A new report from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change has recommended creating a national adaptation program.
The report, Adapting to Climate Change: A Call for Federal Leadership, recommends the federal program include three main components:
- An Adaptation Strategic Planning Initiative to provide overarching program goals, objectives, and priorities
- A National Climate Service to provide stakeholders (including state and local governments and private sector entities) with much-needed information on climate impacts and adaptation options
- An Adaptation Research Program to ensure that adaptation research receives appropriate emphasis as part of the larger federal climate research effort.
“There is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change,” said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. “This report actually offers the federal government concrete recommendations for adaptation preparedness. By putting in place today the appropriate infrastructure, we will be far better equipped to limit future damages and their associated costs.”
While recognizing the critical importance of local, state, and international adaptation efforts, this report focuses on the federal government’s role in implementing an effective, coordinated U.S. adaptation approach. The federal government’s role is significant for several key reasons, including: federally-owned land and infrastructure are at risk; federal guidelines, standards, and regulations influence virtually all sectors of the economy; and federal technical support is critical for addressing climate impacts. The report calls for “mainstreaming” climate change adaptation within and across the federal government.
“Adaptation is no longer an option, it is a necessity,” said Claussen. “Coordination at the federal level is critical to reduce the vulnerability and strengthen the resiliency of our economy and natural resources in the face of our changing climate.”
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