Climate Change Risks and State Adaptation
The changing climate is already affecting water, energy, transportation, agriculture, ecosystems, and people's health. While some climate change impacts are far-reaching, no two states will experience climate change in precisely the same way.
State governments are uniquely positioned to implement strategic adaptive measures to protect infrastructure, plan for sea-level rise, and increase their communities' resilience to extreme weather. Many states and local governments are already focusing their attention and resources towards anticipating and planning for climate change impacts.
- Implementing measures to reduce the impact of heat islands
- Protecting estuaries from the impacts of climate change
- Developing heat wave response programs due to the likelihood of more frequent and more intense heat waves
- Anticipating and planning for water and wastewater utility challenges due to the likelihood of increased frequency and severity of heavy rain and sea level rise
Examples of State-wide Adaptation Strategies include:
- Alaska: Change Strategy: Addressing Impacts in Alaska (PDF) Exit
- California: Safeguarding California: Implementation Action Plans Exit
- Connecticut: Climate Change Preparedness Plan (PDF) (111 pp, 566 KB) Exit
- Maine: People and Nature: Adapting to a Changing Climate (PDF) (12 pp, 1.1 MB) Exit
- Maryland: Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Maryland's Vulnerability to Climate Change Phase I: Sea-level Rise and Coastal Storms (PDF) (40 pp, 12.5 MB) Exit and Phase II: Building Societal, Economic, and Ecological Resilience (PDF) (80 pp, 31.1 MB) Exit
- Massachusetts: Climate Change Adaptation Report Exit
- New Hampshire: Climate Action Plan Exit
- Oregon: Climate Change Adaptation Framework (PDF) (151 pp, 606 KB) Exit
- Virginia: Climate Change Action Plan (PDF) (124 pp, 4.1 MB) Exit
- Washington: Washington State's Integrated Climate Response Strategy (PDF) (207 pp, 4.7 MB) Exit
» Learn more about climate change impacts by region and sector.
» Learn about resilience and adaptation in New England.
» Access adaptation tools for public officials.