Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017

The report identifies 41 federal laws enacted since 2017 that support climate adaptation, noting a shift from disaster recovery toward pre-disaster mitigation. It highlights the role of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the National Defense Authorization Act in integrating resilience, while also noting the use of nature-based solutions through conservation laws. The author argues that despite these bipartisan advancements, the U.S. still lacks a cohesive, coordinated federal strategy to address the increasing frequency and cost of climate-related disasters.

• Between 2018 and 2022, the frequency of billion-dollar disasters in the United States increased to an average of eighteen per year, compared to a historical average of eight per year from 1980 to 2022.
• EESI identified 41 laws from the 115th through 117th Congresses that could promote climate adaptation and resilience, ranging from broad legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to specific laws such as the National Landslide Preparedness Act.
• Federal adaptation efforts have historically focused on disaster response and recovery, with at least five laws amending the 1998 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, though newer laws like the Disaster Recovery Reform Act are shifting focus toward pre-disaster mitigation.
• The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provides a comprehensive approach to adaptation, including requirements for the Department of Defense to analyze climate risks before deploying forces and to update facilities to meet resilience standards.
• Conservation laws, such as the Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018 and the 2018 Farm Bill, utilize nature-based solutions to address climate impacts including storm surges, flooding, drought, and extreme heat.

APA

McGinn, A. (2023). Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-adaptation-a-review-of-federal-legislation-enacted-since-2017

Chicago

McGinn, Anna. Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2023. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-adaptation-a-review-of-federal-legislation-enacted-since-2017.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McGinn |first1=Anna |title=Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017 |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=24 January 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-adaptation-a-review-of-federal-legislation-enacted-since-2017 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mcginn2023climate, author = {McGinn, Anna}, title = {{Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-adaptation-a-review-of-federal-legislation-enacted-since-2017}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }