1

Office of International and Tribal Affairs 

Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan

5/23/2013

DRAFT

This document has been prepared by the Office of International and Tribal Affairs, within the 

Environmental Protection Agency, as part of an Agency-wide effort to address climate change.
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

2

Disclaimer

To the extent this document mentions or discusses statutory or regulatory authority, it does so for 

informational purposes only. This document does not substitute for those statutes or regulations, and 

readers should consult the statutes or regulations to learn what they require. Neither this document, 

nor any part of it, is itself a rule or a regulation. Thus, it cannot change or impose legally binding 

requirements on EPA, States, the public, or the regulated community. Further, any expressed intention, 

suggestion or recommendation does not impose any legally binding requirements on EPA, States, tribes, 

the public, or the regulated community. Agency decision makers remain free to exercise their discretion 

in choosing to implement the actions described in this Plan. Such implementation is contingent upon 

availability of resources and is subject to change.
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

3

Preface

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to identifying and responding to the 

challenges that a changing climate poses to human health and the environment.

Scientific evidence demonstrates that the climate is changing at an increasingly rapid rate, outside the 

range to which society has adapted in the past. These changes can pose significant challenges to the 

EPA’s ability to fulfill its mission. The EPA must adapt to climate change if it is to continue fulfilling its 

statutory, regulatory and programmatic requirements. The Agency is therefore anticipating and planning 

for future changes in climate to ensure it continues to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and 

the environment even as the climate changes. 

In February 2013, the EPA released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan to the public for review and 

comment. The plan relies on peer-reviewed scientific information and expert judgment to identify 

vulnerabilities to EPA’s mission and goals from climate change. The plan also presents 10 priority actions 

that EPA will take to ensure that its programs, policies, rules, and operations will remain effective under 

future climatic conditions. The priority placed on mainstreaming climate adaptation within EPA 

complements efforts to encourage and mainstream adaptation planning across the entire federal 

government.

Following completion of the draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan, each EPA National Environmental 

Program Office, all 10 Regional Offices, and several National Support Offices developed a Climate 

Adaptation Implementation Plan to provide more detail on how it will carry out the work called for in 

the agency-wide plan. Each Implementation Plan articulates how the office will integrate climate 

adaptation into its planning and work in a manner consistent and compatible with its goals and 

objectives.

Taken together, the Implementation Plans demonstrate how the EPA will attain the 10 agency-wide 

priorities presented in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. A central element of all of EPA’s plans is to 

build and strengthen its adaptive capacity and work with its partners to build capacity in states, tribes, 

and local communities. EPA will empower its staff and partners by increasing their awareness of ways 

that climate change may affect their ability to implement effective programs, and by providing them 

with the necessary data, information, and tools to integrate climate adaptation into their work.

Each Program and Regional Office’s Implementation Plan contains an initial assessment of the 

implications of climate change for the organization’s goals and objectives. These “program vulnerability 

assessments” are living documents that will be updated as needed to account for new knowledge, data, 

and scientific evidence about the impacts of climate change on EPA’s mission. The plan then identifies 

specific priority actions that the office will take to begin addressing its vulnerabilities and mainstreaming 

climate change adaptation into its activities. Criteria for the selection of priorities are discussed. An 

emphasis is placed on protecting the most vulnerable people and places, on supporting the 

development of adaptive capacity in the tribes, and on identifying clear steps for ongoing collaboration 

with tribal governments.

Because EPA’s Programs and Regions and partners will be learning by experience as they mainstream 

climate adaptation planning into their activities, it will be essential to evaluate their efforts in order to 

understand how well different approaches work and how they can be improved. Each Implementation 
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

4

Plan therefore includes a discussion of how the organization will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of 

its adaptation efforts and make adjustments where necessary.

The set of Implementation Plans are a sign of EPA’s leadership and commitment to help build the 

nation’s adaptive capacity that is so vital to the goal of protecting human health and the environment. 

Working with its partners, the Agency will help promote a healthy and prosperous nation that is resilient 

to a changing climate.

