Abstract

Across the United States, many regions and sectors are already experiencing the direct effects of climate change. For these communities, climate impacts—from extreme storms made worse by sea-level rise to longer-lasting and more extreme heatwaves, to increased numbers of wildfires and floods—are an immediate threat, not a far-off possibility. Because these impacts are expected to increase over time, communities throughout the United States face the challenge not only of reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also of adapting to current and future climate change to help mitigate climate risks. This Chapter details risk management strategies through climate change adaptation.