Paul S. Chinowsky, PhD
Director, Analytics and Resiliency
Dr. Paul S. Chinowsky has been a global leader in the field of climate change impact costing for two decades. He is the originator of engineering-based climate adaptation models that project the cost of climate change for infrastructure systems. He is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed articles on climate change impacts, as well as numerous technical reports. He is a contributing author to the National Climate Assessment and the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report. He is a frequent speaker on the topic, presenting to conferences and groups in multiple countries. His work has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, the BBC, and numerous local outlets.
Dr. Chinowsky is focused on bringing climate change impact costing to public jurisdictions of all sizes, to enhance the resiliency of critical infrastructure. He works with sustainability officials, public works departments, resiliency officers, and planners to ensure critical systems will continue to operate for many decades. Additionally, he works with private companies to enhance supply chain resiliency, enhance sustainability programs, and meet long-term environmental goals.
As the co-founder of Resilient Analytics, Inc., Dr. Chinowsky introduced the Infrastructure Planning Support System (IPSS) and has overseen the expansion of climate change impact costing to a broad range of infrastructure systems including coastal protection, water facilities, rail, and bridges. Resilient Analytics has developed climate change impact costing models in over 50 countries for organizations including the World Bank, United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank. Domestically, Resilient Analytics has worked at the municipal, state, and national scales including being a primary contributor to the EPA’s Climate Change Impacts and Risk Analysis reports. Dr. Chinowsky is currently expanding climate change impact cost analysis to the fields of human health, air quality, and wildfire impacts.
Currently, Resilient Analytics is working on climate change impact cost studies for a broad set of constituents including: analyzing the cost of climate change impacts for the states of New York and Pennsylvania, mapping climate equity in Boulder County, Colorado, analyzing future air conditioning requirements for 93,000 K-12 schools across the United States, developing a climate and resiliency plan for the Chautauqua Historic District in Colorado, creating a climate impact education series for the United Nations Africa Region, determining climate vulnerabilities for the redesign of the South Pole research station, and analyzing climate impacts on historic structures for the Welsh Government.
Dr. Chinowsky is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. He previously was an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Chinowsky received his Bachelor and Master in Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1987 and 1988 respectively. He received his PhD in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in 1991.
Publications
Journal Papers
- Hayles, Carolyn, Matt Huddleston, Paul Chinowsky, and Jacob Helman. 2022. “Quantifying the Effects of Projected Climate Change on the Durability and Service Life of Housing in Wales, UK” Buildings12, no. 2: 184.
- “As heat waves intensify, tens of thousands of US classrooms will be too hot for students to learn in”, The Conversation, Sept 30, 2021
- Neumann JE, Chinowsky P, Helman J, Black M, Fant C, Strzepek K, Martinich J. “Climate effects on US infrastructure: the economics of adaptation for rail, roads, and coastal development.” CLIMATIC CHANGE. 167 (3-4) (August 01, 2021): ARTN 44.
- Fant C, Jacobs JM, Chinowsky P, Sweet W, Weiss N, Sias JE, Martinich J, Neumann JE. “Mere Nuisance or Growing Threat? The Physical and Economic Impact of High Tide Flooding on US Road Networks.” JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS. 27 (4) (December 01, 2021): ARTN 04021044.
- Chinowsky P, Helman J. “Protecting Infrastructure and Public Buildings against Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge.” SUSTAINABILITY. 13 (19) (October 01, 2021): ARTN 10538.
- Kwiatkowski KP, Oslakovic IS, ter Maat H, Hartmann A, Chinowsky P, Dewulf GPMR. “Modeling Cost Impacts and Adaptation of Freeze-Thaw Climate Change on a Porous Asphalt Road Network.” JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS. 26 (3) (September 01, 2020): ARTN 04020022.
- With Resilient Analytics, “IT’S HOT, AND GETTING HOTTER: Implications of Extreme Heat on Water Utility Staff and Infrastructure, and Ideas for Adapting,” For Water Utilities Climate Association and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, https://www.wucaonline.org/assets/pdf/pubs-implications-of-extreme-heat.pdf
- Arndt C, Chinowsky P, Fant C, Paltsev S, Schlosser CA, Strzepek K, Tarp F, Thurlow J. “Climate change and developing country growth: the cases of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.” CLIMATIC CHANGE. 154 (3-4) (June 01, 2019): 335-349.
