2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan - U.S. Dept. of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy
Posted on: 12/21/2021 - Updated on: 8/23/2022

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CAKE Team

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Abstract

DOE recognizes that our country and the world are facing a climate crisis. DOE’s mission of ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions is vital to the nation’s economic and national security. As outlined in E.O. 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, this Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, and Climate Adaptation Policy Statement build upon prior DOE actions taken to bolster adaptation and increase the resilience of DOE facilities and operations.

DOE works on the frontiers of scientific understanding and technological innovation to reduce GHG emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change by researching, developing, and deploying innovative and promising clean energy technologies. With approximately 50 active sites, DOE has a variety of missions including environmental cleanup, scientific research and development, national nuclear security, power marketing, and more. DOE can only succeed in its mission if it can successfully identify risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities from climate change that have the potential to impact operations, as well as effectively define and implement appropriate adaptation and mitigation actions.1

This plan addresses both climate adaptation and mitigation, which are complementary actions necessary for DOE to become more resilient, adapt to a changing climate, and reduce GHG emissions. This forward-looking plan identifies and prioritizes the Department’s adaptation and resilience efforts to ensure DOE continues to achieve its mission. The actions described in this plan apply to all programs and facilities and will be updated as needed to capture any mission changes and reaffirm the Department’s commitment to address the climate crisis.

DOE has identified five priority adaptation actions in this plan:

  1. Assess Vulnerabilities and Implement Resilience Solutions at DOE Sites
  2. Enhance Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Co-benefits at DOE Sites
  3. Institutionalize Climate Adaptation and Resilience Across DOE Policies, Directives, and Processes
  4. Provide Climate Adaptation Tools, Technical Support, and Climate Science Information
  5. Advance Deployment of Emerging Climate Technologies.

In addition, this plan describes DOE’s current and planned actions for the following specific topic areas:

  1. Climate Vulnerability Assessments
  2. Climate Literacy in DOE’s Management Workforce
  3. Climate Resilience for Climate-Ready Sites and Facilities
  4. Climate-Ready Supply of Products and Services. The Department commits to incorporate these actions into our planning, operations, and budget processes, including where appropriate, identifying opportunities to realign resources and needs for new resources.

DOE has designated DOE’s Chief Sustainability Officer as the senior level official responsible for coordinating implementation of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. The designee will work with other senior level officials within each organization and influence the Department’s top priorities to ensure that all actions detailed in this plan are implemented. They will also coordinate with the White House Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, Interagency Environmental Justice Working Council, Interagency Sustainability Working Group, and others as appropriate to assist in the planning of and reporting on DOE’s climate-related actions. DOE will submit annual progress reports on implementation efforts to the National Climate Task Force and the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer.

Citation

2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan.Report to the White House National Climate Task Force and Federal Chief Sustainability Officer. August 2021. U.S. Department of Energy. https://www.sustainability.gov/pdfs/doe-2021-cap.pdf

Affiliated Organizations

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material. Its responsibilities include the nation's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production.

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