Federal Actions for a 

Climate Resilient Nation

Progress Report of the Interagency 

Climate Change Adaptation Task Force

October 28, 2011
ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Acronyms.......................................................................................................iii 

Executive Summary...................................................................................................iv

Introduction..............................................................................................................1

Federal Government Progress in Implementing Policy Goals to Build a Climate Resilient Nation

Integrating Adaptation into Federal Government Planning and Activities..........................5

Building Resilience to Climate Change in Communities................................................8

Improving Accessibility and Coordination of Science for Decision Making.......................13

Developing Strategies to Safeguard Natural Resources in a Changing Climate..................17

Enhancing Efforts to Lead and Support International Adaptation..................................22

Conclusion.................................................................................................................25

Appendices............................................................................................................A-C

Title Page Photos (from left to right): Aurora, NC, September 13, 2011 - The elevated house on the right received 

only minor damage when Hurricane Irene pushed 5 feet of storm surge ashore. The house on the left was completely 

destroyed (Credit: FEMA, Tim Burkitt); 2002 Valley Fire that burned San Juan National Forest lands and many 

homes located at the urban interface (Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Craig Goodell); Local business along Las Olas 

Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL inundated by sea water (Credit: Broward County Natural Resources 

Planning and Management Division); The fast attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) is moored at the North 

Pole in the Arctic Ocean to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first submarine polar transit completed by the 

USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1958 (Credit: U.S. Navy, Petty Officer 1st Class J. Thompson).
iii

LIST OF ACRONYMS

BLM – Bureau of Land Management

CDC – Centers for Disease Control

CEQ – Council on Environmental Quality

CSC – Climate Science Centers

DOE – Department of Energy

DOI – Department of the Interior

DOT – Department of Transportation

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency

FTA – Federal Transit Administration

HUD – Department of Housing and Urban Development

LCC – Landscape Conservation Cooperatives

MCC – Millennium Challenge Corporation

NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NCA – National Climate Assessment

NFIP – National Flood Insurance Program

NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOC – National Ocean Council

NPS – National Park Service

OSTP – Office of Science and Technology Policy

REA – Rapid Ecoregional Assessments

RISA – Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments

RPA – Regional Plan Association

Task Force – Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force

USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USAID – U.S. Agency for International Development

USDA – U.S. Department of Agriculture

USFS – U.S. Forest Service

USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USGCRP – U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGS – U.S. Geological Survey

WARN – Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network
iv

Executive Summary

In October 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental 

and Energy Performance, which sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making 

improvements in agency environmental, energy, and economic performance. The Executive Order 

charged the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force with providing recommendations on how 

Federal policies, programs, and planning efforts can better prepare the United States for climate change. 

In October 2010, the Task Force recommended a set of policy goals and actions in its Progress Report to 

the President. The Task Force outlined how the Federal Government should work with local, state, and 

tribal partners to provide leadership, coordination, science, and services to address climate risks to the 

Nation as well as Federal assets and operations. In the 2010 Report, the Task Force committed to 

providing an update on Federal Government adaptation progress in 2011. This report provides that update 

in five key adaptation areas that align with the policy goals set forth by the Task Force in 2010:

Integrating Adaptation into Federal Government Planning and Activities: Agencies are taking steps to 

manage climate impacts to Federal agency missions, programs, and operations to ensure that resources are 

invested wisely and Federal services remain effective for the American people. Agencies are developing 

climate adaptation plans to identify their vulnerabilities and prioritize activities that reduce climate risk. 

Building Resilience to Climate Change in Communities: Recognizing that most adaptation occurs at the 

local level, Federal agencies are working with diverse stakeholders in communities to prepare for a range 

of extreme weather and climate impacts (e.g. flooding, drought, and wildfire) that put people, property,

local economies, and ecosystems at risk. 

Improving Accessibility and Coordination of Science for Decision Making: To advance understanding 

and management of climate risks, the Federal Government is working to develop strong partnerships, 

enhance regional coordination of climate science and services, and provide accessible information and 

tools to help decision makers develop strategies to reduce extreme weather impacts and climate risks.

Developing Strategies to Safeguard Natural Resources in a Changing Climate: Recognizing that

American communities depend on natural resources and the valuable ecosystem services they provide, 

agencies are working with key partners to create a coordinated set of national strategies to help safeguard 

the Nation’s valuable freshwater, ocean, fish, wildlife, and plant resources in a changing climate.

Enhancing Efforts to Lead and Support International Adaptation: To promote economic development,

regional stability, and U.S. security interests around the world, the Federal Government is supporting a 

range of bilateral and multilateral climate change adaptation activities and coordinating defense, 

development and diplomacy policies to take into account growing climate risks.

Extreme weather and other climate change impacts pose significant social, economic, and environmental 

risks to the United States. The U.S. Government has a responsibility to reduce climate risks to public 

health and safety, economic well-being, natural resources, and Federal programs and services. While 

much work remains, this report describes important Federal progress toward the Task Force’s strategic 

vision of a resilient, healthy, and prosperous Nation in the face of a changing climate.
1

Introduction

The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force (hereafter Task Force) was established in 2009 

to assess key steps needed to help the Federal Government understand and adapt to climate change. The 

Task Force is comprised of senior representatives from over 20 Departments and Agencies (Appendix A)

and is co-chaired by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology 

Policy (OSTP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As part of Executive 

Order 13514, President Obama directed the Task Force to examine how the Federal Government can 

better prepare the United States for climate impacts. In October 2010, the Task Force submitted a 

Progress Report to the President outlining a set of Federal climate adaptation policy goals (Appendix B) 

and guiding principles (Appendix C). This report provides an update on Federal Government adaptation.

In the 2010 Progress Report, the Task Force called on Federal agencies to demonstrate leadership on 

climate change adaptation. Rising sea levels, drought, extreme weather events, loss of land and sea ice,

and other climate-related impacts threaten communities, ecosystems, and Federal services and assets. As 

people in the United States and around the globe experience these impacts, the Federal Government will 

face growing demands for accurate climate information, disaster risk reduction, and preparedness and

response support. Through stakeholder and public listening sessions, outreach events, and online 

comments, the 2010 Task Force Report determined that the Federal Government has a responsibility to 

safeguard Federal services and resources and to help states, tribes, and communities manage climaterelated risks by improving access to climate information, enhancing coordination and capacity, and 

leading and supporting actions that reduce vulnerability and increase resilience.

Federal agencies are taking steps to prepare the Nation for the impacts of climate change and have 

demonstrated significant progress towards the Task Force’s adaptation policy goals in five key areas. 

These efforts are informed by the guiding principles developed by the Task Force and ensure that Federal 

resources are invested wisely and that the Federal Government’s operations and services remain effective 

in a changing climate. Going forward, the Task Force will continue to support and coordinate these and 

other Federal actions to realize the Task Force’s vision of a resilient, healthy, and prosperous Nation in 

the face of a changing climate.

The Task Force has played an important leadership and coordination role in the Federal Government’s 

adaptation activities. The Task Force directly supports Federal adaptation efforts related to communities, 

public health, insurance, science and services, natural resources (e.g., freshwater, oceans, fish, wildlife 

and plants), international contexts, and non-Federal partnerships and outreach. In addition, the Task Force

Key Areas of Federal Adaptation Progress

 Integrating Adaptation into Federal Government Planning and Activities

 Building Resilience to Climate Change in Communities

 Improving Accessibility and Coordination of Science for Decision Making

 Developing Strategies to Safeguard Natural Resources in a Changing Climate

 Enhancing Efforts to Lead and Support International Adaptation
2

Definitions of Key Terms

Adaptation: Adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial 

opportunities or moderates negative effects.

Resilience: A capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multihazard threats 

with minimum damage to social well-being, the economy, and the environment.

Risk: A combination of the magnitude of the potential consequence(s) of climate change impact(s) and the 

likelihood that the consequence(s) will occur.

Vulnerability: The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate 

change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and 

rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.

Source: National Research Council. 2011. America’s Climate Choices: www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12781

provides a forum for interagency collaboration on adaptation and is consulted regularly by Federal 

agencies and non-Federal entities for adaptation expertise, coordination, and partnership opportunities. 

