State and Local Adaptation Plans
| State | Adaptation Plan Information |
| Alaska | The Alaska Climate Change Advisory Group (AKCCAG) was responsible for developing an adaptation response plan for the Alaska Sub-Cabinet for Climate Change, as part of the broader Alaska Climate Change Strategy. The AKCCAG is comprised of four Technical Working Groups: Public Infrastructure, Health & Culture, Natural Systems, and Economic Activities. The final report, Alaska’s Climate Change Strategy: Addressing Impacts in Alaska, was delivered to the Sub-Cabinet in January 2010. Alaska’s Immediate Action Workgroup was formed in 2007 to prioritize and make annual recommendations to address current threats to the State’s communities. The second annual report, Recommendations to the Governor’s Sub-Cabinet on Climate Change, is applicable to 2009-2010 actions. Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission Final Report (2008) is the initial assessment of the impacts of climate change on the state created by the Commission that was formed in 2006. |
| California | The state’s Climate Action Team is required by Executive Order S-05-05 to publish a report of climate change impacts and adaptation options every two years. The latest report is the Climate Action Team Biennial Report released in March 2009. On December 2, 2009, the state released its first Climate Adaptation Strategy for how state agencies can respond to climatic changes. The Strategy, directed by Executive Order S-13-08, was developed by 5 state agencies and 9 departments to plan for sea-level rise and other climate impacts. Seven sectors are represented in the Strategy: Agriculture, Biodiversity & Habitat, Forestry, Energy and Transportation Infrastructure, Public Health, Oceans and Coastal Resources, and Water Management; as well as cross-sector issues. Near-Term Actions state agencies will take are identified in the Strategy and include development of a “Cal-Adapt” web-based portal to provide basic climate impact information at a scale to support community-level adaptation planning. Per the same order, the Preliminary Transportation Assessment was completed by state agencies for Business, Transportation and Housing assessing the vulnerability of state transportation systems to sea level rise. The Public Policy Institute of California publishes a series of reports to address climate change in the state and for specific sectors (coastal, ecosystems, public health) which also have broader geographic applicability. |
| Colorado | In April 2008, Governor Ritter signed Executive Order B007 08 creating a Climate Change Advisory Panel to make recommendations to achieve the goals of the state’s Climate Action Plan, including strategies to create “mechanisms for conducting effective planning for adaptation to climate change.” The panel met for the first time in June 2009. The Plan itself includes 70 policy option recommendations, of which 14 are adaptation recommendations for the state’s water supply, and one recommends a state vulnerability assessment and the creation of associated adaptation plans. |
| Connecticut | The Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change formed an Adaptation Subcommittee in December 2008 in accordance with Public Act 08-98, to assess climate impacts and to develop recommendations for changes to state and municipal programs and laws that would enable municipalities and natural habitats to adapt to such impacts. Recommendation reports are scheduled for release summer 2010. Draft Climate Impact Reports (Jan 2010) are available from each Workgroup: In March 2009, the CT Department of Environmental Protection published a series of eight reports covering: Biodiversity, Fisheries, Forestry, Infrastructure, Coastal, Recreation, Water Resources, and Wildlife. Facing our Future – Adapting to Connecticut’s Changing Climate provides current impacts, actions the Department is taking and high-level adaptation recommendations. |
| Florida | In the 2008 Energy and Economic Development Legislation, the Florida legislature established a permanent Florida Energy and Climate Commission within the Executive Office of the Governor. It was created to oversee implementation of the state’s Energy and Climate Action Plan. Florida’s Energy and Climate Change Action Plan (2008) provides adaptation objectives as well as recommendations to achieve the objectives in Appendix F. Florida’s Resilient Coasts: A State Policy Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change (2008) provides policy options for a number of sectors including: Land use planning and building regulation, Water supply and delivery, Transportation and Infrastructure, Conservation of natural lands and marine life, Beaches and beach management, and Extreme events. The Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change was responsible for developing the state’s Energy and Climate Action Plan. |
| Maine | Building on the report, Maine’s Climate Future (Feb 2009), by the Univeristy of Maine’s Climate Change Center, the state legislature charged the Department of Environmental Protection to initiate a stakeholder-based process to evaluate options and actions available to state businesses and people to prepare for “the most likely” impacts of climate change. People and Nature Adapting to a Changing Climate: Charting Maine’s Course, was presented to the legislature in February 2010. Initial strategies and recommendations are organized by All Sectors, Communities and People, Environment and Natural Resources, and Economy; covering numerous areas such as infrastructure, transportation, land use, health, tourism, emergency management, coastal, forestry, agriculture, water resources, and so on. The report is clear that this is the first step needed in a long-term process, calling for an “actionable state-level climate adaptation plan” and additional resources to ensure the implementation of recommendations. |
| Maryland | The Maryland Commission on Climate Change created four Adaptation and Response Working Groups (ARWG) to develop the adaptation portions of the state’s Climate Action Plan. With a focus on sea-level rise and coastal storms, the four groups were: Existing and Future Built Environment and Infrastructure, Financial and Economic, Human Health, Safety and Welfare, and Natural Resources. Chapters 6, 7 and 8 of the Plan define state and federal recommendations and next steps. |