Bob Perciasepe

Deputy Administrator

September 2013
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

5

I. Background

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its first Policy Statement on Climate-Change 

Adaptation in June 2011, which recognized that climate change can pose significant challenges to EPA’s 

ability to fulfill its mission. Additionally, it calls for the Agency to anticipate and plan for future changes 

in climate and incorporate these considerations into its activities.1

An Agency-wide Task Force worked to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan, which was released to 

the public in June 2012. As a follow up, EPA directed each regional and program office to develop an 

implementation plan providing more detail on how it will carry out the work called for in the Agencywide plan, recognizing that each Office is best positioned to determine how to integrate climate 

adaptation into its own activities.

Overview of OITA’s Role

The role of the Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) is to advance EPA’s international 

environmental priorities and lead the Agency’s Tribal Environmental Program. OITA employs a crosscutting, multi-disciplinary approach. 

Internationally, OITA works at the national, regional and multilateral levels to protect human health and 

the environment and forge policy and programmatic engagements. OITA works with other federal 

agencies to develop negotiating positions and represent the foreign policy interests of the United States. 

OITA leads and coordinates the Agency-wide effort to strengthen public health and environmental 

protection in Indian country, with a special emphasis on helping tribes administer their own 

environmental programs.

OITA currently addresses climate change adaptation in several program areas and will continue to take 

the effects of climate change into consideration when developing policies and implementing programs. 

OITA anticipates requests for assistance to build climate adaptive capacity to increase over time.

Vulnerable Populations

Certain parts of the population, such as children, the elderly, minorities the poor, persons with 

underlying medical conditions and disabilities, those with limited access to information, and tribal and 

indigenous populations, can be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Also, certain 

geographic locations and communities are particularly vulnerable, such as those located in low-lying 

coastal areas. One of the principles guiding EPA’s efforts to integrate climate adaptation into its 

programs, policies and rules calls for its adaptation plans to prioritize helping people, places and 

infrastructure that are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and to be designed and implemented with 

meaningful involvement from all parts of society. 

This Implementation Plan identifies key programmatic vulnerabilities and the priority actions that will be 

taken to address those vulnerabilities over time. As the work called for in this Plan is conducted, special 

consideration will be given to communities and demographic groups most vulnerable to the impacts of 

climate change. The Agency will strive to work in partnership with these communities to increase their 

adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change impacts. These efforts will be informed by 
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

6

experiences with previous extreme weather events (e.g., Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy) and 

the subsequent recovery efforts.

II. Vulnerability Assessment for OITA

In general, OITA views its programmatic and mission related vulnerabilities as largely arising from the 

potential climate vulnerabilities of partner organizations.

A. International – Addresses country, regional and multilateral environmental engagements,

typically driven by bilateral cooperation and formal international processes and partnerships.

Approach

The international office engages international and regional organizations and key countries in 

order to further international environmental priorities. In the context of international 

environmental policy development, OITA will strive to use the best available data and analyses, 

and vetted approaches as important foundational elements. These foundational elements can 

be used by stakeholders at the local, national and international levels to inform policy 

development. The development of virtual networks allows this information and policy guidance 

to be shared among relevant stakeholders, and facilitates recognition and sharing of best 

practices. 

Examples of Potential Vulnerabilities

• Lack of basic data and information needed to make informed decisions about climate 

adaptation, especially for coastal settings and urban settings that anticipate dramatic increases 

in population in the coming decades. 

• While the United States has a seeming array of sophisticated analytical tools for assessing 

climate vulnerability, this capacity varies significantly across the globe. 

• The United States has identified the Arctic as a region where the effects of climate change have 

been and will continue to be felt most acutely, with a high degree of certainty.2

• Lack of effective networking and information sharing mechanisms in many partnering 

developing countries, to assess vulnerabilities, development effective action plans, and 

implement these plans, especially in urban settings.

• Remote, high Arctic areas of developed countries, including Alaska and northern Canada, also 

have significant weaknesses in communications infrastructure (e.g., limited or no internet 

connectivity) and transportation infrastructure that complicate efforts to share information and 

facilitate climate adaptation.

