Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) reviewed federal legislation from the 115th through the 117th Congress to identify laws promoting climate adaptation and resilience. EESI identified 41 laws that address over 16 different climate impacts, ranging from acute events like wildfires to slow-onset events like thawing permafrost, though much of the federal approach remains centered on disaster response and recovery.

• The frequency of billion-dollar disasters in the United States increased significantly from a long-term average of eight per year (1980-2022) to eighteen per year between 2018 and 2022. In 2022, 18 such disasters occurred, with Florida, Texas, and Minnesota experiencing the highest costs.
• EESI identified 41 laws enacted between the 115th and 117th Congress that encourage climate adaptation and resilience. These include broad legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), specific laws like the National Landslide Preparedness Act (P.L. 116-323), and recurring legislation such as the 2018 Farm Bill and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
• Federal adaptation legislation addresses more than 16 different climate impacts. While acute events like hurricanes and floods are common focuses, the laws also cover slow-onset events such as ocean acidification, sea level rise, and thawing permafrost, as well as regional issues like the urban heat island effect and Great Lakes water levels.
• Much of the federal government's adaptation work is framed as disaster response and recovery, evidenced by at least five laws amending the 1998 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. However, some legislation, such as the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018), is shifting focus toward pre-disaster mitigation through initiatives like the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants.
• The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is noted for its comprehensive integration of climate adaptation. For instance, the 2021 NDAA requires the Department of Defense to analyze climate risks before deploying forces, research equipment resilience, coordinate with local communities near military installations on extreme weather, and update facilities to resilience standards.

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} }