The Need to Adapt 

Climate change impacts pose significant social, economic, and environmental risks to the United States 

and the global community. As documented in the latest U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA) report, 

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, and the National Research Council’s report series

on America’s Climate Choices, communities across the Nation are already experiencing a range of 

climatic changes, including more frequent and extreme precipitation events, longer wildfire seasons, 

reduced snowpack, extreme heat events, increasing ocean temperatures, and rising sea levels.1,2 The 

impacts from these changes are affecting livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems, food production, energy 

supply, national security, and the cultural heritage of populations and communities. Certain communities 

and ecological systems are particularly vulnerable to these impacts. We know enough about climate risks 

to take actions now that ensure a safer, more resilient and prosperous future. 

Climate change is expected to significantly affect the United States. By the end of this century, global sea 

level is expected to rise by more than 2 feet in a low emissions scenario or nearly 3.5 feet in a higher 

emissions scenario.3 Higher sea levels, especially in combination with storm surge, will increasingly 

inundate U.S. coastal communities and threaten coastal ecosystems and infrastructure, such as military 

installations.4 Heat waves are expected to become more frequent and intense, posing a threat to human 

health and agriculture.5For rivers fed by snowpack, runoff will continue to occur earlier, with reduced 

flows late in the summer, and the potential for water shortages that can affect the supply of water for 

drinking, agriculture, electricity production, and ecosystems.6 Economic, social, and natural systems are 

also inter-connected on a global scale, meaning that climate impacts in other regions of the world can 

pose serious economic and security risks to the United States. Increases in extreme weather and climate 

 

1 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

2 National Research Council. (2011). America’s Climate Choices. The National Academies Press. Washington, DC 

www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12781

3 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

4 US Department of Defense. (2010). Quadrennial Defense Review. www.defense.gov/qdr/

5 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

6 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports
3

events will contribute to food and water scarcity, which can intensify existing tensions over access to lifesustaining resources.

Extreme weather and greater climate variability is expected to become more common in the future.

7

While it is not possible to attribute any individual extreme event to climate change, these events do 

provide valuable insight into the climate-related vulnerabilities and challenges faced by the United States. 

In April 2011, the United States experienced record-breaking floods, tornadoes, drought, and wildfires all 

within a single month. As of September 2011, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center had already 

reported ten weather events from 2011 for which damages and/or costs reached or exceeded $1 billion 

each,8exceeding the previous annual record of nine events recorded over the entire year in 2008. NOAA 

estimates the total damage of property and economic impacts for all weather-related disasters during the 

spring and summer of 2011 at more than $45 billion.9The severe and costly losses suffered during recent

extreme weather events demonstrate the importance of increasing the resilience of the United States to 

climate variability and change in order to reduce economic damages and prevent loss of life.

The Obama Administration is committed to reducing the magnitude of future climate impacts by curbing 

greenhouse gas emissions and advancing a clean energy economy. However, a range of climate impacts 

are unavoidable. To manage these risks, we must identify key threats, prioritize activities that reduce our 

vulnerability, initiate actions that promote resilience, and enhance preparedness capabilities.10

Adaptation can involve a range of actions taken by 

individuals, businesses, and governments, such as: a 

farmer choosing to grow a different crop variety better 

suited to warmer or drier conditions; a company deciding 

to relocate key facilities away from coastal areas 

vulnerable to sea level rise and hurricanes; a community 

updating its ordinances to protect wetland habitat that 

provides critical ecosystem services like flood 

protection; a city developing early warning systems for 

severe storms; and a Federal agency increasing its wateruse efficiency at regional facilities to prepare for more 

frequent and severe drought. As demonstrated by these 

examples, there are management strategies at all levels of 

government and in all sectors that can help communities 

and businesses adapt to climate variability and change. 

Local, State, and Private Sector Adaptation

Across the country, cities, towns, tribes, and states are leading efforts to reduce climate change risks. As 

of January 2011, eleven states had completed adaptation plans, four had plans in progress, and eight had

 

7 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

8 NOAA. (2011). Billion Dollar US Weather Disasters. National Climatic Data Center. www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/billionz.html

9 NOAA. (2011). Billion Dollar US Weather Disasters. National Climatic Data Center. www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/billionz.html

10 National Research Council. (2011). America’s Climate Choices. The National Academies Press. Washington, DC: 

www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12781

“The City of Grand Rapids is addressing 

various climate-related threats such as 

extreme heat and more intense 

precipitation events. We see these climate 

strategies as an extension of responsible 

governance and an imperative investment 

in the future prosperity of our city. As an 

inland watershed city, we have focused on 

restoring and maintaining a high quality 

of water in the Grand River with over

$240 million in combined sewer 

separation investment. This prepares us 

for ever-increasing precipitation levels 

now and into the future.”

- George K. Heartwell

Mayor, Grand Rapids, MI
4

recommended developing adaptation plans in their State Climate Action Plans.11 Local adaptation efforts 

are emerging as well. The City of Chicago, for example, anticipating a hotter and wetter future, is already 

taking steps to adapt such as repaving alleyways with permeable materials to handle greater rainfall and 

reduce flood risks, and planting trees that can tolerate warmer conditions.12

The private sector is also taking action to adapt to 

climate change. Investors are increasing pressure on 

firms, as evidenced by a record 101 shareholder 

resolutions in 2010 calling on North American 

companies to manage climate change risks.13 Mounting 

losses from natural disasters are also shifting the 

business environment. In a 2011 global survey of 

businesses, nearly nine out of ten firms reported that 

they suffered climate impacts in the last three years.14

Businesses are starting to take preventive action to 

protect their assets, employees, and operations from 

climate change risks. In the same survey, 

approximately 22 percent of North American firms 

reported actively making changes within their business 

to minimize climate risks and damages. 

As highlighted throughout this report, the Task Force and its member agencies interact with business, 

local government, tribes, and other decision makers to learn from their successes and challenges and to 

understand what science and services they need to manage the impacts of climate change. Promoting and 

coordinating this dialogue will continue to be an essential element of the Federal Government’s role 

moving forward.

Report Scope

This report provides a Task Force update on progress in five key areas at the core of Federal efforts to 

advance a national climate adaptation strategy and build a climate resilient Nation. These five areas 

closely align with the recommended policy goals in the 2010 Task Force Report (Appendix B) and also 

reflect how adaptation actions complement and intersect with one another. The examples of progress 

described in this report include technical assistance projects, regional partnerships, scientific 

advancements, and programs that foster adaptation. All of these efforts, with their diversity and breadth, 

demonstrate the Federal Government’s progress toward the Task Force’s 2010 policy goals. 

 

11 Pew Center on Global Climate Change. (2011). www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done/in_the_states/adaptation_map.cfm

12 Kaufman, L. (2011). A City Prepares for a Warm Long-Term Forecast. The New York Times. 

www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/science/earth/23adaptation.html?pagewanted=1

13CERES. (2010). Investors Achieve Record Results on Climate Change. Boston. www.ceres.org/incr/news/climate-resolutions-2010.

14UK Trade and Investment and The Economist Intelligence Unit. (March 2011). Adapting to an Uncertain Climate: A World of Commercial 

Opportunities. London, UK. Link: www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/item/128100.html.

“With the multiplier effect [of economic 

growth, subsidence, and climate change], 

the amount of economic loss to the Gulf 

Coast could rise to $700 billion, the gross 

domestic product for the entire region for 

one year. No region in the country can 

afford to lose their entire GDP once every 

20 years...Doing nothing is not an 

acceptable plan. That’s a plan to put 

Entergy out of business, a plan for misery 

and suffering for our customers and a plan 

that would devastate a region already 

economically impaired.” 

- J. Wayne Leonard

Chairman and CEO, Entergy Corporation

www.entergy.com/news_room/newsrelease.aspx?nr_id=1906
5

Highlights

 Federal agencies are beginning to more closely identify and manage climate-related risks and to 

implement actions that reduce climate change vulnerability and increase resilience of the Nation.

 Federal agencies are developing agency-specific plans to strengthen existing adaptation efforts and 

establish long-term priorities to respond to the challenges and opportunities that climate change 

poses to their missions, operations, and programs.

U.S. Department of Transportation Assists Mobile, Alabama with Infrastructure Protection

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) initiated the first part of the 

Gulf Coast Study, a comprehensive analysis of climate risks to transportation 

infrastructure in the Gulf Coast region and its communities. Phase 1 assessed 

transportation climate vulnerability in the Gulf Coast Region and was completed in 

2008. Phase 2, conducted in cooperation with the South Alabama Regional Planning 

Commission, is focused on assessing potential climate change impacts and 

vulnerability of transportation in Mobile, Alabama. This effort will develop 

transferable tools that will help transportation planners assess the vulnerability of 

transportation systems to climate risks and determine how best to safeguard critical 

infrastructure. The study is expected to be completed in 2013.

Map: Roadways Identified as Critical: National Transportation Atlas Database

(2009, City of Mobile GIS, PB, Rextag)

Integrating Adaptation into Federal Government 

Planning and Activities

Climate change will challenge the missions, operations, and programs of Federal agencies. To ensure 

resilience and save taxpayer dollars in the long-run, the Federal Government has a responsibility to reduce 

climate risks as part of ongoing agency planning. Federal agencies play a significant role in managing our 

Nation’s natural resources and infrastructure, including roads, airports, national parks, fisheries, dams,

levees, and military installations. These natural and built assets are increasingly threatened in a changing 

climate, for example, by floods, droughts, hurricanes, and other disasters. Federal agencies are partnering

with tribes, states, and communities to better prepare for and manage these risks.

As directed by Executive Order 13514 and recommended by the Task Force, Federal agencies are 

evaluating how climate variability and change are impacting their operations and services, and they are 

beginning to integrate adaptation into agency planning processes. Federal progress is evident from (1)

newly established Federal agency adaptation policies; (2) increased sharing of climate adaptation 

expertise and information across agencies; and (3) ongoing development of adaptation plans in 

accordance with the Task Force’s guiding principles, including applying risk management methods and 

tools to their adaptation efforts. These adaptation plans will include assessments of how climate change 

may impact agency missions and operations, as well as identify necessary adjustments to reduce risk, 

avoid unnecessary costs, and take advantage of opportunities. 
6

San Juan Public Lands Center: Forest Service 

and Bureau of Land Management Integrating 

Climate Science into Land Management

2002 Valley Fire that burned San Juan National Forest lands and 

many homes located at the urban interface (Credit: Craig Goodell, 

U.S. Forest Service)

The average temperature in the Southwest has 

increased roughly 1.5°F since the 1970s (USGCRP 

2009: www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports). As a 

result, snowmelt is occurring earlier and more spring 

flooding and lower summer stream levels are 

projected for the future. Under the Service First 

initiative, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM)

San Juan Field Center and the U.S. Forest Service are 

working together at the San Juan Public Lands 

Center, which covers over 2.5 million acres in 

Southwestern Colorado. In the past year, the partners 

have developed a drought vulnerability model, a 

carbon storage map, an alpine monitoring program, 

and projections of future temperature and 

precipitation patterns. These tools and information 

will be used to adjust the timing of grazing allotments 

to ensure adequate vegetation and help land managers 

choose different tree species to plant that are more 

resilient to drought, fire, and pests.

Each adaptation plan will reflect the agency’s core mission. For example, agencies with emergency 

management and health missions will likely focus on planning that reduces climate change risks to 

communities; those with infrastructure responsibilities will emphasize planning that enhances resilience 

and minimizes disruption; and agencies that support particular sectors (e.g. agriculture, energy) will focus 

on climate risks to production and security. The plans will help agencies integrate climate considerations 

into their existing planning and risk management processes. 

Climate variability and change are already 

impacting Federal programs and operations, as 

well as the citizens they serve. For example, the 

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) recognizes that 

climate change is a major challenge to its mission 

of sustaining the health, diversity, and 

productivity of the Nation’s forests and 

grasslands for present and future generations. 

Current climate change impacts, including 

changing temperatures and water flow patterns, 

can affect USFS-managed resources through 

increases in fire, drought, insect infestations, 

plant diseases, and invasive species. These 

impacts put at risk the many benefits Americans 

receive from forests, such as wood products,

clean air, drinking water, and opportunities for 

recreation and tourism. The USFS National 

Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change

identifies short- and long-term actions to reduce 

climate change risks to our Nation’s forests and 

grasslands. A scorecard tracks Roadmap 

implementation to ensure the agency is 

accountable for incorporating climate change 

considerations into existing programs. 

Federal agencies have continued to make 

progress on the adaptation pilot projects outlined 

in the 2010 Task Force Report as well. The U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is currently 

updating guidance on how the agency’s projects, 

systems, and programs can respond to future 

changes in sea level.15 In the long-term, USACE 

will use this information to incorporate climate 

change considerations into existing and new civil 

 

15 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2011). Procedures to Evaluate Sea Level Change Impacts, Responses, and Adaptation - Engineering Technical 

Letter: www.corpsclimate.us/etl.cfm and Water Resource Policies and Authorities Incorporating Sea-Level Change Considerations in Civil 

Works Programs: 140.194.76.129/publications/eng-circulars/ec1165-2-211/entire.pdf
7

works infrastructure and ecosystem restoration projects in coastal areas to improve safety and resilience. 

Federal agencies are at different stages of adaptation planning. Those with more experience are sharing 

lessons learned with their counterparts in other agencies. To respond to the 2010 Task Force’s 

recommendations, Federal agencies participated in a series of workshops during the summer of 2011 to 

share information and best practices for managing climate risks to public health, land and water resources, 

and infrastructure. Each agency is also adopting an internal policy to establish an adaptation planning goal 

and better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by a changing climate. Agencies have 

already begun initial actions to reduce climate impacts to their mission and operations, and they will 

develop and publish climate adaptation plans in the summer of 2012 to strengthen those efforts. This 

initial planning lays the foundation for agencies to more fully integrate actions into their operations and 

management to reduce climate risks to Federal programs, services, and the Nation.
8

Building Resilience to Climate Change in Communities

The 2010 Task Force Report recommended that the Federal Government help communities build 

resilience to climate change by integrating adaptation considerations into relevant Federal programs, 

policies, and guidance. Across the United States, many communities are recognizing the social and 

economic importance of increasing resilience to climate-related impacts. A 2011 survey of 396 mayors

from all 50 states found that over 30 percent are already taking climate impacts into account within their 

capital planning and improvement programs, demonstrating growing local concern about climate risks.

16

A climate-resilient community has the capability to anticipate, prepare for, and recover from climate 

impacts on public health and safety, the local economy, and natural resources. Planning for climaterelated impacts is economically advantageous because it reduces the cost of disaster relief, improves 

infrastructure safety and reliability, and anticipates changes in ecosystems and the valuable services they 

provide.

The Task Force identified as a guiding principle in its 

2010 Progress Report the need to prioritize the most 

vulnerable communities and create adaptation plans with 

meaningful involvement from all parts of society. Over 

the past year, the Task Force hosted workshops and 

listening sessions to solicit input from a wide variety of 

state, tribal, and local leaders on how the Federal 

Government can best support local adaptation efforts. 

Overwhelmingly, community stakeholders said they need 

reliable and accessible information to evaluate their 

vulnerabilities to climate change and to understand the 

costs and benefits of taking action to reduce local risks. 

Through the Task Force and related interagency efforts, and in response to input from non-Federal 

partners and stakeholders, the Federal Government is making progress in enhancing the ability of 

communities to promote resilience to climate impacts. This progress is evident from (1) use of existing

Federal resources, programs, and leadership to help communities reduce climate risks; (2) availability of 

information and decision support from Federal agencies to protect public health, livelihoods, and wellbeing in a changing climate; and (3) initial steps to integrate climate change risks into insurance 

mechanisms. The actions discussed below are important steps toward meeting the 2010 Progress Report 

policy goal to address key cross-cutting issues related to climate change adaptation. 

 

16 U.S. Conference of Mayors. (2011). Clean Energy Solutions for America’s Cities: A summary of survey results prepared by GlobeScan 

Incorporated and sponsored by Siemens: www.usmayors.org/cleanenergy/report.pdf

“In many smaller coastal towns that are 

going to be affected, the concern is not 

about expanding the current water and 

sewer infrastructure systems in a smart 

way. Rather, it is about moving 

infrastructure that has been in the 

ground for decades. Some of my pipes 

are over 100 years old. Smaller, lowwealth communities cannot possibly 

undertake the financial burden of system 

relocations without grants from the 

Federal government.”

- Brian A. Roth

Mayor, Plymouth, NC on sea level rise

Highlights

 Federal agencies are developing ways to incorporate climate adaptation into planning, emergency 

preparedness, and disaster recovery to protect communities and reduce losses.