- Chinowsky, Paul S. (2018). “The Impact of Climate Change: Projected Adaptation Costs for Boulder County, Colorado,” Prepared for Boulder County Office of Sustainability by Resilient Analytics, Inc, April 2018.
- Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Africa’s Infrastructure. Ed.CHINOWSKY P; Cervigni R; Losos A; Neumann J. (Washington DC: World Bank Group, 2017).
- Espinet X, Schweikert A, Chinowsky P. “Robust Prioritization Framework for Transport Infrastructure Adaptation Investments under Uncertainty of Climate Change.” ASCE-ASME JOURNAL OF RISK AND UNCERTAINTY IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS PART A-CIVIL ENGINEERING. 3 (1) (March 01, 2017): ARTN E4015001.
- Schmidt E, Chinowsky P, Robinson S, Strzepek K. “Determinants and impact of sustainable land management (SLM) investments: A systems evaluation in the Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia.” AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. 48 (5) (September 01, 2017): 613-627.
- Chinowsky P, Helman J, Gulati S, Neumann J, Martinich J. “Impacts of climate change on operation of the US rail network.” Transport Policy (June 2017).
- Kwiatkowski KP, Chinowsky PS. “Climate change adaptation as an organizational system in transportation infrastructure organizations: Identifying processes and institutional elements.” Transport Policy. 60 (November 2017): 47-53.
- Walters, J. P., & Chinowsky, P. S. (2016). Planning rural water services in Nicaragua: A systems-based analysis of impact factors using graphical modeling.Environmental Science & Policy, 57, 93-100.
- Melvin, A.M., Larsen, P., Boehlert, B., Neumann, J.E., Chinowsky, P., Espinet, X., Martinich, J., Baumann, M.S., Rennels, L., Bothner, A. and Nicolsky, D.J., (2016). Climate change damages to Alaska public infrastructure and the economics of proactive adaptation.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, p.201611056.
- Espinet, X., Schweikert, A., van den Heever, N., & Chinowsky, P. (2016). Planning resilient roads for the future environment and climate change: Quantifying the vulnerability of the primary transport infrastructure system in Mexico.Transport Policy, 50, 78-86.
- Espinet, X., Schweikert, A., & Chinowsky, P. (2016). Expanding Benefit-Cost Analysis with a Regret Costing Method for Long-Term Transportation Planning under Uncertainty of Climate Change. InTransportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting (No. 16-1885).
- Espinet, Xavier, Schweikert, Amy, and Chinowsky, Paul (2015). “Robust-Based Prioritization Framework for Resilient and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Adaptation Investments under Uncertainty of Climate Change,” ASCE Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, 10.1061/AJRUA6.0000852 , E4015001.
- Schweikert, Amy, Espinet, Xavier, Goldstein, Sara, and Chinowsky, Paul (2015). “Resilience versus Risk: Assessing Cost of Climate Change Adaptation to California’s Transportation System and the City of Sacramento, California,” Transportation Research record, 2532: 10.3141/2532-02.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, and Strzepek, Kenneth (2015). “Infrastructure and Climate Change: a study of impacts and adaptations in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia,” Climatic Change, 130(1): 49-62.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, and Strzepek, Kenneth (2015). “Road Infrastructure and Climate Change in Vietnam,” Sustainability, 7(4), 5452-5470.
- Twerefou, D.K.; Chinowsky, P.; Adjei-Mantey, K.; Strzepek, N.L. (2015) “The Economic Impact of Climate Change on Road Infrastructure in Ghana,” Sustainability, 7(9), 11949-11966.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Schweikert, Amy, Hughes, Gordon, Hayles, Carolyn, Strzepek, Niko, Strzepek, Kenneth, and Westphal, Michael (2015). “The Impact of Climate Change on Road and Building Infrastructure: A Four-Country Study,” International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 6(4):382-396.
- Schweikert, A., Chinowsky, P., Kwiatkowski, K., Johnson, A., Shilling, E., Strzepek, K., & Strzepek, N. (2014). “Road Infrastructure and Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptations for South Africa,” ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000235.
