Abstract

On January 27, 2021, the White House issued Executive Order (EO) 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” United States, White House. “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” 86 Fed. Reg. 7619 (January 27, 2021). Section 211 of the EO requires each agency to submit an action plan which describes steps that the agency can take to “bolster adaptation and to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.”

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) leads and serves the Federal Government in enterprise human resources management by delivering policies and services to achieve a trusted, effective civilian workforce.

OPM shares the President’s concern that climate change poses an existential threat to the well-being of the nation and is committed to supporting the Federal workforce as it powers a government-wide response to this urgent challenge.

Approach

A. Strategy to Tackle the Climate Crisis

• OPM is committed to leveraging its role as the government’s strategic workforce advisor to advance policies that will provide agencies with the tools they need to continue to deliver services to the American people in the face of disruptions caused by climate change. OPM will also help agencies recruit, hire, retain, and train a workforce with the skills to advance the Administration’s goals for adaptation and resilience work at the local, national, and international level. Within OPM itself, we will also take steps to promote the agency’s own internal resilience to deliver on our critical mission.
• Specifically, OPM will:
  1. Establish a Climate and Action Plan Working Group
  2. Review and update existing policies and programs to integrate a recognition of the threat posed by climate change and promote adaptation, review, and confirm new policies are aligned with adaptation and resilience goals, within applicable laws
  3. Look for opportunities to promote resilience within OPM’s programs and policies

B. Designated Senior Climate Change Adaptation Official

• OPM’s Chief Management Officer will be the Senior Climate Change Adaptation Official responsible for carrying out the climate adaptation management activities of this Plan.

Agency’s Priority Adaptation Actions

OPM has identified the following four (4) Priority Adaptation Actions:

1. Leveraging workforce flexibilities as a strategic asset to promote climate resilience and adaptation
2. Increasing support for wildland firefighters and other occupations critical to Federal adaptation and resilience efforts
3. Attracting top talent to promote adaptation across agencies through the creation of the President’s Sustainability Executives Program
4. Expanding availability of effective training to expand government’s awareness and competencies related to climate adaptation and resilience