Additional Climate Topics

Climate resilience and adaptation is a whole-of-government risk management activity. EPA is taking action to protect people, property, ecosystems and infrastructure from the impacts of changing climate conditions across the country. Learn more about the federal government’s climate-focused initiatives on this page.

On this page:

• Climate Adaptation and Resilience
• Investing in America
• Nature-Based Solutions
• Federal Flood Risk Management Standard
• Resilient Built Environment
• Tribal Climate Coordination

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Climate Adaptation and Resilience

EPA's 2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan focuses attention on priority actions the agency will take over the next four years to deliver on EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment as the climate changes. To support these priorities, twenty National Program and Regional Offices developed individual Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans.

EPA’s commitment to address the climate crisis includes the advancement of climate-resilient investments.

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Investing in America

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act dedicated more than $50 billion to advance climate resilience strategies in every community in America, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions to lessen climate impacts in the future.

Read the latest news about EPA programs, available funding and awarded projects related to BIL and IRA.

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Nature-Based Solutions

Nature-based solutions use natural and nature-based habitats and natural processes in infrastructure projects, such as building up salt marshes and restoring coral reefs. When used in infrastructure projects, nature-based solutions reduce risks and deliver multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits. There are several ways to advance the adoption of nature-based solutions, which including green infrastructure.

EPA's Green Infrastructure Federal Collaborative is helping to implement these recommendations by fostering communication between external partners and the federal agencies working to promote the implementation of green infrastructure, among other nature-based solutions.

EPA developed a Compendium of Tools and Methods to Estimate Environmental Benefits for Nature-Based Solutions, which identifies methods and tools for quantifying the environmental benefits related to water quantity, climate mitigation, air quality, ambient air temperature reductions and habitat management.  The Compendium highlights both restoration and protection nature-based solutions implemented in urban and agricultural settings. 

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Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

As flood hazards increase with climate change, federally funded buildings and projects need to consider both current and future flood risk to create sound investments with taxpayer dollars. Executive Order 13690 - Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input reinstated the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard so that federal agencies can take action to enhance the nation’s resilience to current and future flooding. To help federal agencies implement FFRMS, the White House and the Flood Resilience Interagency Working Group released a FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid (pdf, 3.3 MB, 45 pp) and a FFRMS Climate-Informed Science Approach (CISA) State of the Science Report (pdf, 4.8MB, 120 pp).

Applicants for federal funding and their project partners can use these resources, in addition to the Federal Flood Standard Support Tool, to determine if their project resides within an FFRMS floodplain and learn more about FFRMS.

Learn more about FEMA’s policy, procedure and responsibilities to implement and enforce FFRMS.

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Resilient Built Environment

A resilient built environment — one that is constructed to the latest building codes, renovated to high-performance resilience standards and located away from hazard zones where possible — can help protect communities from climate impacts. A resilient built environment requires is a whole-of-government approach to adopt the latest, consensus-based building codes, high-performance standards and specifications in new construction or major rehabilitation projects of infrastructure and buildings.

Learn more about EPA's Clean Energy Programs and how EPA is reducing embodied carbon of construction materials through the Inflation Reduction Act.

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Tribal Climate Cooperation

EPA’s engagement with Tribal governments on climate initiatives spans across all programmatic areas. It is essential to acknowledge the distinctiveness of each Tribal Government, as every Tribe confronts climate change impacts and vulnerabilities that are uniquely their own. This uniqueness necessitates tailored approaches to resilience and adaptation, ensuring that the strategies are as varied and specific as the Tribes themselves. Federal agency consultation and collaboration with Tribal governments is also essential to ensure there is recognition, consideration and application of Indigenous Knowledge, including traditional ecological insights and climate wisdom, in federal decision-making, where possible and appropriate.

As outlined in the EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations, EPA works with Tribes on a government-to-government basis and recognizes Tribal governments as the primary party for making decisions and carrying out program responsibilities affecting Indian reservations, their environments, and the health and welfare of the Tribal community.

EPA’s webpage, National Climate Resources for Tribes, serves as a gateway to a suite of climate related tools, technical assistance and funding information for Tribes tackling the challenges of climate change.

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