Adaptation Policy 


Statement
 

October 201
 
Climate Change Adaptation 

Policy Statement 

I. Background: 

It is the policy of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that all Agency business and 

operations be conducted in a manner that allows it to achieve its mission to Recruit, Retain and 

Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People, while minimizing environmental 

impacts in accordance with all Federal statutes, regulations, policies and Executive Orders. We 

adopt this policy to increase our nations prosperity, promote energy security, protect the interests 

of taxpayers, and safeguard the health of the environment. 

While the scope, severity, and pace of future climate change impacts are difficult to predict, 

potential climatic changes could have a significant effect on OPM’s operations and ability to 

achieve its mission. OPM will work to build its resilience and adaptive capacity to address 

climate risks and vulnerabilities. 

II. Planning: 

Adaptation planning complements mitigation efforts already being taken throughout the Federal 

Government to reduce the impact of climate change. To further demonstrate our commitment, 

through adaptation planning, OPM will achieve the following goals and objectives: 

Goals: 

1. Review the agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan annually and update as appropriate. 

2. Annually update and publish a Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) 

containing our agency priorities, performance targets and planned investments and 

projects for the coming year. 

3. Continue to support all Federal agencies by developing policies and programs that enable 

telework, flexible work environments, training opportunities, and other means to enhance 

their abilities to achieve their agency missions while improving government-wide 

environmental performance. 

Objectives: 

1. As better scientific data and tools become available, continue to identify how climate 

change is likely to impact our ability to achieve our mission-essential functions, operate 

our facilities, and meet our policy and program objectives. 

2. Consider potential climate change impacts when engaging in long-term planning, and 

setting priorities for making decisions affecting OPM resources, programs, policies, and 

operations. 

3. Develop, prioritize, implement, and evaluate actions to moderate climate change risks 

and exploit any new opportunities that climate change may bring. 

4. Integrate climate change adaptation strategies into our programs and operations to remain 

effective and provide more efficient use of taxpayer resources. 
5. 	 Establish strong partnerships with local, state, and regional entities to develop policies 

that enhance adaptability, minimize risk to Federal workers and property, and ensure 

adequate response to situations caused by the pronounced effects ofclimate change. 

To achieve these goals and objectives, OPM will: 

1. 	 Use the best available science to mitigate climate change risks, impacts, and 


vulnerabilities to our facilities and programs. 


2. 	 Identify, tluough OPM's annual budget process, areas where budget adjustments are 

necessary to carry out the actions identified under this Policy. 

3. 	 Remove or mitigate identified barriers that discourage investments or other actions to 

increase the Nation's resilience to climate change while ensuring continued protection of 

public health and the environment. 

4. 	 Coordinate actions through the OPM Climate Change Adaptation Working Group 

established in Section III below. 

5. 	 Continue building on the Climate Adaptation Plan implementation efforts pursuant to 

E.O.l3514- Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Pelformance; 

Climate Change Implementation Instructions issued by the White House Council on 

Environmental Quality. 

6. 	 Incorporate new considerations and elements in Climate Adaptation plan as required by 

E.O. 13653- Preparing the United States for the Impacts ofClimate Change, and other 

applicable authorities. 

Ill Agency Coordination and Implementation: 

1. 	 The Senior Sustainability Officer is responsible for ensuring implementation of all 

aspects ofthis Policy. This Policy does not alter or affect any existing duty or authority 

ofindividual offices. 

2. 	 Tluough this Policy, the OPM Climate Change Adaptation Work Group will continue to 

coordinate OPM-wide climate change adaptation planning and implementation. The 

Work Group will be chaired by the Senior Sustainability Officer and will include 

representation from each Office, as appropriate. 

3. 	 This Policy is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it is amended, 

superseded, or revoked. 

~~Director ~