Abstract

Across the nation, climate change is leading to more extreme heat and intense storms, rising seas, increased flooding, worsening droughts, and increasingly severe wildfires – devastating communities and economic sectors. 

In the face of these impacts, it is imperative that the Federal government and its partners in State, local, and Tribal communities work together to build climate resilience. Building a climate-resilient nation will require diverse strategies to prepare for growing climate threats and hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover from acute and chronic disruptions. Measuring the progress and outcomes of these adaptation and resilience strategies is critical to assessing and optimizing their effectiveness. 

Climate adaptation planning and implementation across Federal agencies is one way in which the Biden-Harris Administration is demonstrating leadership towards the objectives of the National Climate Resilience Framework. Updated Federal Climate Adaptation Plans (CAPs) for 2024- 2027, developed in coordination with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), represent a growing expertise and capacity among Federal agencies to implement climate adaptation strategies. For the first time, these Plans include a common set of indicators and metrics, to improve assessment and communication of climate resilience efforts across the Federal government. 

From 2022 to 2023, CEQ partnered with Federal agencies responsible for preparing CAPs to identify process-related indicators and metrics to improve assessment of how the Federal government is managing climate risks and building operational and mission resilience. This paper serves as a case study and starting point for strengthening development and application of adaptation and resilience metrics across Federal agencies. Furthermore, this work adds to the growing body of knowledge on adaptation and resilience measures and can serve as a model to non-Federal actors looking to develop and implement these measures for their own organizations.

Affiliated Organizations

White House Council on Environmental Quality

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) coordinates Federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives. CEQ was established within the Executive Office of the President by Congress as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and additional responsibilities were provided by the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970.

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