 Federal agencies are providing data, information, and decision tools to reduce health and insurance

risks related to climate impacts.
9

NOAA and Partners Support Drought Preparedness

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National 

Integrated Drought Information System, National Drought Mitigation Center, and state 

partners created a Guide to Community Drought Preparedness, a free resource that 

helps communities with drought monitoring, communication, and education on drought 

mitigation and response. The guide has been used successfully in drought-prone 

communities that range in size from 7,000 residents (Nebraska City, NE) to larger 

urban areas including Decatur, IL (population: 75,000) and Norman, OK (population: 

100,000). The guide provides valuable examples of how municipalities can reduce the 

economic impacts of future droughts by building community resilience.

www.drought.unl.edu/Planning/PlanningProcesses/DroughtReadyCommunities.aspx

Working with communities to reduce climate risks 

Communities and the Federal Government are now working in partnership to improve the ability of 

communities to prepare for climate change. For example, the U.S. Forest Service and the National 

Association of State Foresters co-sponsor Firewise Communities, a program that educates residents, 

planners, and community leaders about how to enhance safety and preparedness for wildfires. 

Federal agencies are also developing ways to incorporate climate adaptation into emergency preparedness 

and disaster recovery to protect communities and reduce losses. The Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA) has found that every dollar spent by the agency on hazard mitigation provides the 

Nation with about four dollars in future benefits.17 FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),

and state agencies are helping to address flood risks through the Silver Jackets program, which creates 

interagency teams to simplify access to critical flood risk mitigation and planning resources. It also 

provides communities with a single point of contact to the Federal Government on these issues.

Additionally, the NOAA-led U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program partners Federal agencies 

with Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems across the country to provide coastal communities with 

more accurate estimates of the environmental effects of climate variability to inform community planning 

and reduce potential hazards.

Ensuring the health and safety of communities both before and after a disaster also depends on 

transportation and water infrastructure remaining safe and functional in the case of extreme events. As the 

intensity and frequency of severe storms increase in a changing climate, transportation and water 

infrastructure will need to be more resilient to climate impacts. To respond to this challenge, the Federal 

Transit Administration (FTA) provides public transportation officials across the country with information 

on transit use during emergency response and on how to build the resilience of public transportation 

assets and services to weather and climate risks. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)

Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) helps water utility managers respond to and 

recover from emergencies that affect water system integrity and can lead to health risks from sewer 

system failures. 

 

17 Multihazard Mitigation Council. (2005). Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation 

Activities. National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington, DC: www.nibs.org/client/assets/files/mmc/Part1_final.pdf
10

People and businesses depend on secure and reliable energy supplies for social well-being and economic 

prosperity. More frequent and longer periods of drought anticipated with climate change will impact 

water supplies needed for energy production.

18 The Department of Energy (DOE) is working with the 

Western Governors’ Association, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, and the Electric 

Reliability Council of Texas on an energy-water initiative that supports electricity transmission planning 

in the western United States, taking into account reductions in water availability in a changing climate. 

The project will yield a comprehensive package of regional planning models and data that supplement 

interconnection-wide transmission planning studies with information on regional water availability and 

demand. These resources will help to shape climate resilient electricity generation options to meet the 

energy needs of a growing economy and population.

Federal agencies are also considering how existing grant programs can be used to encourage community 

adaptation. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Sustainable 

Communities Regional Planning Grants encourage grant recipients to integrate climate adaptation into

their regional housing, land use, and transportation planning. The Regional Plan Association (RPA) of 

New York City is one of a number of HUD grantees incorporating climate information to enhance 

resilience of critical infrastructure to severe storms and coastal flooding. The RPA will also assess urban 

design implications of flood protection standards to develop new example standards, codes, and 

regulations for municipalities that will better equip them to adapt to extreme climate conditions. 

While Federal agencies have made progress in 

helping communities build resilience to climate 

change impacts, much more can be done, particularly

for vulnerable populations. Within communities, 

some populations – such as children, elderly and lowincome citizens – are more vulnerable to climate 

impacts due to higher sensitivity to health threats.19

Tribal nations are also disproportionately affected by 

climate change because of their strong dependence on 

natural resources for economic development, 

subsistence, social cohesion, and culture.

20

To help respond to these impacts on tribes, the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Indian 

Affairs announced a competitive climate change tribal grant program in Fiscal Year 2011. These grants

will enable tribal participation and representation in climate change-related activities occurring around the 

country. The funds will also help tribes develop and implement climate change projects and strategies to 

benefit tribal resources and communities. Partners will include the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), and 

tribes. The Federal Government will continue to strengthen partnerships with communities and tribes to 

reduce climate change risks, particularly those that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. 

 

18 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

19 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

20 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

“Swinomish people are inheritors of the 

traditional knowledge of the Skagit 

territory...our people carry over 10,000 years 

of knowledge of our traditional area. We are 

experienced in the adaptation methods within 

our respected homelands and waters. So we 

urge you to invest in our knowledge. We have 

survived many challenges impacting the 

sustainability of our way of life, and we are 

still here, still adapting.”

- Brian Cladoosby

Chairman, Swinomish Tribe
11

Flooding Impacts to Iowa Infrastructure

Flooding Impact on Bridge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 2008 

(Credit: Susie Shapira, FEMA)

Iowa has experienced catastrophic flooding three 

times in the past 17 years. The floods of 2008 

rank in the top ten natural disasters in U.S. history 

and highlight the risks of Iowa’s changing 

climate. The EPA and FEMA worked with 

stakeholders in Iowa in 2010 to coordinate hazard 

mitigation with current and future land-use 

decisions to increase community safety and help 

reduce economic losses from future flooding. 

EPA and FEMA are also coordinating to help 

other communities make cost-effective choices 

for housing and infrastructure systems that reduce 

climate risks to communities.

Protecting public health in a changing climate

Recognizing that climate variability and change pose health risks, the 2010 Task Force Report 

recommended that the Federal Government address climate change in public health activities. Climate 

change can heighten the risk of illnesses and injuries, exacerbate many existing health conditions, and 

change the patterns of where diseases are transmitted by insects and other vectors. Health is also affected 

by the safety and availability of food, water, indoor air quality, and energy, which may be compromised 

during and after extreme weather events. Extreme weather events, intense heat waves, and climateinduced degradation of air and water quality may overwhelm our already overburdened public health 

systems.21 Protecting public health is an integral part of reducing the climate risks facing communities.

Federal agencies are making progress to address 

these challenges and promote healthy communities 

in the face of a changing climate. For example, the 

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

has launched the Climate-Ready States and Cities 

Initiative to help state and city health departments 

prepare for and monitor emerging health risks 

exacerbated by climate change. The CDC is 

currently connecting ten city and state health 

departments with climate scientists to understand 

potential impacts and identify health risks to their 

specific geographic area. Participating health 

departments are also developing strategies to 

determine the effects of climate change on human 

health and vulnerable populations.

Federally-provided tools are helping communities 

develop cost-effective ways to reduce health risks 

from climate impacts as well. The U.S. Forest 

Service provides decision-making tools that help 

communities plan tree plantings as low-cost ways of 

improving storm water management and flood 

control while reducing the urban “heat island” 

effect. By lowering air temperatures and increasing 

shade, the new trees improve quality of life.

Integrating climate change risks into insurance mechanisms

Insurance is one of several options available to individuals, businesses, and communities to manage risks 

posed by extreme weather and climate change. However, with continued development in areas exposed to 

flood hazards, especially in coastal areas, our nation’s flood risk is increasing. In the 2010 Progress 

Report, the Task Force recommended facilitating the incorporation of climate change risks into insurance 

 

21 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports
12

mechanisms. The Federal Government is assessing ways to develop more realistic risk-based pricing 

signals for public insurance and to raise public awareness of climate and extreme weather-related risks.

With Task Force leadership, a Federal interagency group is exploring options for a public-private 

partnership to develop an open-source risk assessment model. This strategy aims to provide a consistent, 

accessible, no-cost resource for communities and insurance providers to assess risks from extreme 

weather events and climate change. The work on the risk assessment model will continue under the 

National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction. 

Recent extreme events also highlight the need for a strong National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP: 

administered by FEMA), which enables homeowners in participating communities to purchase insurance 

protection against losses from flooding. In spring 2011, persistent rainfall combined with melting 

snowpack caused widespread flooding in some of the major rivers across the United States, including the 

Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri.22 FEMA is currently analyzing options to address concerns about the 

NFIP, including the inherent weaknesses caused by program subsidies and the cost of insurance, the 

methods by which flood risks are modeled and depicted on maps given expected changes in future 

hydrological conditions, and the low market penetration of flood insurance in floodplains.

FEMA is currently working with other Federal agencies and academic experts to assess the impacts of 

climate change on the NFIP. Additionally, FEMA is undertaking a study on reforming the NFIP to reduce 

flood risks, improve flood risk communication, remove barriers for greater private sector participation in 

flood insurance, address affordability of insurance, and ensure fiscal soundness. FEMA will publish 

recommendations on these two issues in 2011.

