The Obama administration has laid the groundwork for resilience against the effects of climate change that are already being felt in the United States, providing its successor with a foundation on which to develop a robust future strategy, according to a report released Monday by the White House’s Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. “[T]he Resilience Council identified a set of key opportunities using the expertise and experience within Federal agencies and the perspectives of numerous stakeholders. These opportunities will guide sustained and coordinated action among Federal agencies and empower stakeholders to work with them on a shared resilience agenda,” the report says.
According to a White House fact sheet: “the Administration has taken action to integrate climate-risk considerations into Federal operations, improve access to climate data, information, and tools, and invest in building more climate-resilient communities.”
The council identified 17 opportunities for growth in three main areas. First, the next administration must advance and apply science-based information, technology, and tools to address climate risk, the report says. This can be achieved by improving the awareness of climate information, improving understanding of the economics of climate change, and supporting cross-sector research and development collaboration.
The next administration must also integrate climate resilience into federal agency missions, operations, and culture by expanding incentives and requirements to increase the resilience of infrastructure and buildings, addressing national security risks from climate change, and applying climate-resilient approaches to international development.
Finally, supporting community efforts to enhance climate resilience should be a priority. The next administration should integrate resilience into health and social-service delivery, improve navigability of federal resources, and encourage comprehensive preparedness, according to the council.