Jesse M. Keenan is an Associate Professor and social scientist within the faculty of the School of Architecture at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a globally recognized thought leader, Keenan’s research focuses on the intersection of climate change adaptation and the built environment, including aspects of design, engineering, regulation, planning and financing. Keenan has previously advised on matters concerning the built environment for agencies of the U.S. government, governors, mayors, Fortune 500 companies, technology ventures, community enterprises and international NGOs.
Keenan, J.M. & Maxwell, K. (2021). Rethinking the Design of Resilience and Adaptation Indicators in Coastal Communities. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management [In Press]
Martello, M., Whittle, A.J., Keenan, J.M., & Salvucci, F. (2021). Defining and Assessing Engineering Resilience in Boston’s Rail Rapid Transit Network. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment [In Press]
Keenan, J.M. (2020). The Positive, Negative and Neutral Outcomes of Designed Adaptation in the Built Environment. ZARCH: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Architecture and Urbanism. 15(1), 154-163. doi:10.26754/ojs_zarch/zarch.2020154821
Keenan, J.M. & Hauer, M. (2020). Resilience for Whom? Demographic Change and the Redevelopment of the Built Environment in Puerto Rico. Environmental Research Letters. 15(7), 074028. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab92c2
Keenan, J.M. & Bradt, J.T. (2020). Underwaterwriting: From Theory to Empiricism in Regional U.S. Coastal Mortgage Markets. Climatic Change, 162(1), 2043–2067. doi:10.1007/s10584-020-02734-1 [Altmetric Score of 533]
Keenan, J.M. (2020). COVID, Resilience, and the Built Environment. Environment Systems and Decisions. 40(1), 216-221. doi:10.1007/s10669-020-09773-0
Siders, A.R. & Keenan, J.M. (2020). Variables Shaping Coastal Adaptation Decisions to Armor, Nourish, and Retreat in North Carolina. Ocean & Coastal Management. 183(1), 105023. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.105023
Keenan, J.M. (2019). A Climate Intelligence Arms Race in Financial Markets. Science, 365(6459), 1240-1243. doi:10.1126/science.aay8442 [Selected by Editors for Special Volume: “Climate” for COP 25]
Keenan, J.M. & Gumber, A. (2019). California Climate Adaptation Trust Fund: Exploring the Leveraging of Cap-and-Trade Proceeds. Environment Systems and Decisions. 39(4), 454-465. doi:10.1007/s10669-019-09740-4
Van den Berg, H. & Keenan, J.M. (2019). Dynamic Vulnerability in the Pursuit of Just Adaptation Processes: A Boston Case Study. Environmental Science and Policy, 94(1), 90-100. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.12.015
Keenan, J.M., Chu, E. & Brown, J. (2019). From Funding to Financing: Perspectives Shaping a Research Agenda for Investment in Urban Climate Adaptation. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 11(3), 297-308. doi:10.1080/19463138.2019.1565413
Keenan, J.M. (2018). Types and Forms of Resilience in Local Government Planning: Who Does What? Environmental Science and Policy, 88(1), 116-123. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.06.015
Keenan, J.M., Hill, T., & Gumber, A. (2018). Climate Gentrification: From Theory to Empiricism in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Environmental Research Letters, 13(5), 054001. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/aabb32 [Selected by Editors for “Feature Article” Volume; Altmetric Score of 947]
Keenan, J.M. (2018). Seeking an Interoperability of Disaster Resilience and Transformative Adaptation in Humanitarian Design. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 9(2), 145-152. doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-04-2017-0034
Kurth, M., Keenan, J.M., Sasani, M., & Linkov, I. (2018). Defining Resilience for the Building Industry for the U.S. Building Research & Information, 47(4), 480-492. doi: 10.1080/09613218.2018.1452489
Keenan, J.M. (2018). Regional Resilience Trust Funds: An Exploratory Analysis for Leveraging Insurance Surcharges. Environment Systems and Decisions, 38(1), 118-139. doi: 10.1007/s10669-017-9656-3
Keenan, J.M. (2017). From Climate Change to National Security: An Empirical Analysis of the Obama Administration’s Federal Resilience Mandates and Measures. Natural Hazards Review, 19(1), 0401722. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000273
Weisz, C., Blumberg, A., & Keenan, J.M. (2015). Design Meets Science in a Changing Climate: A Case for Regional Thinking to Address Urban Coastal Resilience. Social Research: An International Quarterly, 82(3), 839-857.