 

22 NOAA. (2011). Spring 2011 U.S. Climate Extremes. National Climatic Data Center. www.ncdc.noaa.gov/special-reports/2011-springextremes/index.php#flooding
13

Preparedness for Excessive Heat Events

Thermal Photo of Atlanta, GA (Credit: NASA)

Climate change is expected to exacerbate threats to 

health by increasing the frequency, intensity, and 

duration of excessive heat events. However, most 

adverse health outcomes are preventable. Federal 

agencies are working with state and local officials 

to develop preparedness plans and tools that local 

emergency planners and decision makers can use to 

prepare for and respond to heat waves.

An Excessive Heat Event Guidebook developed by 

EPA, NOAA, DHS, and CDC helps community 

officials, emergency managers, and scientists 

develop city-specific heat response plans and earlywarning systems. NASA and CDC are also working 

with Indiana University on pilot projects with 

Philadelphia, PA, Dayton, OH, and Phoenix, AZ to 

improve their heat watch/warning systems by 

integrating satellite measurements with social and 

health data to improve preparedness.

Improving Accessibility and Coordination of Science 

for Decision Making

Decision makers need science that effectively informs and supports actions to enhance resilience to 

extreme events as well as climate variability and change.23 The Federal Government plays an important 

role in ensuring that climate-related information and tools are accessible, timely, and relevant for 

decisions at multiple scales and in different contexts. 

The Federal Government has made substantial 

progress towards the Task Force’s 2010 policy goals 

of improving the integration of science into decision 

making and coordinating Federal capabilities to 

support adaptation. Specifically, this progress is 

evident from (1) development of an interagency 

initiative to enhance coordination of regional climate 

science and services; (2) substantial strengthening of 

the National Climate Assessment; and (3) emergence 

of coordinating bodies and programs for addressing 

critical information needs and improving the utility 

and accessibility of Federal science in support of 

adaptation. All of these efforts align with the Task 

Force’s guiding principles that adaptation requires 

strong partnerships and should be grounded in the 

best-available science.

With Task Force leadership, Federal agencies are 

undertaking efforts to enhance regional coordination 

of climate science and services. Under this initiative, 

partnerships between Federal and non-Federal 

climate-related programs will expand and strengthen 

in eight regions that cover the entire United States. 

These collaborations will support efficient and 

effective delivery of climate science, tools, services, 

and assessments to meet stakeholder needs and 

support adaptation planning within each region, 

 

23 National Research Council. (2010). America’s Climate Choices: Panel on Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change.

www.americasclimatechoices.org/panelinforming.shtml

Highlights

 The Federal Government is working to improve the accessibility and utility of climate information 

and tools to meet the needs of decision makers.

 The U.S. Global Change Research Program is advancing a process for timely climate research, 

assessments, and services to support adaptation planning across the country.
14

Science in Support of Fire Response

Satellite Image of Texas Fires (Credit: NASA)

Federal agencies are providing scientific information

and tools to help decision makers prepare for, 

respond to, and reduce the threat of fire to minimize 

fire-related loss of life and damages.

With seasonal forecasting, NOAA scientists warned

Texas fire managers in December 2010 of impending 

extreme drought conditions that would lead to high 

fire risk. This long-range forecast helped decision

makers pre-position local fire-fighting assets so that 

when the fire season arrived, first responders could 

act quickly to save lives and property. 

When the burning escalated in spring 2011, as 

predicted, NOAA deployed specially trained 

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists to 

support forecasts that helped first responders battle 

the fires. The 13 NWS forecast offices serving Texas 

also provided drought information, high wind 

warnings, and short- and long-term weather 

forecasts.

Throughout the 2011 fire season, the U.S. Forest 

Service and DOI used science-based tools to provide

information about expected fire behavior, risks of 

damage, and assistance needs. 

These collaborative efforts helped fire managers 

develop strategic responses and on-the-ground 

tactical actions for fires across the nation, including 

large fires in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and 

Georgia.

integrating and leveraging the existing coordination efforts described below.

A number of Federal efforts are already underway 

to strengthen regional partnerships on climate 

science and services. For example, DOI has 

initiated a landscape-level, science-based approach 

to informing management of natural resources 

through the development of a nationwide network 

of Climate Science Centers (CSC) and Landscape 

Conservation Cooperatives (LCC). DOI works in 

close partnership with NOAA’s Regional 

Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) 

teams to maximize cost-effectiveness while 

enhancing the Federal government’s collective 

ability to develop and provide critical science to a 

diverse array of stakeholders. CSCs will provide 

fundamental scientific information, tools, and 

techniques for land, water, wildlife, and cultural 

resource managers to anticipate, monitor, and 

adapt to climate change impacts. RISAs will 

contribute information and advance understanding 

within the regions by performing interdisciplinary 

research that addresses the diverse needs of 

decision makers, such as local farm and ranch 

organizations and emergency planners.

The National Climate Assessment (NCA), an 

interagency effort within the U.S. Global Change 

Research Program (USGCRP), is another core

element of the Federal Government’s effort to

advance climate science and services. As mandated 

by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the 

2013 NCA synthesis report will include an 

evaluation of Federal climate science activities and 

an assessment of current and future climate

impacts on critical sectors (e.g. water, agriculture, 

energy, etc.). The newly redesigned NCA process 

is working to expand engagement of partners from 

every sector and region of the United States. 

Moving forward, the NCA is exploring options for 

increasing the accessibility and utility of its

products through web-based deployment and other 

forms of communications. The NCA is also 

working to establish sustained capacity to deliver 
15

Addressing Climate Risks in Southeast Florida

Inundation (right) from a high tide in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Credit: Broward County)

Southeast Florida is already experiencing the impacts of extreme weather and sea level rise, compromising 

drainage systems and sea walls during high tide events. With continued sea level rise and the prospect of more 

intense hurricanes and heavy downpours, the region faces greater risks of flooding, safe water supply

shortages, infrastructure damage, and natural resource degradation. In response, Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm 

Beach, and Monroe Counties entered into the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact in 2010 to 

address these threats collaboratively. The South Florida Water Management District and Climate Leadership 

Initiative have been prominent partners in this effort.

Local and regional offices of Federal agencies—including USACE, NOAA, USGS, and EPA—have supported 

these counties with regional adaptation planning. For example, USACE and NOAA provided technical 

assistance to evaluate threats of future sea level rise. USGS applied advanced hydrologic models and provided 

financial resources to support projects related to saltwater intrusion of groundwater supplies and flood risks. 

EPA provided coordination support, helping connect the Compact partners with critical technical, planning, 

and programmatic resources. 

consistent and accurate impact, vulnerability, and risk information in support of adaptation decisionmaking. In addition, the NCA is working with Federal agencies and other partners to develop physical, 

ecological, and societal indicators for tracking U.S. climate change impacts and vulnerabilities through 

time.

Last year, the Federal Government launched another major effort to address critical adaptation 

information needs of practitioners and managers. An interagency Adaptation Science Workgroup, 

initiated by the Task Force and transitioned to the USGCRP in 2010, is coordinating science in support of 

adaptation across Federal agencies, identifying ways to improve the deployment of adaptation-relevant 

science, providing scientific support for agencies as they implement adaptation plans required under EO 

13514, and developing metrics and guidance that practitioners can use to evaluate the success of their 

adaptation efforts.

Many other Federal efforts are also underway to provide decision-relevant climate information in easily 

understood and useful formats. The Extension Disaster Education Network,24 a multi-state Extension 

Services effort supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture and NOAA Sea Grant, provides county educators with science-based tools and information to 

help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters. The USGS’s 

LandSat program provides satellite imagery online25 that helps land owners and managers observe and 

 

24 Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). (2011). Reducing the Impact of Disasters Through Education. 

www.eden.lsu.edu/Pages/default.aspx

25 USGS. (2011). LandSat. glovis.usgs.gov/
16

better manage forests and agricultural lands. NOAA also recently updated its U.S. Climate Normals data

online.

26 Access to this information helps farmers make planting decisions and electricity utility managers 

set appropriate rates. Through the Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) project and web 

portal,

27 NASA provides user-friendly weather and solar data that help the energy, building, and 

agricultural industries plan for climate impacts. The USGCRP is also exploring options for developing

and maintaining an online interagency global change information portal/system to provide “one-stop 

shopping” for climate-related information.

