The recently published Built to Endure smart guide maps a path for smaller and mid-sized municipalities to build more resilient infrastructure systems. Two of the guide's authors—Rory Linehan (Bentley Systems) and Elizabeth Losos (Nicholas Institute)—talked with the ASCE Plot Points podcast about the new technology making resilient infrastructure more accessible than ever.

Duke University and industry partners recently launched a 51-page guidebook titled Built to Endure, which provides local governments with a roadmap to move away from isolated, reactive infrastructure repairs and toward a more interconnected, system-wide approach to resilience, reports Construction & Property.

Infrastructure failures can cascade across transportation, water, energy, communications and emergency services. Built to Endure: A Smart Guide for U.S. Cities To Build Resilient Infrastructure That Lasts "makes the case for a fundamental shift from traditional asset-by-asset repairs to a more holistic systems-based approach," writes Bentley Systems' Rory Linehan in United for Infrastructure's newsletter.

State officials this year advanced the next phase of the state’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint, incorporating updated modeling that factors in heavier rainfall, future development and sea-level rise. That marks a shift away from relying solely on historic data and FEMA’s regulatory maps, reports WRAL News. “A lot of the regulatory floodplains really haven’t kept up with what we know is happening,” said Nicholas Institute expert Elizabeth Losos.

More than 100 community members gathered in Gross Hall Wednesday evening for the unveiling of “Built to Endure,” a new guide from Duke University and several partners that promises to help local leaders in making smarter decisions about their infrastructure development, The Chronicle reports.

Many of China's borrowers have been forced to roll over their loans, reducing the debt’s ultimate value. In that context, accepting an immediate payment for environmental protections rather than uncertain payments in the future—while also accruing geopolitical goodwill at a moment when the United States is retreating from climate and environmental cooperation—may be the more strategic choice, Duke expert Elizabeth Losos told Inside Climate News.

In July, China and Brazil formally announced they would explore the possibility of a railway leading from Brazil’s Atlantic coast directly to a new Peruvian port on the Pacific coast. "[Railways] take up the same amount of space, but for the most part, people get off at stations and can’t get off at multiple places in between," Nicholas Institute expert Elizabeth Losos told Inside Climate News when asked whether rail is less damaging to forests than roads. "But when they build the railways they create service roads that serve them."

At Climate Week New York City 2025, two themes resonated throughout Duke University’s presence: innovation and connections. Duke Today recapped some of the nearly dozen events across the week that Duke experts—including several from the Nicholas Institute—participated in. The events connected climate to finance, health, oceans, technology and more.

Want to learn more about debt-for-nature swaps, how the new generation of swaps is different, and what policy changes might enhance their impact? Watch this National Ecosystem Services Partnership webinar, presented in June 2025 by Elizabeth Losos, executive in residence at the Nicholas Institute and coauthor of a recent Science article on maximizing debt-for-nature swaps’ effectiveness. 

As part of its "Disaster 101" series, Duke Today interviewed emergency managers and Duke experts to try to make sense of layers of governments, regulations and communications involved in emergency response and rebuilding. Although experiences differ, common lessons in community and relationship building emerge in their stories.

How can debt-for-nature swaps meaningfully address the triple crises of debt, climate and biodiversity? This one-hour panel discussion at Climate Week NYC, moderated by executive in residence Elizabeth Losos, examined opportunities and obstacles involved in maximizing the potential of these swaps.

In a deal announced this week, creditors—with support from the U.S. government—will refinance a portion of El Salvador's debt in exchange for the Central American country committing $350 million to conservation projects benefiting the Lempa River. “You’ve figured out a way to help them out by reducing the amount of money that they’re having to pay and shifting it over to something that everybody agrees would be a good thing,” Elizabeth Losos, Nicholas Institute executive in residence, told The Associated Press about the debt-for-nature swap.

Climate Week NYC 2024, held Sept. 22-29, gathered hundreds of business and political leaders across the globe to address the need for climate action. Among the distinguished voices included Duke University, whose lineup of climate experts shared their insights and research at several key events as part of Duke's Climate Commitment. A photo essay from Duke Today showcased the involvement of Duke scholars, including several from the Nicholas Institute.

The federal government in the United States is increasingly taking action to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. But how do we know what’s working? A group of Duke University experts partnered with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a framework for assessing progress toward goals laid out in agencies’ 2024–2027 climate adaptation plans.

Debt-for-nature swaps were conceived nearly 40 years ago to help financially struggling nations get relief from their foreign debt payments in exchange for their commitment to carry out conservation and climate activities. Ahead of moderating a Climate Week panel on the subject, Nicholas Institute expert Liz Losos spoke with Duke Today about reforming these transactions to ease post-COVID debt crises while helping meet international biodiversity and climate targets.