Higher Ground

Higher Ground

Climate change is already here. On Long Island, communities must prepare, and people find ways to adapt to rising tides and extreme weather that threatens America's first suburbs. Higher Ground tells the stories of these communities exploring solutions that may or may not give them the best chance at survival and help save the places millions of people call home. Or they may discover that the only way forward for suburban America is retreating from the sea. Hosted and reported by J.D. Allen.

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Support comes from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, and the Kavli Foundation.

Josh Joseph

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WSHU

A sneak preview of our third special

J.D. Allen

Ask your NPR station to play Higher Ground's third special program distributed nationally by American Public Media from January to May 2024.
Josh Joseph

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WSHU

Episode 9: Our second special

J.D. Allen

Missed the second season of Higher Ground? Catch the one-hour special program selected by American Public Media for national distribution.

Higher Ground

Episode 5: What's The Buzz?

A day at the winery shows how Long Island agriculture is changing. As sea level rises, the health of the land where crops are grown is at risk. Farmers…
Higher Ground

Episode 4: A Modest Proposal

Sea level rise threatens many popular Long Island downtowns. A seemingly crazy plan to move Main Street in the Hamptons could be a first, but surely it’s…
Higher Ground

Episode 3: There's Something In The Water

Climate-resilient infrastructure can help turn the tide against pollution. Baymen also want to keep waterways clean with nature's filters — shellfish.…
Higher Ground

Episode 2: Lights Out

Hundred-year storms now topple Long Island's power system every few years. We trace the electric grid to find ways to become more climate resilient.…
Higher Ground

Episode 1: We Are Coastal People

The historic bay houses of the Great South Bay speak to a long tradition of living by the water. Their designs contain forgotten knowledge for post-storm…
Higher Ground

A Sneak Preview Of Higher Ground Podcast

Climate change isn’t a far off problem any more: It’s happening in your neighborhood. On Long Island, extreme weather and rising sea level are already…