- Schweikert, Amy, Chinowsky, Paul, Kwiatkowski, Kyle, and Espinet, Xavier (2014). “The Infrastructure Planning Support System: Analyzing the Impact of Climate Change on Road Infrastructure and Development,” Transport Policy, 35(9): 146-153.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, and Strzepek, Kenneth (2014). “Infrastructure and Climate Change: A Study of Impacts and Adaptations in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia” Climatic Change, 1-14.
- Neumann, James E., Price, Jason, Chinowsky, Paul, Wright, Leonard, Ludwig, Lindsay, Streeter, Richard, Jones, Russell, Smith, Joel B., Perkins, William, Jantarasami, Lesley, and Jeremy Martinich (2014). “Climate Change Risks to US Infrastructure: Impacts on coastal development, roads, bridges, and urban drainage,” Climatic Change.
- Chinowsky, P., Schweikert, A., & Hayles, C. (2014). Potential Impact of Climate Change on Municipal Buildings in South Africa. Procedia Economics and Finance, 18, 456-464.
- Espinet, X., Kwiatkowski, K., & Chinowsky, P. (2014). Análisis del Impacto del Cambio Climático en las Infraestructuras de América Latina y Caribe: Estudio de la Red Vial Ecuatoriana. Twelfth LACCEI Latin American and Caribbean Conference for Engineering and Technology (LACCEI’2014) ”Excellence in Engineering To Enhance a Country’s Productivity” July 22 – 24, 2014 Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- Schweikert, Amy, Chinowsky, Paul (2014). “Targeting Adaptation Strategy: Reducing Climate Change Impacts by Integrating Social Vulnerability Analyses and Climate-resilient Infrastructure Adaptation,” Proceedings of the Engineering Project Organization Conference 2014, Winter Park, CO, July 2014, electronic proceedings.
- Schweikert, Amy, Chinowsky, Paul, Espinet, Xavier, Tarbert, Michael (2014). “Climate change and infrastructure impacts: Comparing the impacts on roads in ten countries through 2100,” Proceedings of the 2014 Humanitarian Technology Conference, Boston, MA, May 2014 (Best Paper Awardee).
- Schweikert, Amy, Chinowsky, Paul (2014). “Reducing climate change impacts by integrating social vulnerability analyses and climate-resilient infrastructure adaptation,” Proceedings of the 2014 Humanitarian Technology Conference, Boston, MA, May 2014.
- Schweikert, Amy and Chinowsky, Paul (2013). “Re-Defining “Project Impact”: Incorporating Social Considerations Into The Rural Road Prioritization Process,” Proceedings of the Engineering Project Organization Conference 2013, Winter Park, CO, July 2013, electronic proceedings.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Price, Jason C. and Neumann, James (2013). “Assessment of Climate Change Adaptation Costs for the U.S. Road Network,” Global Environment Change, 23(4): 764-773.
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, Manahan, Kyle, Strzepek, Kenneth, and Schlosser, C. Adam (2013). “Climate Change Adaptation Advantage For African Road Infrastructure,” Climatic Change, 117(1-2): 345-361.
- Chinowsky, P. and Arndt, C. (2012) “Climate Change and Roads: A Dynamic Stressor-Response Model.” Review of Development Economics, 16(3):448-462.
- Arndt, C., P. Chinowsky, K. Strzepek, and J. Thurlow (2012). “Climate Change, Growth and Infrastructure : The Case of Mozambique.” Review of Development Economics, 16(3):463-475.
- Wright, Len, Chinowsky, Paul, Strzepek, Kenneth, Jones, Russell, Streeter, Richard, Smith, J.B., Mayotte, Jean-Marc, Powell, Anthony, Jantarasami, Lesley, and Perkins, William (2012). “Vulnerability of United States Bridges to Potential Increases in Flooding from Climate Change,” Mitigation and Adaptation of Strategies for Global Change, 17(8): 939-955.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Hayles, Carolyn, Schweikert, Amy and, Strzepek, Niko (2011). “Climate Change As Organizational Challenge: Comparative Impact On Developing And Developed Countries,” Engineering Project Organization Journal, 1(1), 67-80.
