**GAO-10-175T**                      Published: Oct 22, 2009. Publicly Released: Oct 22, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

This testimony discusses our report to this committee on climate change adaptation and the role strategic federal planning could play in government decision making. Changes in the climate attributable to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases may have significant impacts in the United States and internationally. For example, climate change could threaten coastal areas with rising sea levels. In recent years, climate change adaptation--adjustments to natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate change--has begun to receive more attention because the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere are expected to continue altering the climate system into the future, regardless of efforts to control emissions. According to a recent report by the National Research Council (NRC), however, individuals and institutions whose futures will be affected by climate change are unprepared both conceptually and practically for meeting the challenges and opportunities it presents. In this context, adapting to climate change requires making policy and management decisions that cut across traditional economic sectors, jurisdictional boundaries, and levels of government. This testimony is based on our October 2009 report, which is being publicly released today, and addresses three issues: (1) what actions federal, state, local, and international authorities are taking to adapt to a changing climate; (2) the challenges that federal, state, and local officials face in their efforts to adapt; and (3) the actions that Congress and federal agencies could take to help address these challenges. We also provide information about our prior work on similarly complex, interdisciplinary issues.

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

ClimateClimate changeEducationEnvironment evaluationEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental cleanupsEnvironmental educationEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental protectionFederal agenciesGreenhouse gasesLocal governmentsMonitoringProgram evaluationReporting requirementsState governmentsStrategic planningTraining utilizationPolicies and procedures