• Based on specific climactic circumstances in countries and regions, specific vulnerabilities such 

as heat stress, sea level rise, droughts and floods are expected to have significant negative 

impacts, especially in partner developing countries in Africa and Asia.

3

B. AIEO – AIEO leads EPA’s efforts to protect human health and the environment of federally 

recognized tribes by supporting implementation of federal environmental laws consistent with 

the federal trust responsibility based upon a government-to-government relationship, and EPA’s 

1984 Indian Policy.
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

7

EPA values its unique government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes in planning and 

decision making. This trust responsibility has been established over time and is further 

expressed in the 1984 EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian 

Reservations and the 2011 Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes. These 

policies recognize and support the sovereign decision-making authority of tribal governments.

Supporting the development of adaptive capacity among tribes is a priority for the EPA. Tribes 

are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the integral nature of the 

environment within their traditional lifeways and culture. There is a strong need to develop 

adaptation strategies that promote sustainability and reduce the impact of climate change on 

Indian tribes.

EPA engaged tribes through a formal consultation process in the development of the Agency’s 

Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Tribes identified some of the most pressing issues as erosion, 

temperature change, drought and various changes in access to and quality of water. Tribes 

recommended a number of tools and strategies to address these issues, including improving 

access to data and information; supporting baseline research to better track the effects of 

climate change; developing community-level education and awareness materials; and providing 

financial and technical support. At the same time, tribes challenged EPA to coordinate climate 

change activities among federal agencies so that resources are better leveraged and 

administrative burdens are reduced. 

This Implementation Plan identifies specific steps that will be taken to partner with tribal 

governments on an ongoing basis to increase their adaptive capacity and address their 

adaptation-related priorities. These collaborative efforts will benefit from the expertise provide 

by our tribal partners and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) they possess. TEK is a 

valuable body of knowledge in assessing the current and future impacts of climate change and 

has been used by tribes for millennia as a valuable tool to adapt to changing surroundings. 

Consistent with the principles in the 1984 Indian Policy, TEK is viewed as a complementary 

resource that can inform planning and decision-making.

Approach

Developing adaptive capacity among tribes is a priority of the Agency’s climate change 

adaptation work. Tribes are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, due to the 

integral nature of the environment within their traditional lifeways and culture. Due to shrinking 

federal budgets, there is increased need to develop adaptation strategies that promote 

sustainability and reduce the impact of climate change on tribes.

Through a tribal consultation process and the development of an EPA Climate Change 

Adaptation Plan4

, tribes identified some of the most pressing issues affecting them, including

erosion, temperature change, drought and various changes in access to and quality of water.

Tribes also recommended a number of tools and strategies for EPA Program and Regional 

Offices to use in developing climate change implementation plans with them. 

Examples of Potential Vulnerabilities

• A lack of capacity among tribes to adapt to climate change.

• Limited access to data and information, including training and resources to build adaptive 

capacity and monitor progress and effectiveness.
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

8

• A lack of community-level education and awareness materials to improve the understanding of 

climate change among tribal member and leaders.

• Limited financial and technical support to adapt to climate change.

• A lack of administrative capacity to understand and manage all of the information and programs 

coming to tribal governments from a variety of U.S. Government Agencies.

• Additionally, tribes have repeatedly noted the lack of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) 

used in EPA’s decision-making and policymaking. One approach OITA will support is to 

incorporate TEK into its Agency environmental projects and work. TEK is a valuable body of 

knowledge in assessing the current and future impacts of climate change that has been used by 

tribes as a valuable tool to adapt to changing surroundings. As OITA addresses a variety of 

planning and decision-making related to climate change it will incorporate TEK whenever 

possible.

III. Priority Actions Criteria

OITA is already addressing climate change adaptation in several international and tribal program areas 

and will continue to pursue opportunities for integrating the effects of climate change into our existing 

programs, including responding to climate change adaptation-related requests from our tribal partners, 

as resources and skills permit, especially in border regions.