A great deal of work is still required to provide

accessible information that meets the diverse set of 

adaptation planning, implementation, and 

evaluation challenges faced by communities and 

practitioners. Building upon and strengthening

partnerships between Federal and non-Federal 

entities will be key to advancing adaptation efforts

across the country. Developments in information, 

tools, and services, particularly at local-to-regional 

scales, will be needed to better support planning 

needs. These challenges also create opportunities 

and incentives to improve coordination among 

Federal agencies, leverage existing and future 

efforts, and develop the innovative partnerships 

required to integrate climate information into public 

and private planning, evaluation, and investment.

 

26 NOAA. (2011). U.S. Monthly Climate Normals. www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/normals/usnormals.html

27 NASA. (2011). Power Of Worldwide Energy Resources. www.power.larc.nasa.gov/

“The Harris County Flood Control District 

and many other local and state flood risk 

reduction agencies look to the Federal 

government for unified, targeted climate 

change research to establish public policy and 

guidance based on best-available scientific 

research. We encourage the inclusion of local 

and state officials in the research, policy, and 

guidance development since all of the impact 

and much of the cost of any decision to 

incorporate, or not incorporate, climate 

change as a design factor will be borne by 

local and state entities.” 

- Steve Fitzgerald

Chief Engineer

Harris County Flood Control District, Texas
17

Highlights

 The Federal Government worked with stakeholders to develop a National Action Plan for managing 

freshwater resources in a changing climate in order to assure adequate water supplies and protect 

water quality, human health, property, and aquatic ecosystems. 

 Federal agencies are partnering with state, tribal and local representatives to develop strategies for 

safeguarding our Nation’s oceans, fish, wildlife, and plants.

Developing Strategies to Safeguard Natural Resources 

in a Changing Climate

Over the coming decades, the valuable natural resources and ecosystem services on which people depend 

will be increasingly affected by warming temperatures, rising seas, and more frequent and severe drought, 

among other expected climatic changes. In some cases, major, rapid disruptions to ecosystems may occur 

when ecological thresholds are crossed due to climate change in combination with other stressors.28 The 

Federal Government has made significant progress in developing strategies to safeguard natural resources 

as recommended under the Task Force’s policy goal to address key cross-cutting issues. This progress is 

evident from (1) completion of a National Action Plan to strengthen climate change adaptation for 

freshwater resources; (2) development of a strategic action plan to strengthen the resilience of coastal, 

ocean and Great Lakes communities and ecosystems to climate change; and (3) design of a strategy to

reduce climate change impacts on the Nation’s fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats. The 

Task Force and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are regularly convening the groups charged 

with the development of these strategies to foster collaboration and to ensure that the plans are 

complementary.

Managing Water Resources in a Changing Climate 

Climate impacts pose significant challenges for water 

resource managers. These challenges include 

ensuring adequate groundwater and surface water 

supply for human consumption, ecological integrity, 

agriculture, industry, and energy as hydrologic 

conditions shift and drought becomes more prevalent. 

New problems may also arise for water managers 

working to protect human health and property, such 

as increased water- and vector-borne disease, 

increased difficulty in treating drinking water, and 

disruptions of power, water, sewer, and emergency 

services as a result of more extreme rainfall events. 

Changing water resource conditions will also create 

challenges for protecting the availability and quality 

of freshwater resources, habitat, and aquatic life.

 

28 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

“The Trinity River COMMON VISION 

Program has been a vanguard for effective 

floodplain management in North Central 

Texas...but our continued partnership with 

Federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers and FEMA with our local 

governments is the key ingredient to our 

ongoing progress and accomplishment. Our 

agency, on behalf of our member local 

governments, remains committed to 

partnership to meet the public safety, 

environmental stewardship and overall quality 

of life needs of our region. We hope our 

Federal partners are equally as committed in 

this effort to deal with the significant 

challenges of climate resilience in watershed 

and floodplain management.”

- John Promise

Director of Environment & Development

North Central Texas Council of Governments
18

New York City Pilot for Climate Resilience 

Evaluation and Awareness Tool

Treated sewage backed-up at Bronx Water Pollution 

Control Plant (Credit: NYC DEP)

In 2009, EPA worked with the New York City 

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to 

pilot the Climate Resilience Evaluation and 

Awareness Tool (CREAT). CREAT is a software 

tool designed to assist drinking water and 

wastewater utility owners and operators in 

understanding potential climate change threats to 

their utilities. CREAT allows users to assess 

adaptation options to address climate-related 

impacts using both traditional risk assessment and 

scenario-based decision making. The DEP is now 

using the tool to complement a comprehensive 

study to develop an adaptation strategy to address

increasing population demand for water services 

and minimize impacts of heavy rain and storm 

surge to New York City's drainage and wastewater 

management systems. 

water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/creat.cfm

Federal agencies have made substantial progress in improving water resource management in a changing 

climate. Member agencies of the Task Force developed a National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing 

Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate. The Plan includes a national goal and six 

recommendations to help freshwater resource managers understand and reduce the risks of climate change 

to our Nation’s freshwater resources. It is designed to help freshwater resource managers assure adequate 

water supplies, safeguard water quality, and protect human life, health, and property. Key 

recommendations call for strengthening Federal water data systems, building tools to help water facilities 

assess vulnerability to climate change, expanding water use efficiency, and supporting training and 

outreach to build climate change response capability in the water sector.

The Plan will be a foundation for Federal agency 

efforts to manage water resources as the climate 

changes. In a related effort, the Department of 

Interior (DOI) delivered a report to Congress on 

how to strengthen data and information systems to 

better understand climate impacts on water.

29 DOI 

also produced a report on the risks and impacts to 

water supplies and management in the eight major 

river basins in the western United States.30

In addition, the Federal Government has made 

important progress toward improving water-use 

efficiency to reduce climate change impacts. For 

example, DOI’s WaterSMART program continues 

to provide support to help states deal with rapid 

population growth, climate change, aging 

infrastructure, and land use changes. As part of that 

effort, DOI awarded $24 million in funding for new 

water conservation and energy efficiency projects

in Western states, saving enough water annually to 

serve a population of 400,000. Many of the 

WaterSMART projects involve relatively 

inexpensive improvements and conventional 

technology. An irrigation company in Washington 

State, for instance, will simply replace open ditches 

with pipes. By preventing seepage loss and 

reducing pumped water demands, the project will 

save approximately 2.5 billion gallons of water and 

4.3 million kWh of electricity per year. EPA’s

WaterSense program also provides tools to 

 

29 Federal Interagency Panel on Climate Change and Water Data and Information. (2011). Report to Congress: Strengthening the Scientific 

Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States. 

www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=260567

30 U.S. Department of Interior. (2011). Reclamation SECURE Water Act Section 9503(c) – Reclamation Climate Change and Water, Report to 

Congress. www.usbr.gov/climate/SECURE/docs/SECUREWaterReport.pdf
19

decrease indoor and outdoor residential water use through more efficient products and practices. In 2010, 

WaterSense helped consumers save more than 79 billion gallons of water, $1.3 billion in water and sewer 

bills, and 10.8 billion kWh of electricity. 

In the agricultural sector, the USDA is working with farmers in the Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program (EQIP) to improve water-use efficiency through measures that allow farmers to grow more crops 

with less water. In 2010, 28 projects totaling more than $60 million supported water conservation efforts 

in nine states. In Colorado, for example, technology funded under EQIP helps farmers monitor water-use 

data in real-time. This information helps them decide how much water to use on their crops, when to 

apply irrigation water, and what types of irrigation equipment to use.

Federal agencies are also working with communities to address challenges associated with managing 

water in a changing climate. NOAA’s Lake Champlain Sea Grant program has educated local businesses 

and community leaders, residents, and students about how climate change can affect their communities. 

Climate models project an increase in heavy rainfall events in the Lake Champlain basin within the next 

century, leading to an increase in surface runoff, stream channel instability, flooding, pollutant loading, 

and altered aquatic ecosystems. Sea Grant has partnered with churches, small businesses, and medical 

parks to implement stormwater management best practices at three demonstration projects in Vermont. 