| Massachussetts | Created under the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008, the Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee began its work in June 2009 to analyze strategies to prepare for the impacts of climate change to the Commonwealth. The Committee’s report is due by the end of the year. Sub-committees include: Natural Resources & Habitat, Local Economy, Human Health & Welfare, Key Infrastructure, and Coastal Zone & Ocean. The report is now scheduled for completion by Spring 2010. |
| New Hampshire | The New Hampshire Climate Change Policy Task Force released their final Climate Action Plan in March 2009. The Plan addresses both mitigation and adaptation and includes an appendix (4.9) with the detailed framework for each of the recommendations. Appendix 4.8 recommends state agencies be required to incorporate both mitigation and adaptation into their planning and programmatic activities. |
| New York | Executive Order 24 signed by Governor Patterson in August 2009 created the New York Climate Action Council and charged it with creating a Climate Action Plan by September 2010. The Plan is to cover both mitigation and adaptation for all economic sectors in the state. An Integrated Assessment for Effective Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in New York State project began, identifying vulnerabilities, climate risks, and adaptation strategies for sectors such as: agriculture, coastal zones, ecosystems, energy, infrastructure, public health and water resources. In 2007, the state legislature created the New York State Sea-Level Rise Task Force in 2007, to assess the impacts of sea level rise and make recommendations to mitigate such impacts. The Task Force began its efforts in June 2008 and is due to the Legislature by the end of 2010. |
| Oregon | The Global Warming Commission is a permanent entity with responsibility for advising the Governor and the Legislature on mitigation and adaptation implementation strategies. The Commission’s 2009 Report to the Legislature is available with recommendations pertaining only to Natural Resources adaptation strategies. The Climate Change Integration Group (CCIG) was created to develop the state’s adaptation strategy. The CCIG’s final report, A Framework for Addressing Rapid Climate Change, was released in January 2008; however, it defers in large part to the new Commission for adaptation. |
| Virginia | Governor Tim Kaine's Commission on Climate Change created a Climate Change Action Plan that included recommendations for both mitigation and adaptation. The Commission’s adaptation recommendations included specific directives to state agencies regarding public and human health, coastal and shoreline management, local planning, infrastructure protection and planning, floodplain management, emergency planning, natural resources planning, and water resource management. The plan also called for a separate Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategy to be developed by 2011. |
| Washington | On May 15, 2009 Governor Gregoire signed legislation (E2SSB 5560) requiring six state departments – Ecology, Agriculture, Commerce, Fish & Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Transportation – to create an “integrated climate change response strategy” to better enable state and local governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations and individuals to better prepare, address and adapt to climate change impacts. Topic Advisory Groups were formed and a stakeholder process developed. A draft Strategy is scheduled for Spring 2011, with the final report to the Legislature by Dec 2011. A May 2009 Executive Order (09-05) calls for an evaluation of potential impacts from sea level rise to the state’s shorelines and water resources and for recommendations to address those impacts. It also requires the development of guidelines, tools and recommendations to assist the state and water users in preparing for impacts to the state’s water supply. Washington Climate Change Impact Assessment report (2009), Chapter 11 – Preparing for Climate Change in Washington State, provides adaptation strategies for state sectors such as Energy, Water, Forests, Coasts, Human Health, and Urban Stormwater Infrastructure; expanding on recommendations from the 2007 PAWG report. In the Climate Advisory Team’s interim report (2007) Leading the Way on Climate Change: The Challenge of Our Time, Chapter 3 - Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change in Washington contains the detailed issues and recommendations of the five Preparation / Adaptation Working Groups (PAWGs) for Agriculture, Forestry Resources, Human Health, Water Resources and Quality, and Coastal Infrastructure. |
| City/County | Adaptation Plan |
| Homer, AK | City of Homer Climate Action Plan (December 2007) – The adaptation section, beginning on page 37, focuses on strengthening the local economy, encouraging sustainable businesses, anticipating population increases due to migration, preparing for sea level rise, and developing an emergency preparedness plan. The report also contains a section on implementation. |
| Phoenix, AZ | City of Phoenix Tree and Shade Master Plan 2009 - This resource deals with urban forestry and the role trees play in reducing the heat island effect, improving air and water quality and protecting against erosion. The City develops a plan for reforestation that includes planting, irrigation, landscaping and engineered shade standards. City of Phoenix Water Resources Plan Update 2005 - The 2005 update of the Water Resources Plan for the city of Phoenix provides guidance for water acquisition, water management and infrastructure actions necessary to ensure current customers and anticipated growth over the next 50 years. The plan considers water needs under a variety of development scenarios and surface water shortage conditions including the potential drought impacts of global climate change. |
| Berkeley, CA | City of Berkeley Climate Action Plan 2009 - Chapter 6 of the plan is devoted to adaptation in response to executive order S-13-08. It includes specific policy recommendations for declining water supply, extreme heat and rising sea levels. |