To prioritize climate change adaptation needs, OITA has developed criteria unique to our mission to 

identify potential first steps. These criteria are based on a thorough examination of the potential 

vulnerabilities that face OITA and its mission, in the wake of climate change impacts. The highest priority 

will be given to those actions that meet several of the following criteria:

• Does the action involve existing partners? 

• Does OITA have the necessary resources to meaningfully and effectively help address its partner 

vulnerabilities in some manner? 

• Is this action required in order to enable other actions?

• Can the benefits of this action be measured or documented?

• How extreme is the vulnerability, as informed by relevant EPA, IPCC and USGCRP assessment 

reports?

• Do the climate vulnerabilities affect U.S. border regions?

• Is OITA the most appropriate lead for the intended action within EPA?

When receiving a request for cooperation in the area of climate adaptation, OITA will consider EPA 

experience and USG experience more broadly, and when appropriate, explore facilitating linkages with 

other U.S. agencies and relevant NGOs for implementation support.

IV. Priority Actions

International Priority Actions

• Explore with existing partners, especially along our borders, information needs related to climate 

literacy, climate vulnerability and climate adaptation options.

• Work with Durban Adaptation Charter cities and their international partners as a means of 

responding to urban and local government information needs and the need to share city and 

municipal government experiences, knowledge and best practices. Cities are first responders to 
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

9

climate/weather disasters and are projected to house about 70% of the world’s population by 

2050.

5

• Work with the Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization to address the effects of 

climate change in the Arctic, including threats due to increased economic activity and shipping.

• Work with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries 

and the US Agency for International Development on development of information, planning and 

assessment tools and guidelines for assessing vulnerabilities to climate change and sharing 

experiences and best practices. 

• Work as a planning committee member on the annual Resilient Cities Congress, the largest 

international gathering of urban adaptation experts, policymakers and local officials, for the purpose 

of exchanging experiences and knowledge.

• Play a lead role in the US Government review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

(IPCC) climate assessments, which provide analyses of critical data that are made available to all 

countries. 

• Seek to help institute effective information sharing networks among international organizations and 

governments, especially among urban centers.

Tribal Priority Actions

Provide resources and training that will strengthen the adaptive capacity of AIEO’s tribal partners

• Work with Tribal Program Managers in both Regional and Program Offices of EPA to identify crossAgency opportunities, and provide coordination support to implement these activities.

• Support the work of tribal programs in Regional Offices to provide training and capacity building 

opportunities to tribes.

• Support the Tribal Science Council’s efforts to integrate the use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge 

(TEK) into EPA’s work, including supporting a 2013 workshop to train EPA staff on the value and 

applicability of TEK. TEK has to date been underutilized and undervalued as an important source of 

place-based local information and knowledge critical for deploying successful adaptation measures

• Promote the use of Tribal eco-Ambassador funding to support projects related to climate change 

adaptation. This EPA program conducts research in partnership with tribal colleges and universities 

(TCUs). Professors from TCUs receive funding and technical support from EPA to solve the 

environmental problems most important to their tribal communities, and are then asked to share 

their findings with a variety of EPA and tribal audiences.

• Integrate climate change adaptation into funding mechanisms.

• Under new guidance issued for the Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP) in May 2013, tribes 

may use funding for climate change adaptation purposes. This has the potential to have an 

immediate impact on the adaptability of tribal governments, as every tribe receives funding through 

the IGAP program. AIEO will work through the grants staff at EPA Regional Offices to ensure that 

tribal partners understand how funding can be used for adaptation.

• Support other EPA grant programs for which tribes are eligible in any effort to elevate the ability to 

use funds for projects related to climate change adaptation. 

• Work across EPA to integrate tribal climate change adaptation issues into the Plan EJ 2014, which 

provides a roadmap to help EPA integrate environment justice into the Agency’s program, policies

and activities.
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

10

Improve climate literacy within AIEO and with its tribal partners.

• Establish relationships with a variety of potential tribal partners, including tribal programs in other 

U.S. Government Agencies, climate-focused programs at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and 

other Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) dedicated to the advancement of climate change 

adaptation for tribes.

• Host bi-annual stakeholder meetings on environmental issues, including climate change adaptation. 

These meetings will bring together a variety of tribal partners to both learn what resources are 

provided by EPA related to climate change, and also give tribal partners a chance to share their 

resources and experiences with EPA and other tribal partners.

• Update EPA’s annual mandatory training, Working Effectively with Tribal Governments, to include 

information on the vulnerability of tribes to climate change adaptation as needed.

V. Metrics and Evaluation

The Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) established a Performance Measurement 

Framework to measure and analyze the results achieved from OITA’s engagement with other countries 

and organizations to advance protection of human health and the domestic and global environment.. 

This framework has enabled OITA to describe its contributions to characterizing and addressing 

environmental risks, improving environmental governance, and promoting environmental cooperation. 

As part of this framework OITA identified 26 measures that could be used to measure, track and 

evaluate its progress and effectiveness in conducting its mission and achieving its goals.

OITA will evaluate the performance and effectiveness of its adaptation implementation strategy using 

measures such as the following:

• Number of partner engagements conducted

• EPA-based tools Implemented by assisting organization

• Progress toward achieving identified policy goals

• Partnerships, alliances or networks established or enhanced

These and other measures are presently being used effectively to gauge progress and effectiveness in 

adaptation activities already underway within OITA. Additionally, with climate change adaptation now 

eligible as a use for IGAP funds, AIEO will:

• Monitor how tribes apply for and use funding for climate change adaptation

• Build these experiences into the program where appropriate

• Use these real world examples to improve our technical and financial support for tribes working to 

adapt to climate change
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

11

VI. Table of Examples of Potential Climate Vulnerabilities That May Affect 

OITA Programmatic Activities

Prioritya Climate Change 

Impactsb

EPA Programmatic Impactsc

Climate Change 

Impactd

Likelihood 

of Impacte

OITA Program and 

Focus

Likelihood 

OITA 

Program 

Will be 

Affected 

by Impactf

Examples of Risks 

if Program Were 

Impacted

Priority 1: Combating Climate Change by Limiting Pollutants

Coastal areas, 

especially heavilypopulated 

megadelta regions 

in South, East and 

South-East Asia, 

will be at greatest 

risk due to 

increased flooding 

from the sea and 

from rivers

Coastal flooding in 

low-lying areas is 

very likely to 

become a greater 

risk than at present 

due to sea-level 

rise and more 

intense coastal 

storms, unless 

there is significant 

adaptation 

In new 

industrialized areas 

in Asia air quality 

trends will likely 

add to heat 

stress and smog

Likely

Very likely

Likely

Asia Pacific Rim - The 

Pacific Ports Clean Air 

Collaborative (PPCAC) 

is a voluntary group of 

domestic (U.S. West 

Coast) and 

international 

participants (Asia 

Pacific/Pacific Rim) 

from ports, industry, 

and environmental 

agencies that share 

expertise, technology, 

lessons learned to 

reduce environmental 

and sustainability 

impacts of marine 

goods movement

High Sea level rise, an 

increase in the 

frequency and 

magnitude of 

extreme weather 

events, and rising 

temperatures could 

affect critical 

infrastructure and 

port and vessel 

operation, as well as 

access to goods and 

shipping routes. 

