2022 Western Places | Western Spaces Conference
Growth & Change in the West: Adapting Sustainably
As we emerge from the pandemic, the West is facing immense pressures from growth and change that challenge our notions of sustainability in our region. The changing nature of work has allowed significant migration to high-amenity communities, straining local infrastructure, driving up housing prices, and displacing long-time residents. The cost of living in many areas of the region far outpace the average incomes, resulting in economic dislocation and rising income inequality. An intractable housing affordability crisis is spreading beyond our urban areas to exurban communities and rural towns, where people are now moving in greater numbers. The numbers of unhoused people who are camping in urban rights of way, parks, and public spaces is exploding. These growing populations, drawn to our iconic landscapes, are loving our public lands and national parks to death.
At the same time, the impacts of climate change are upon us. The West is experiencing an extended drought that threatens our regional water supply and our forests. The fire season is growing in duration and severity with each passing year. The condition and range of habitat to support biodiversity and Western wildlife is declining. The heat island effect in developed areas is affecting public health and our quality of life.
As we face these challenges (and many more), we wonder how the region will adapt to these mounting pressures and what measures we need to be taking now to ensure greater resilience to whatever the future holds. How do we ensure that newcomers to the region do not price out long-time residents? Can we grow in ways that are inclusive and equitable, providing housing and access to jobs and opportunity across the economic spectrum? Are there limits to our capacity to absorb growth? Can we resist the pressure to build housing in marginal and hazardous places, like floodplains and the wildland urban interface? How do we manage increasingly scarce resources like water or access to national parks in ways that are equitable and fair? As the region recovers from the pandemic and booms again, can we ensure that our shifting land use practices are sustainable? Finally, can we Westerners adapt, culturally and politically, to the changing realities in our communities and invest in the policy tools that could enhance our long-term resilience?
Important Dates:
Thursday, March 18: Housing Workshop
Thursday, March 24: Conference Day 1
Friday, March 25: Conference Day 2
April 8, 15, 22, 29: Water Workshop Series
Questions?
Please contact us:
Email: rmlui@law.du.edu
Phone: 303-871-6319