Abstract

Across the Nation, communities are being impacted by disasters—from coastal erosion and wildfires to chemical spills and pollution—and facing challenging decisions about whether and how to move out of harm’s way. Moving from a place with historical or cultural ties can be traumatic and disruptive. When a community considers relocation, it is important for the Federal government to be prepared to support and partner with State, Tribal, local, and Territorial governments, through available programs and initiatives. 

Community-driven relocation describes a situation where a community decides it will relocate, in whole or in part, to reduce the risk faced by communities and individuals. The phrase “community-driven relocation” is deliberate—the intent is to collectively reinforce that it is essential for the consideration or implementation of planned relocation projects to be grounded in a community’s ability to define and determine its future. Community-driven relocation should be considered a viable strategy for communities facing the impacts of a changing climate or hazards from toxic contamination. 

As part of its historic commitment to climate action and environmental justice, the Biden-Harris Administration has been taking proactive steps to prioritize climate adaptation and resilience, disaster recovery and response, and reducing exposure to toxic contamination. In supporting communities affected by climate change, the Administration recognizes the need for action to protect Tribal Nations and local communities that are most in harm’s way. That is why the Biden-Harris Administration, as part of the National Climate Task Force, established a Community-Driven Relocation Subcommittee (CDR Subcommittee) to the Coastal Resilience Interagency Working Group to identify and build whole-of-government strategies for supporting communities that are considering relocating away from high-risk places. 

This Community-Driven Relocation Subcommittee report, Opportunities for Federal Support of Community-Driven Relocation, provides background on community-driven relocation, an overview of the current federal legal and programmatic landscape, and potential next steps that Federal agencies can take, as part of a whole-of-government approach, to support communities contemplating relocation. This report is the first time that the Federal government has considered the concepts of climate- and pollution-driven relocation together in this manner. The Administration recognizes that not only are the risks and impacts of climate change and legacy contamination disproportionately concentrated in Tribal Nations and other communities with environmental justice concerns, but that these communities often face a steeper road to recovery when disaster strikes. 

In releasing this report, the Biden-Harris Administration is providing a vision of a more comprehensive system for the Federal government to support voluntary community-driven relocation in partnership with State, Tribal, local, and Territorial governments and non-federal partners.

Affiliated Organizations

The White House

The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.

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