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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI15042597/00001
Notes
- Scope and Content:
- While policy-makers have primarily focused on reducing future emissions of greenhouse gases, there is
growing recognition that significant climate change is unavoidable. Although climate mitigation remains critical,
we also need to be thinking about and planning for ways to minimize the economic costs and limit the adverse
impacts from unavoidable changes in our climate. By taking steps now to adapt to climate change, we will be far
better able to limit future damages and their associated costs.
This report highlights the important role of the federal government in reducing the vulnerability and
strengthening the resiliency of our economy and natural resources in the face of these changes. In addition to
managing a significant amount of land and infrastructure that will be affected by climate change, the federal
government is uniquely positioned to provide the necessary leadership, guidance, information, and resources.
While many efforts to adapt to climate change will occur at the state and local level, the federal government is
a critical player in an effective and coordinated approach to climate change adaptation in the United States.
Drawing on the expertise of local, state, federal, and international leaders in this area, the authors provide
concrete proposals for “mainstreaming” climate change adaptation within and across the federal government.
They recommend three key components to create a new national adaptation program in the United States:
•• A Strategic Planning Initiative to provide the overarching goals, objectives, and priorities for the
program. Beginning with initial guidance and direction for the program, this initiative would include
the development of federal agency adaptation plans, and work to integrate both sector and state
level planning processes into a national climate change adaptation strategy.
•• A National Climate Service to provide stakeholders with much needed information on climate change
impacts and adaptation options. All levels of government, the private sector, and other stakeholders
need information on climate change impacts on a time and geographic scale useful to them, as well
as decision tools to aid in analyzing adaptation options.
•• An Adaptation Research Program to ensure that appropriate emphasis is placed on adaptation
research as part of the larger federal climate research effort. Research related to climate change
adaptation is needed to support techniques for developing climate information at a scale useful
for decision making and innovations in addressing the various factors that affect adoption and
implementation of adaptations.
Adaptation is not an option but a necessity if we are to minimize the economic costs of climate change
impacts, protect human health and welfare, and limit harm to infrastructure, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
Although coordinated actions will be needed at all levels of government and the private sector, this report focuses
on what the federal government could do to lead the way.
The Pew Center and the authors would like to thank the many individuals that contributed their time and
expertise in the development of this report (See Appendix A for a list of contributors). The authors would like to
thank Peter Schultz and Josh Foster for comments and suggestions on earlier drafts. Special thanks to Cristina
Rumbaitis del Rio of the Rockefeller Foundation for her guidance and support. The views expressed here are
solely those of the authors. ( English )
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Rights Management:
- Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the user's responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
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