Enhancing Resilience and Adaptation of the Nation’s Coasts, Oceans, and Great Lakes to Climate 

Change and Ocean Acidification

Climate-related impacts pose serious threats to coastal communities and coastal, ocean and Great Lakes 

ecosystems. Coastal communities are projected to face significant risks of inundation from the combined 

impacts of sea level rise and storm surge from increased intensity of extreme events. The distribution and 

productivity of fish, invertebrate, and plant species are shifting in response to warming ocean waters.31

Climate change is expected to lower the water levels of the Great Lakes, thereby altering habitat, water 

cycles and supply, and related economic activities. Ocean acidification is expected to have significant and 

largely negative impacts on marine biological diversity.32

In July 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13547, which established the Nation’s first-ever 

National Policy for Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes, as well as an interagency 

National Ocean Council (NOC) to advance the Policy. The NOC is co-chaired by CEQ and OSTP, and 

includes representatives from 26 Federal agencies. The NOC is currently developing a Strategic Action 

Plan for Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification. The draft Plan proposes 

a coordinated approach to conducting research, observations, modeling, vulnerability assessments, and to 

providing information and guidance to support adaptation efforts. These advances will help communities 

and ecosystem stewards manage risks related to climate change and ocean acidification.

The Federal Government is working with partners to make progress toward improving the resilience of 

coastal communities and ecosystems to climate change risks. For instance, NOAA provides funds and 

 

31 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

32 National Research Council. (2010). Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean. 

www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12904
20

Restoring Tidal Processes to Nisqually Estuary in Washington State

(Credit: Mark Gamba)

After a century of blocking tidal flow, the Brown Farm Dike 

was removed to inundate 762 acres of Nisqually National 

Wildlife Refuge in Washington State in October 2009. Along 

with 140 acres of tidal wetlands restored by the Nisqually 

Indian Tribe, this represents the largest tidal marsh restoration 

project in the Pacific Northwest to assist in recovery of Puget 

Sound salmon and wildlife populations. During the past 

decade, the refuge and partners have restored more than 22 

miles of tidal slough systems and re-connected historic 

floodplains to the Puget Sound, enabling an increase of up to 

50 percent in salt marsh habitat in this part of the Sound.

Partners have initiated restoration of more than 70 acres of riparian surge plain forest, an extremely depleted type of 

tidal forest important for juvenile salmon and songbirds. Restoration of the estuary is an adaptation approach that 

helps promote system resilience to climate change effects such as increased winter storms, loss of forest cover due to 

increases in insect infestations and fire, and sea level rise resulting in loss of shoreline.

technical assistance to support coastal states and communities to improve their resilience to climate 

change and coastal hazards. NOAA also supports Maryland’s Coast-Smart Communities Initiative, which 

provides local decision makers with information and resources to plan for and adapt to sea level rise and 

coastal hazards. As a result of this effort, a number of Maryland communities have recently amended their 

building codes to require elevation buffers (i.e. freeboard) ranging from 1.5 to 2 feet for new and redevelopment projects to account for future sea level rise and more frequent flooding and inundation.

In coastal ecosystems across the country, Federal agencies are supporting adaptation efforts. EPA's 

Climate Ready Estuaries program (CRE), for instance, has supported more than 30 coastal adaptation 

projects in collaboration with 19 National Estuary Programs from Charlotte Harbor, Florida to Puget 

Sound, Washington.33 These projects have used the best-available science for the development of climate 

change vulnerability assessments and have developed ecosystem-based adaptation strategies. As another 

example, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is mapping the distribution of key species in the low-lying 

islands and atolls of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Pacific, identifying those 

most vulnerable to sea level rise.

Safeguarding our Nation’s Fish, Wildlife and Plants

Ecosystems are already significantly impacted by climate change. These impacts include large-scale shifts 

in species ranges and more fires, insect pests, disease pathogens, invasive species, and habitat loss.34

Species respond differently to changes in climate, leading to alterations in community composition and 

mismatches in life history events (e.g. migration and blooming).35 Climate change is likely to exacerbate 

existing stresses (e.g. habitat fragmentation and pollution) and negatively impact communities that rely on 

 

33 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Climate Ready Estuaries. www.epa.gov/cre

34 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports

35 USGCRP. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports
21

Sea Level Rise and Conservation Strategies

for the Piping Plover

(Credit: G. Nieminen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Current and near-term decisions regarding coastal 

stabilization will strongly influence the effects of 

sea level rise on the Atlantic Coast Piping Plover, 

a threatened beach-nesting bird. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. 

Geological Survey, and National Park Service are 

collaborating with Virginia Tech University, state 

wildlife agencies, and non-governmental 

organizations to assess the effects of accelerating 

sea level rise on piping plover habitat. The effort 

uses cutting-edge models to develop piping 

plover habitat conservation recommendations that 

can be implemented by land managers and inform 

regulatory authorities. Collaborators anticipate 

that the model results may be readily translated to 

inform habitat management for other beachdwelling species around the country.

natural resources for their livelihood and economic prosperity. Some of these impacts will be irreversible, 

such as species extinctions and loss of coastal land as sea levels rise. 

With state and tribal partners, the Federal Government has made significant progress toward developing a 

National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy.

36 Congress called for this Strategy in 

2010, and it was endorsed by the Task Force in its 2010 Progress Report. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (USFWS), NOAA, CEQ, and state wildlife agencies are co-leading the development of the 

Strategy using the best-available science and applying ecosystem-based approaches, in line with Task 

Force guiding principles. A draft Strategy is scheduled for public release in late 2011 and a final draft will 

be published by summer 2012. 

While this Strategy takes shape, the Federal 

Government is taking actions to manage climaterelated risks to natural resources. For instance, a 

collaborative group of Federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations developed guidance 

for natural resource managers and other decision 

makers on climate change vulnerability 

assessments.37 In addition, the USGS initiated a 

study to examine climate change influences on the 

survival of native trout and salmon across 11 

Western states. The results of this study will 

support managers and stakeholders in developing

appropriate adaptation strategies. 

In the Sierra Nevada, California, the National Park 

Service (NPS) is leading a collaborative effort with 

the U.S. Forest Service and the USGS to analyze 

the vulnerability of ecosystems to changes in fire 

associated with climate change. Also, the Bureau 

of Land Management (BLM) is currently 

conducting ten Rapid Ecoregional Assessments 

(REAs) across the Western U.S and Alaska to 

promote cross-boundary collaboration and 

informed decision-making through the rapid 

synthesis of scientific data, identification of 

resource locations, and description of ecological 

status on a broad scale. These efforts facilitate 

collaborative development and prioritization of 

regional conservation, restoration, and climate 

adaptation strategies and actions. 

 

36 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy. www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov

37 Glick, P., Stein, B.A., and Edelson, N.A. ed. (2011). Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability 

Assessment. National Wildlife Federation, Washington D.C.
22

Woman gathering low-quality water 

from an open well in Matameye, Niger 

(Credit: John Furlow, USAID)

Enhancing Efforts to Lead and Support International 

Adaptation

In addition to domestic impacts, climate change exacerbates threats to communities, human development, 

and regional stability internationally. The impacts of climate change and extreme weather abroad can 

have serious economic and security implications for the United States. Conversely, actions that help 

countries reduce climate risks benefit broader U.S. development and foreign policy objectives. 

The Federal Government has made progress toward the Task Force’s policy goal of enhancing efforts to 

lead and support international adaptation. This progress is evident from (1) the development of a 

government-wide strategy to support multilateral and bilateral adaptation activities and to integrate 

adaptation into relevant U.S. foreign assistance programs; (2) delivery of targeted adaptation finance to 

support activities that reduce the risks of climate change and extreme weather through multilateral and 

bilateral channels; (3) design and implementation of complementary development, diplomacy and defense 

policies and actions that form an integrated approach to climate adaptation; and (4) outcomes from 

engagement in international climate negotiations and the global Adaptation Partnership.

In September 2010, President Obama issued the Presidential Policy 

Directive on Global Development (PPD). The PPD calls for the 

elevation of development as a core pillar of American foreign policy

and addressing global climate change as a key development 

initiative. Adaptation to climate change is a central component and 

one of three important pillars of the PPD’s Global Climate Change 

Initiative. 

As part of the Global Climate Change Initiative, the Federal 

Government seeks to empower vulnerable developing countries and 

communities to strengthen their climate resilience, and therefore,

their prospects for development and economic growth. Toward this 

goal, the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International 

Development (USAID), and the Department of the Treasury have 

dedicated resources to programs that support and build the capacity 

of partner countries and communities as they craft and implement 

climate-resilient development strategies. Other Federal agencies, 

such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 

are also ensuring that their programs take climate change into consideration as appropriate. 

Highlights

 The Federal Government is working to identify and address the impacts of climate change that 

exacerbate conflict and social, economic, and political instability abroad.

