Climate change promises to bring many negative impacts but the most universally feared effect of climate change is flooding. We already have the technology to save our cities – sea walls, dams, elevated ground places, temporary barriers, etc. These solutions involve technologies that are centuries old. Our real challenge with flooding, however, is not technical – it is social.

Matthew Littell is currently a professor at Boston College who teaches Urban Design. He is also a principal at Utile, Inc., a multi-disciplinary architecture and urban design firm in Boston. Matthew is committed to protecting urban environments from major flooding and destruction through creative design and structural resilience.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx