and community problem solving, and develop integrated, multi-sector strategies that respond to today’s evolving energy, environmental, and economic conditions.

2026 Resiliency Academy Session 2

From Change to Impact: Identifying and Reducing Hazard Pathways