NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Climate Change 

Interpretation and Education Strategy
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Introduction

Forces that shape the landscape—whether 

conspicuous or subtle, destructive or benign, 

uplifting or disheartening—form our 

consciousness and frame the true meanings of 

place. Yet, imagine visiting a national park 

where no one relays the story of its history, or 

of forces that shape it even now. What would 

your experience be if park staff provided no 

information about the “river of grass” at 

Everglades, or World War II at Pearl Harbor, or 

lava flows at Craters of the Moon? To omit the 

stories of the influences on these places 

weakens our understanding and connection to 

national parks and all that they represent.

Climate change is one of these forces. It is an 

overarching and omnipresent influence on 

every acre under the care of the National Park 

Service (NPS). The changing climate surrounds 

us, compelling us to tell the story.

The 2010 NPS Climate Change Response 

Strategy recognizes climate change as the 

greatest challenge our agency has ever faced. 

The Strategy also provides the basis for how 

our agency is meeting the challenge. Ongoing 

science documents climate change effects in 

parks, and informs our management options. 

Decision-makers increasingly consider climate 

change in formulating policy, park plans, and 

adaptation efforts. And through the Green 

Parks Plan, we are reducing our own 

greenhouse gas emissions through increasingly 

sustainable operations.

Together, we are actively responding to climate 

change. But successful, collaborative 

stewardship of parks also demands that we 

converse meaningfully with the American 

people about their values, perspectives, and 

opinions around this topic. NPS interpreters, 

educators, and information officers are 

uniquely positioned to advance that dialogue.

This National Climate Change Interpretation 

and Education Strategy outlines a simple 

framework to engage our visitors on climate 

change topics. The strategy outlines four broad 

goals and supporting actions that encourage 

park staff and visitors to discover personal 

relevance to climate change and share those 

connections broadly with others. To support 

these efforts, an online toolkit of resources 

accompanies this strategy. 

During our first 100 years, national parks 

served as critical venues for inspiring public 

thought about everything from wolves, to 

wildfire, to wilderness, to war. We share all 

these stories boldly. As we enter our next 

century, climate change urgently needs our 

attention. Climate change is not a future 

event; it is happening now. It is time for the 

NPS to participate in, facilitate, and inspire 

critical conversations around this very

important issue. 

There may be no conversation more important 

in our time. 

Climate change is a powerful force that drives the landscape of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. 

(Karpilo and Venator 2015). NPS Image by Ronald D. Karpilo and Sarah C. Venator
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, 1867 

NPS Image

Meadow Fire, Yosemite National Park, 2015

NPS Image
The Role of Interpretation and Education in 

Addressing Climate Change

At the start of our second century, the NPS 

seeks new opportunities to preserve America’s 

heritage, to engage visitors in understanding 

that heritage, to make parks relevant to all 

people, and to inspire people to help steward 

resources for future generations. 

Among the issues that can frame the 

opportunities in our next century, few are so 

rich as climate change. National parks are 

tremendously valuable for understanding and 

communicating about climate change. That 

value underlies a vision for how the NPS as a 

whole will engage our broader society in 

experiencing and managing change.

Climate change is increasingly impacting the 

natural and cultural resources the NPS 

protects. This unprecedented and critical 

issue requires that trusted NPS interpreters 

and educators communicate the processes 

and effects of climate change. Our parks are 

among the most remarkable places in America 

for recreation, learning, and inspiration. They 

also provide striking examples of the effects of 

climate change. As the stewards of these 

places and stories they tell, it is our duty as 

trusted sources of information to engage 

others on this critical issue.

The threat posed by climate change to the 

integrity of park sites is increasing. Melting 

glaciers, rising sea-levels, species shifts, and 

altered precipitation patterns are among some 

of the clearest indicators of a changing

planet. In order for individuals to join the NPS 

in responding, they must better understand the 

issue and consequences of this rapid and 

unparalleled change. Assisted by partners and 

other staff, NPS interpreters and educators are 

the driving force in communicating the impact 

of climate change on park resources, 

highlighting the NPS response, and identifying 

opportunities for visitor involvement.

As places where visitors can witness and 

experience the impacts of climate change in a 

place they know and love, parks have 

extraordinary and unique potential for 

communicating climate change. This devotion 

to such special places allows individuals to find 

their own personal relevance to climate change 

and to engage others to find their own 

connection to climate change.

All national parks are places to learn about climate change, discover 

connections between climate change and our own lives, and use this 

experience to make informed personal decisions.