Keenan, J.M. (2015). Sustainability to Adaptation and Back: A Case Study of Goldman Sach’s Corporate Real Estate Strategy. Building Research & Information, 43(6), 407-422. doi:10.1080/09613218.2016.1085260
Keenan, J.M., King, D.A. & Willis, D (2015). Understanding Conceptual Climate Change Meanings and Preferences of Multi-Actor Professional Leadership in New York. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 18(3), 261-285. doi: 10.1080/1523908X.2015.1104628
Keenan, J.M. (2015). Adaptive Capacity of Commercial Real Estate Firms to Urban Flooding in New York City. Journal of Water and Climate Change, 6(3), 486-500. doi: 10.2166/wcc.2015.097
Keenan, J.M. (2014). Material and Social Construction: A Framework for the Adaptation of Buildings. Enquiry: Journal of Architectural Research, 11(1), 18-32. doi: 10.17831/enq:arcc.v11i1.271
“Post-Ida failures show why we need to adapt,” CNN Opinion, Jesse Keenan. August 31, 2021.
“People keep moving to the worst places for climate risk,” Peters A. Fast Company. August 24, 2021.
NBC Universal (2021, April 22nd) Edge of the Abyss: Why Climate Migration May Lead to the Next Great Housing Crisis. [including film]
NBC Nightly News (2021, April 22nd) Cities Prepare for Future Influx of New Residents Fleeing Climate Change. [including film]
Time Magazine (2021, April 16th) How Climate Change is Reshaping College Education Globally.
CNN (2021, April 12th) California Wildfires. Hurricanes on the Coast. Is Anywhere Safe from the Climate Crisis? [including film]
Reuters (2021, March 15th) U.S. Housing Legacy Puts Some Black Neighborhoods at Higher Flood Risk.
CNN (2021, March 3rd) Higher Ground, Higher Prices.
The Guardian (2021, February 24th) Texas Freeze Casts Renewable Energy as Next Battle Line in U.S. Culture Wars.
Bloomberg News (2021, February 9th) Deep South Towns Are Counting on Biden to Keep His Climate Promises.
CBS Sunday Morning (2021, January 24th) Climate Refugees: The Quest for a Haven from Extreme Weather Events. [including film]
The New York Times (2021, January 1st) How Trump Tried, but Largely Failed, to Derail America’s Top Climate Report.
CNBC (2020, November 23rd) Former Subprime Player Claims He Can Now Short the Mortgage Market for Climate and Covid Risks.
The New York Times Magazine (2020, September 20th) How Climate Migration Will Reshape America.
The New York Times (2020, September 17th) A Climate Center on Governors Island? Could Be a Game Changer.
Reuters (2020, September 10th) How California’s Wildfires Could Spark a Financial Crisis.
The New York Times (2020, September 8th) Federal Report Warns of Financial Havoc from Climate Change.
The Weather Channel (2020, June 30th) The Racial and Spatial Cost of Climate Change [including film]
The Weather Channel (2020, June 30th) Puerto Rico Rebuilding Effort Doesn’t Consider Potential Loss of Half Its Population.
Bloomberg News (2020, June 29th) The Truth About Flood Risk Can Worsen American Inequality.
Bloomberg News (2020, June 26th) Lenders With the Best Climate Data Will Be in a Position to Discriminate.
The New York Times (2020, June 19th) Rising Seas Threaten an American Institution: The 30-Year Mortgage.