The U.S. EPA’s Climate Change Adaptation Plans and the Nation Climate Assessment

Abstract:

When the Council on Environmental Quality directed the U.S. EPA and other Federal departments and agencies to identify how they will maintain their missions in the face of a changing climate, the need for sound science as an essential foundation for climate preparedness was apparent. Fortunately, since 2000, the U.S. Global Change Research Program has produced the National Climate Assessment three times, with the most recent version being issued in May, 2014. The EPA turned to the National Climate Assessment for a key source of sound science as it drafted its national and regional climate adaptation plans. The assessment continues to be used as EPA staff are trained on climate change adaptation issues. Examples of recent EPA climate change adaptation national and regional products will be presented that highlight the utility of the National Climate Assessment. The importance to EPA of the National Climate Assessment as a common ground for all Federal agencies will also be discussed.