Visitors to the Tidal Basin at East Potomac Park. NPS Image

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The southwestern U.S. has seen decreases in spring snow pack contributing to water scarcity. (Melilo et al 

2014) The stark white walls encountered at Lake Mead National Recreation Area dramatically illustrate falling 

water levels resulting from a combination of climate change and urban and agricultural water use. (Barnett 

and Pierce 2008, Dawadi and Ahmad 2012) USGS Image
Establishing a Collaborative 

Communication Strategy

This strategy provides direction to our agency 

leaders and employees on how to 

communicate the impacts of climate change 

and the steps the NPS is taking to respond. It 

describes goals and objectives to be pursued by 

all directorates and divisions within the NPS in 

collaboration with partner organizations, other 

government agencies, and neighboring 

communities.

NPS leadership will apply this strategy to 

communication planning and operations. 

Through site-level climate change 

communication strategies, the NPS will 

support and give guidance to employees and 

partners in their pivotal role in communicating 

climate change.

The National Climate Change Interpretation 

and Education Strategy outlines a systematic 

approach to communicating about climate 

change in national parks. It draws from and 

complements documents such as the 2012 Call 

to Action and the 2014 Achieving Relevancy in 

Our Second Century. The strategy aims to help 

park managers incorporate climate change 

communication into daily park operations by 

engaging in place-based climate change 

interpretation and education. In doing so, we 

can help individuals forge their own 

meaningful connections, and obtain the 

knowledge necessary for making informed 

personal decisions.

Through this strategy the NPS will

Provide opportunities for employees, partners, and the public to find personal relevance and 

inspiration to understand and respond to climate change

Develop a workforce that is climate literate and capable in climate communication skills

Establish itself as a national and global leader in climate change response

Cultivate a climate change communication community with our partners

Online Toolkit

The companion to the strategy is a 

public-facing, web-based Climate 

Change Communication Toolkit (3CT).*

The 3CT provides interpretive tools, 

information, science, and professional 

guidance to help interpreters and 

educators communicate about climate 

change. Throughout this document, 

icons indicate the sections of the 3CT 

which correspond with the action listed.

*www.nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/toolkit.htm

Understand Your Story

Best Practices

Who’s Your Audience

What We’re Doing

Learn and Engage

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A ranger surveys damage from Hurricane Sandy at the Statue of Liberty National Monument, NY. Cultural 

resources face unique challenges in relation to climate change. While it is generally not possible to attribute a 

single weather storm to climate change, historical sea level rise due to climate change contributed to the 

major flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy. (Trenberth et al. 2015) NPS Image
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Goal 1: Provide opportunities to find personal 

relevance in relation to climate change

People relate to their national parks in deeply 

emotional ways. Through the meaningful 

stories they relate, America’s national parks 

have a unique power to connect individuals to 

our nation’s heritage. By using these natural 

laboratories and classrooms to reach the hearts 

and minds of staff and visitors, we can provide 

opportunities to engage emotionally and 

intellectually with climate change and learn 

from one another. Fostering these connections 

is fundamental to nurturing the personal 

relevance necessary for individuals to be fully 

informed citizens. Students search for personal relevance in Muir 

Woods National Monument. NPS Image 

Approaches to Achieve This Goal and 3CT Corresponding Areas

Encourage staff to discover and identify 

personal connections to climate change

Identify climate change effects, impacts, and 

threats on park sites/resources

Link sites and issues with broader historical 

and environmental contexts in relation to 

climate change

Incorporate climate change components into 

existing interpretation and education 

programming, and develop new climate change 

programming

Incorporate climate change communication, 

into interpretation and education planning and 

guiding documents
Warmer and drier conditions can lead to greater frequency and severity of wildfire in many places. 

Across the western U.S.—including Yellowstone National Park—the length of the fire season is longer, 

consistent with climate change. (Westerling et al. 2011) USDA Image
Goal 2: Develop a Climate-Conscious 

Workforce

Communicating about climate change can be 

an empowering act for NPS staff and partners. 

National parks serve as ideal venues for civic 

engagement, and NPS interpreters and 

educators hold an exceptional position with 

audiences as trained, trustworthy sources 

willing to engage the public. Furthermore, 

guidance on best practices and appropriate 

techniques can help individuals foster the skills 

necessary to create meaningful and relevant 

climate change programming. National Park Service Rangers NPS Image

Approaches to Achieve This Goal and 3CT Corresponding Areas

Provide climate change resources and training 

for staff and partners

Provide access to current climate-related 

science, history, and cultural context

Develop greater knowledge of our audiences 

with respect to climate change

Provide training on climate change 

communication tools and techniques

Encourage and promote successful practices in 

climate change communication

Ensure consistency across park sites through 

use of national key messages and strong 

partnerships

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At Glacier National Park, melting glaciers are revealing relics from the past. Scientists must move quickly to 

inventory and understand these artifacts before their secrets are lost to time. NPS Image
Goal 3: Provide Leadership in National and Global 

Climate Change Response

The NPS is a globally trusted source of 

informal education. As such, we are uniquely 

positioned to engage all audiences on climate 

change impacts to our national parks, possible 

adaptations to changing conditions, and 

mitigating our carbon footprint. Furthermore, 

we are well-poised to model the behaviors and 

actions conducive to addressing climate 

change. Effective interpretation and education 

is essential for the NPS to maintain and 

enhance our institutional influence and 

continue to lead in the face of this 

unprecedented challenge. National Park Service rangers earn trust from visitors. 

