Climate Adaptation at the Federal Level

The document outlines the U.S. federal government's approach to climate adaptation as a risk-management strategy. It details the economic impacts of extreme weather in 2012, analyzes key legislation like the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 and the proposed SAFE and STRONG Acts, and reviews executive orders from the Obama administration. Additionally, it summarizes the adaptation roadmaps of federal agencies including the USACE, USDA, DOD, DHS, and EPA, while noting a continuing need for a coordinated national adaptation strategy.

• The United States experienced significant extreme weather in 2012, with 11 "Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters" causing $114.6 billion in damages and 377 deaths.
• The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified climate change as a high risk in 2013, stating that extreme weather events will increase the federal government's fiscal exposure and recommending a national climate change adaptation strategy.
• The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 provided $50.7 billion for Hurricane Sandy recovery, with specific authorizations for adaptation, including up to $5.38 billion for the Federal Transit Administration and $2.9 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce future flood risk.
• Proposed legislation such as the SAFE Act and the STRONG Act aim to establish federal programs and a National Extreme Weather Resilience Plan to protect natural resources and minimize economic and social costs, though both remained in committee as of the report date.
• Executive actions under President Obama, including EO 13514 and EO 13653, mandated that federal agencies develop Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans and Adaptation Plans, and established the Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.
• Various federal agencies have developed specific adaptation goals: the USACE focuses on water-resource infrastructure; the USDA on food security and forest resiliency; the DOD on national security readiness; the DHS on critical infrastructure and Arctic security; and the EPA on mainstreaming adaptation and partnering with tribes.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2014). Climate Adaptation at the Federal Level. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_federal_adaptation_011614.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Climate Adaptation at the Federal Level. 2014. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_federal_adaptation_011614.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Climate Adaptation at the Federal Level |date=January 2014 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_federal_adaptation_011614.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2014climate, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Climate Adaptation at the Federal Level}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2014}, month = jan, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_federal_adaptation_011614.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }