EPA Updates Policy Statement on Climate Change Adaptation

EPA recently released a new policy statement on climate change adaptation, pledging to work with its state, tribal and local community partners to build adaptive capacity for responding to climate change and extreme weather events. The policy updates EPA’s original policy from 2011.

The policy includes seven directives from the EPA administrator for immediate implementation. According to the statement, these directives are “actions consistent” with President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, Executive Order 13653, the agency’s 17 climate change adaptation implementation plans and the President’s climate.data.gov initiative. The seven directives are:

1. Modernize EPA’s financial assistance program to encourage climate-resilient investments;
2. Provide information, tools, training and technical support for climate change preparedness and resilience;
3. Implement priority actions identified in EPA’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Implementation Plans;
4. Focus on the most vulnerable people and places;
5. Measure and evaluate performance of climate adaptation actions;
6. Continue EPA planning for climate change-related risk; and
7. Coordinate with other federal agencies.