NPS Image

Approaches to Achieve This Goal and 3CT Corresponding Areas

Responsibly use the public trust and our 

influence to promote climate literacy and 

showcase sustainable practices and behaviors

Highlight local opportunities to mitigate 

carbon footprints, adapt to new “normals,” 

and encourage sustainable actions

Responsibly use park sites for civic 

engagement, citizen science, and other public 

involvement in relation to climate change

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Dock damage from Hurricane Sandy at Liberty Island, Statue of Liberty National Monument. As sea levels rise 

from climate change, damage from storm surge during such events could become more severe. NPS Image
Goal 4: Cultivate a Community of Climate 

Communication with our Partners

Meeting the challenge of global climate 

change will require an unprecedented level of 

collaboration and cooperation beyond single 

parks or the National Park System. Working 

with local communities, government agencies, 

volunteer networks, concessioners, 

educational partners, and partner 

organizations will increase the scope and 

efficacy of communication efforts. NPS 

interpreters and educators serve as the 

ambassadors for community-based efforts and 

can assist in developing and providing 

consistent messaging and educational 

standards, as well as exemplifying climatefriendly behaviors. 

National Park Service ranger with the next 

generation NPS Image

Approaches to Achieve This Goal and 3CT Corresponding Areas

Leverage existing partner networks and 

actively pursue new collaborations

Ensure partner access to NPS resources for 

climate change interpretation and education, 

science, and resource management

Foster, support, participate in, and lead 

opportunities for internal and external support 

networks

Foster, support, participate in, and lead local, 

state, and global partnerships

Use park sites to promote community 

engagement and to frame climate change 

discussions

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Conclusion

While no single step can reverse the effects of 

climate change, we have an obligation to future 

generations to address the issue and maintain 

the integrity of our national parks. Through 

meaningful interpretation and education, NPS 

communicators can steward both parks and 

people through the uncertainties of climate 

change. Interpreters and educators are also 

remarkably established as leaders in the field of 

conservation, and have the utmost duty to 

provide opportunities for understanding that 

inspire individuals to take action. 

The time to act is now.

Together we have the power to make a difference. NPS Image
Literature Cited

Barnett, T.P. and D.W. Pierce. 2008. When will 

Lake Mead go dry? Water Resources 

Research 44: 

W03201doi:10.1029/2007WR006704.

Dawadi, S. and S. Ahmad. 2012. Changing 

climatic conditions in the Colorado River 

Basin: Implications for water resources 

management. Journal of Hydrology 430-

431: 127-141.

Karpilo, R. D. Jr., and S. C. Venator. 2015. 

Documenting over a century of natural 

resource change with repeat photography in 

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical 

Park, Alaska. Natural Resource Report 

NPS/KLGO/NRR—2015/1017. National 

Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. 

Melillo, J.M., T.C. Richmond, and G.W. Yohe 

(eds.) 2014. Climate Change Impacts in the 

United States: The Third National Climate 

Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research 

Program, Washington, DC.

Trenberth, K.E., J.T. Fasullo, and T.G. 

Shepherd. 2015. Attribution of climate 

extreme events. Nature Climate Change 5: 

725-730.

Westerling, A., H.G. Hidalgo, D.R. Cayan, and 

T.W. Swetnam. 2006. Warming and earlier 

Spring increase western U.S. forest wildfire 

activity. Science 313: 940-943.
Investments in sustainable operations, such as those at 

Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, provide 

opportunities for visitor engagement. NPS Image

Acknowledgments

Steering Committee:

Erin Drake, Becky Lacome, 

Teresa Moyer, Ryan Scavo, 

Laura Sturtz, Amanda Sweeney, 

Julia Washburn, Tim Watkins 

Authors:

Will Elder, Corbett Nash, 

David Shelley, Larry Perez,

Ryan Stubblebine, Cheri Yost

Layout:

Mark Muse, Larry Perez, 

Ryan Stubblebine

Toolkit Development:

Kathy Brazelton, Matt Holly, 

John Morris, David Restivo, 

Melissa Sladek, Amanda Sweeney

Other Contributors:

Joanne Blacoe, Brian Carlstrom, 

Patrick Gonzalez, Cat Hawkins Hoffman,

Don Kodak, Ioana Munteanu, 

Marcy Rockman, Mike Whatley, 

Joe Zarki

Suggested Citation

National Park Service. 2016. National 

Climate Change Interpretation and 

Education Strategy. Washington, DC.
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