 Select Federal agencies have dedicated resources to support and build the capacity of partner 

countries and communities as they craft and implement climate-resilient development strategies.
23

Examples of Progress to 

Reduce International Climate Risks

Pastoruri Glacier, Peru (Credit: John Furlow, USAID)

• The United States is helping countries prepare for 

potentially severe climate change impacts to water 

security. For example, glacier retreat could have a 

devastating impact on water supply in Andean 

nations, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, 

Pakistan, and Central Asia. The United States is 

building capacity for water resource management 

and supporting research on hydrological cycles, 

glacier dynamics, and adaption for downstream 

communities.

• The United States is building climate resilience in 

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that are most 

vulnerable to extreme weather and climate impacts. 

Support to the multilateral Pilot Program for 

Climate Resilience has leveraged $285 million in 

contributions from other developed country 

governments to help vulnerable developing 

countries, including several LDCs, pilot and 

demonstrate approaches for incorporating climate 

risk and resilience into development policies and 

planning. 

• NASA and USAID’s SERVIR program combines 

satellite and ground-based observations with 

models, providing environmental information that 

supports adaptation in developing countries in 

Central America and the Caribbean, East Africa, 

and the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region of South 

Asia.

• The United States is negotiating an updated Great 

Lakes Water Quality Agreement with Canada that 

will address climate change impacts.

The Federal Government is also working to reduce the potential impact of climate change on fragile or 

vulnerable countries to enhance stability and security. The National Security Staff convened technical, 

international development, intelligence, and defense 

agencies to coordinate actions to address 

international climate change impacts and strengthen

their shared understanding of climate change risks 

to development, diplomacy, and defense. The 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral 

Mullen, released an updated National Military 

Strategy in 2010. The Strategy notes climate change 

in its description of the future security environment, 

and discusses conflict prevention in detail, 

emphasizing the savings associated with preventive 

action. With this strategic guidance, combatant 

commanders are able to consider climate risks in 

their theater campaign plans and undertake 

environmental cooperation with foreign militaries. 

In 2010, the United States joined the rest of the 

world in taking an important step in meeting the 

climate and clean energy challenge at the United 

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 

Conference. All major economies agreed to take 

actions to reduce their emissions in a transparent 

way, which is key to limiting the magnitude of 

future climate change. Significant progress on how 

to address adaptation, finance, and technology 

transfer will help reduce climate change risks.

The United States is also engaging with global 

development partners and the private sector to 

promote knowledge sharing and coordinate 

adaptation investments. In 2010, the United States

joined Costa Rica and Spain in chairing the global 

Adaptation Partnership. More than 20 developing 

and developed countries have participated in the 

Partnership to identify common adaptation priorities 

and improve coordination to scale up actions and 

financing. The State Department, USAID, NOAA, 

and EPA are collaborating to provide U.S. 

leadership to the Partnership by delivering 

workshops that address key adaptation challenges 

and by supporting communities of adaptation 

practitioners. 
24

Going forward, the U.S. Government will continue to help developing country partners assess and 

manage climate change risks. The U.S. Government will integrate climate adaptation across its

development assistance portfolio, making investments more cost-effective and robust. The Federal 

Government is also committed to bringing its full capacities—including technical assistance, science, and 

technology—to support climate-resilient development programming around the world. 
25

Conclusion

Preparing for climate change will enhance the safety, well-being, and livelihoods of American citizens 

and minimize disruption of the services on which they depend. With leadership and coordination from the 

Task Force, Federal agencies are making important progress on identifying and managing risks associated 

with climate change. In particular, significant interagency efforts are underway to make information on 

climate impacts more accessible and useful to communities and decision makers across the country, 

effectively manage natural resources and critical U.S. infrastructure, and enhance efforts to promote 

adaptation internationally.

Over the next several years, the Task Force’s efforts to reduce the Nation’s vulnerability to climate 

change will focus on enhancing regional coordination, strengthening and leveraging non-Federal 

partnerships, and implementing Federal agency adaptation planning. The Task Force will provide an 

update on Federal adaptation progress in March 2014, following the release of the 2013 National Climate 

Assessment Synthesis Report.

Partnerships and actions across all scales will be necessary to more fully realize the Task Force’s vision 

of a resilient, healthy, and prosperous Nation in a changing climate. Agencies across the Federal 

Government are developing a diversity of non-Federal partnerships to maximize opportunities for 

coordination and collaboration, and to exchange information and lessons learned with cities, states, tribes, 

and other nations that are incorporating adaptation into their own decision processes. The Task Force will 

work to align Federal efforts with those of communities, states, tribes, and regions to reduce the risks of 

extreme events and climate impacts through adaptation. These collective efforts will help advance the 

Nation toward a more sustainable future. 
A

APPENDIX A. INTERAGENCY CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION TASK FORCE 

MEMBERSHIP

Co-chair Agencies

Council on Environmental Quality

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Member Departments and Agencies

Agency for International Development

Army Corps of Engineers

Council of Economic Advisors

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of Defense

Department of Education

Department of Energy

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Department of the Interior

Department of State

Department of Transportation

Department of the Treasury

Environmental Protection Agency

Millennium Challenge Corporation 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Intelligence Council

National Economic Council

National Security Staff

Office of Management and Budget
B

APPENDIX B. 2011 PROGRESS REPORT STRUCTURE

The 2011 report discusses progress towards the Task Force’s 2010 policy goals in a way that recognizes 

their synergies and interconnectedness. As the table outlines below, progress toward the 2010 crosscutting goals related to community resilience, human health, and insurance is described in the Building 

Resilience to Climate Change in Communities section of the 2011 report, given the local relevance and 

benefits of these efforts. Progress toward the complementary goals of integrating science into decisionmaking and coordinating capabilities of the Federal Government are discussed together in the 2011 report 

section on Improving Accessibility and Coordination of Science. Finally, progress on freshwater, oceans, 

fish, wildlife, and plants adaptation efforts are discussed in the 2011 report section on Strategies to 

Safeguard Natural Resources, as these efforts represent components of national strategic action planning 

related to natural resources. 

2011 Progress Report Structure (in Bold)

2010 Policy Goals and Cross-Cutting Issues (in Italics)

Integrating Adaptation into Federal Government Planning and Activities 

- Encourage and Mainstream Adaptation Planning across the Federal Government 

Building Resilience to Climate Change in Communities

- Cross‐cutting issue: Build resilience to climate change in communities

- Cross‐cutting issue: Protect human health by addressing climate change in public health activities

- Cross‐cutting issue: Facilitate incorporation of climate change risks into insurance mechanisms 

Improving Accessibility and Coordination of Science for Decision Making 

- Improve Integration of Science into Decision Making 

- Coordinate Capabilities of the Federal Government to Support Adaptation 

Developing Strategies to Safeguard Natural Resources in a Changing Climate 

- Cross‐cutting issue: Improve water resource management in a changing climate

- Cross‐cutting issue: Develop a strategic action plan focused on strengthening the resilience of coastal, 

ocean, and Great Lakes communities and ecosystems to climate change

- Cross‐cutting issue: Develop a strategy for reducing the impacts of climate change on the Nation’s fish, 

wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats

Enhancing Efforts to Lead and Support International Adaptation 

- Enhance Efforts to Lead and Support International Adaptation
C

APPENDIX C. INTERAGENCY CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION TASK FORCE 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Guiding Principles for Adaptation

Adopt Integrated Approaches: Adaptation should be incorporated into core policies, planning, practices, and 

programs whenever possible.

Prioritize the Most Vulnerable: Adaptation plans should prioritize helping people, places and infrastructure 

that are most vulnerable to climate impacts and be designed and implemented with meaningful involvement 

from all parts of society.

Use Best-Available Science: Adaptation should be grounded in the best‐available scientific understanding of 

climate change risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities.

Build Strong Partnerships: Adaptation requires coordination across multiple sectors and scales and should 

build on the existing efforts and knowledge of a wide range of public and private stakeholders.

Apply Risk-Management Methods and Tools: Adaptation planning should incorporate risk management 

methods and tools to help identify, assess, and prioritize options to reduce vulnerability to potential 

environmental, social, and economic implications of climate change.

Apply Ecosystem-based Approaches: Adaptation should, where relevant, take into account strategies to 

increase ecosystem resilience and protect critical ecosystem services on which humans depend to reduce 

vulnerability of human and natural systems to climate change.

Maximize Mutual Benefits: Adaptation should, where possible, use strategies that complement or directly 

support other related climate or environmental initiatives, such as efforts to improve disaster preparedness, 

promote sustainable resource management, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions including the development of 

cost‐effective technologies.

Continuously Evaluate Performance: Adaptation plans should include measureable goals and performance 

metrics to continuously assess whether adaptive actions are achieving desired outcomes.