Additional 

pollutant/greenhouse 

gas emissions from 

ports, ocean-going 

vessels, and other 

sources will continue 

to impact air quality 

and human health in 

port cities and in

shipping lanes
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

12

Increase in annual 

mean rainfall in 

East Africa

Increase in runoff 

(and possibly 

floods) in East 

Africa

Mean sea level rise 

will contribute to 

upward trends in 

extreme coastal 

high water levels

as well as coastal 

erosion in the 

future

Likely

High 

Confidence

Very likely

East Africa - OITA is 

working with water 

utility companies in 10 

East African countries, 

to improve planning for 

the delivery of water 

and water services

High Climate projections 

for East Africa 

suggest an annual 

increase in rainfall 

and runoff, and more 

frequent extreme 

precipitation events,

which could impact 

water management

Sea level rise may 

create issues with 

salt water intrusion 

into existing aquifers, 

calling for different 

approaches to water 

resource planning

Annually averaged 

Arctic sea-ice 

extent is projected 

to show a 

reduction of 22% -

33% by the end of 

the century

Over the next 

century there will 

be significant 

melting of Arctic 

glacial ice due to 

warming resulting 

in a substantial

contribution to sea 

level rise

For Arctic human 

communities, it is 

virtually certain 

that there will be 

negative and 

positive impacts on 

infrastructure and 

traditional 

lifestyles 

High 

confidence

Very high 

confidence

High 

confidence

Arctic - OITA and the 

USG play a leading role 

in Arctic Council 

deliberations on toxics 

and climate pollutants

OITA plays a lead role 

as well in the Intl. 

Maritime 

Organization’s (IMO)

development of 

standards and 

voluntary measures on 

polar shipping and 

pollution prevention 

and mitigation. OITA 

also contributes to USG 

engagement in black 

carbon assessment and 

mitigation work 

(AIEO) works with 

federally-recognized 

tribes on enforcement 

of environmental laws 

and standards

High With increased 

access and economic 

activity in the Arctic, 

additional pollutants 

may exacerbate 

climate impacts,

making emissions 

reductions more 

difficult 

Such trends will also 

affect IMO 

discussions on an 

emerging Polar Code, 

as sea level rises, sea 

ice retreats, and

Arctic Ocean transit 

increases

Projected climate 

trends in the Arctic 

will especially affect 

native peoples and 

AIEO’s ability to 

enforce standards 

and laws in a rapidly 

changing setting
DELIBERATIVE DRAFT – FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES ONLY – NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

13

Footnotes for Summary Table of Examples of Potential Climate Change Vulnerabilities

 

a This table summarizes potential vulnerabilities according to the 5 goals or priorities in the EPA Strategic Plan. 

 

b Climate change impacts/vulnerabilities are based upon the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 (see Ref. 3 below). 

 

c Programmatic Impacts are based upon EPA best professional judgment at this time.

 

d Statements on impacts are based upon the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 (see Ref. 3 below). 

 e Expressions of confidence and likelihood cited in this table are adopted from the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 (see Ref. 3 

below) as follows:

Very high confidence – At least 9 out of 10 chance of occurring Virtually Certain – >99% probability

High confidence – About 8 out of 10 chance of occurring Very likely – >90% probability

Medium confidence – About 5 out of 10 chance of occurring Likely – >66% probability

Low confidence – About 2 out of 10 chance of occurring About as likely as not – 33-66% probability

Very low confidence – Less than 1 out of 10 chance of occurring Unlikely – 0-33% probability

 Very unlikely – 0-10% probability

 Exceptionally unlikely – 0-1% probability

f Assessment of possible programmatic impact is based upon OITA’s best professional judgment. High assumes that the program is very likely to be

impacted; Medium assumes that the program has a moderate chance of being affected; Low assumes that there is a slight chance that the program 

will be impacted. This assessment is based on best professional judgment within OITA. 

VII. Conclusion

OITA will, on a five-year basis, review emerging scientific understanding on climate impacts and 

vulnerabilities, OITA programs and Agency practices, as well as its incorporation of traditional ecological 

knowledge, in the interest of maintaining and effective adaptation implementation strategy.

 1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Policy Statement on Climate-Change Adaptation (Washington, DC, June 2, 2011), 

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/impacts-adaptation/adaptation-statement.pdf. 2 U.S. Global Change Research Program, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, 2009. 3 IPCC, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007, Cambridge Univ. Press, UK, 2007. 4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan, 2012, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/EPA-climatechange-adaptation-plan-final-for-public-comment-2-7-13.pdf. 5

World Bank, Cities and Climate Change: An Urgent Agenda, 2010.