- Hughes, Gordon, Chinowsky, Paul, Strzepek, Ken (2010). “Adapting to Climate Change – Results for Water Infrastructure in OECD Countries,” Utilities Policy.
- Chinowsky, Paul S., Strzepek, Kenneth, and Opdahl, Arie (2010). “Adaptive Climate Response Models for Infrastructure”, Journal of Infrastructure Systems, ASCE.
- Larsen, Peter H., Goldsmith, Scott, Smith, Orson, Wilson, Meghan, Strzepek, Kenneth, Chinowsky, Paul, and Saylor, Ben (2008). “Estimating the Future Costs of Alaska Public Infrastructure at Risk From Climate Change,” Global Environmental Change, 18(3), 442-457.
Technical Reports
- Environmental Protection Agency (2015). Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action, Contributor on Transportation, US EPA Office of Atmospheric Programs, EPA 430-R-15-001.
- Arndt, Channing, Chinowsky, Paul, Fant, Charles, Gebretsadik, Yohannes, Neumann, James, Paltsev, Sergey, Schlosser, C. Adam, Strzepek, Kenneth, Tarp, Finn, and Thurlow, James (2015). “Climate Change and Developing Country Interests,” Working Paper 116, UNU-WIDER.
- Schmidt, E., Chinowsky, P., Robinson, S., & Strzepek, K. M. (2014). Summary of Determinants and impact of sustainable land and watershed management investments (No. 30). International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, and Strzepek, Niko (2014). “Cost and Impact Analysis of Sea Level Rise in Vietnam,” Working Paper 148, UNU-WIDER.
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, and Strzepek, Kenneth (2013). “Buildings & Climate Change: Methodology and Areas for Further Research,” Working Paper 41, UNU-WIDER.
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, Strzepek, Kenneth, and Kwiatkowski, Kyle (2012). “Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for South Africa,” Working Paper 105, UNU-WIDER.
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, Manahan, Kyle, and Strzepek, Kenneth, (2012). “Road Infrastructure and Climate Change in Vietnam,” Working Paper 80, UNU-WIDER.
- University of Copenhagen (2011). “Implications of Climate Change for Economic Growth and Development in Vietnam,” Co-Author.
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, Strzepek, Niko, Manahan, Kyle, Strzepek, Kenneth, and Schlosser, C. Adam (2011). “Adaptation Advantage to Climate Change Impacts on Road Infra-structure in Africa through 2100,” Working Paper 25, UNU-WIDER.
- Chinowsky, Paul, Schweikert, Amy, and Strzepek, Niko (2011). “Costing And Impact Methodology Development Under Climate Change Research Project,” UNU-WIDER.
- Industrial Economics (2010). Costing Climate Impacts and Adaptation: A Canadian Study on Public Infrastructure, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, Canada, Contributing Author.
- Stratus Consulting (2010). Climate Change Impacts on Transportation Infrastructure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Co-Author.
- World Bank (2010). Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change Phase 2, Contributing Author.
- World Bank (2009). Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change (EACC) Study Mozambique Country Case Study, Contributing Author.
- World Bank (2009). Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change, Contributing Author.
- Larsen, Peter H., Goldsmith, Scott, Smith, Orson, Wilson, Meghan, Strzepek, Kenneth, Chinowsky, Paul, and Saylor, Ben (2007). “Estimating the Future Costs of Alaska Public Infrastructure at Risk From Climate Change,” University of Alaska.
SESSIONS
The True Cost of Climate Change: Combining Multiple Resiliency Perspectives with Advanced
This hands-on workshop will provide attendees with the steps required to incorporate analytics to better understand the total cost of climate change. Whether it is increased public health and road maintenance costs, or addressing historic equity issues, climate change will significantly add to project.Learning Objectives
- Understand the need to address the true cost of climate change to a jurisdiction or organization
- Understand the steps required to include cost into the resiliency process
- Understand the new opportunities to include analytics into resiliency planning and implementation
Participant Outcomes
- Successfully apply for funding for climate resilience initiatives
- Partner with your emergency management agency to push resilience initiatives forward
- Identify opportunities to create functional interagency partnerships