| Los Angeles, CA | Green LA – A Climate Action Plan for the City of Los Angeles (2007). This plan contains a short adaptation section that includes disaster preparedness, water security, fire preparedness, reducing the heat island effect and protecting public health. Climate LA - is the implementation program that provides detailed information about each action item discussed in the Green LA framework. While it does not include a separate adaptation section, many of the adaptation pieces listed in Green LA are addressed in this report. Click here to learn more about these reports. |
| San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Bay: Preparing for the Next Level (September 21, 2009) – This report details the results of a pilot project where researchers from the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and the Netherlands (as part of the Delta Alliance) came together to study possible adaptation measures to address sea level rise. The report includes a matrix providing a summary of potential adaptation measures. Living with a Rising Bay: Vulnerability and Adaptation in San Francisco Bay and on its Shoreline (April 7, 2009) – Chapter 5 of the report focuses on adaptation strategies. Specifically the report addresses the impacts of sea level rise on neighborhoods, job centers, transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure, and vital ecosystem services. Recommendations discussed include conducting a vulnerability analysis and indentifying long and short term strategies. |
| San Rafael, CA | City of San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan (April 2009) - The chapter “Our Environment” includes recommendations for adapting to sea level rise, increasing local crop production, participating in the Marin regional vulnerability assessment, and creating a local vulnerability assessment. |
| Miami-Dade, FL | Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force – Annual Report and Supplemental Recommendations (April, 2010): Section C “Built Environment and Adaptation” addresses issues of sea level rise, and improving building infrastructure for climate resiliency. Section E “Economic, Social and Health Adaptation” encourages public outreach and education around climate change adaptation. |
| Chicago, IL | City of Chicago Climate Action Plan - The Adaptation Section of the City's Climate action plan includes strategies to manage heat, pursue innovative cooling, protect air quality, manage stormwater, implement green urban design, preserve plants and trees, engage the public, engage business, and plan for the future. The Chicago Trees Initiative is a climate adaptation program designed to expand the urban tree canopy. Chicago Area Climate Change Quick Guide: Adapting to the Physical Impacts of Climate Change - for municipalities and other organizations (2008) – A supplement to the Chicago Action Plan which discusses how municipalities can build adaptive capacity, perform better risk assessments, and adapt to increases in extreme heat and precipitation events. |
| Keene, NH | City of Keene New Hampshire Adapting to Climate Change: Planning a Climate Resilient Community, November 2007 - Section IV presents goals and targets for adapting to climate change including preparing for increased severe weather events, building more resilient ecosystems, improving water and food security, and improving public health infrastructure in reference to vector borne diseases. |
| New York, NY | City of New York Climate Change Assessment and Action Plan, May 2008 - Chapter 3 presents possible adaptation strategies pertaining to water supply and wastewater issues, and offers guidance for determining when to formulate and enact an adaptation plan. Plan NYC – 2007 - The climate change section of the plan discusses a city-wide strategic planning process for climate change adaptation. This includes a commitment to create a strategic planning process to adapt to climate change impacts, ensure that New York's Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) 100-year floodplain maps are updated, document the City's floodplain management strategies to secure discounted flood insurance for New Yorkers, and amend the building code to address the impacts of climate change. |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Climate Action and Sustainability Plan – Set SLC’s goals for adaptation strategies concerning water, wastewater, economic development, and urban greening. While mentioned on their website, the report is no longer available for download. However, their Sustainability site includes actions being taken on a number of sectors and impacts, including watershed protection, stormwater runoff management, public health measures to reduce air pollution and improve water quality, and urban forestry. |
| Alexandria, VA | City of Alexandria Environmental Action Plan 2009 - Chapter 9 proposes short and long term goals to integrate adaptation and climate change impacts into long term planning. Specifically, the report addresses emergency preparedness, ensuring long term water quality and protecting public health. The plan is developed by Eco-City Alexandria, a strategic collaborative planning process designed by the City of Alexandria in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP) |
| King County/Seattle, WA | Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments (2007) - the guidebook is designed to facilitate planning for climate impacts by specifying practical steps and strategies that can be used to build community resilience into the future. These steps include creating a climate change preparedness team; identifying community vulnerabilities to climate change; and identifying, selecting, and implementing adaptation options. King County Climate Report (2009) – the report addresses steps the city has taken to reduce flood risk, plan for infrastructure impacts resulting from sea level rise, and plan for climate change impacts on public health. Vulnerability of Major Wastewater Facilities to Flooding from Sea-Level Rise (July 2008) – this report determines which wastewater facilities in the area are at the greatest risk of flooding from sea level rise and extreme storm events and provides recommendations for current and future planning. |
| Milwaukee, WI | WICCI Milwaukee Working Group – Since February 2008, the working group has identified potential climate change related risks facing the area including heavy rain events, drought, and increased temperatures. In addition, they have identified their roads and stormwater and sewer systems as areas of their infrastructure particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The working group will now create a written report detailing these potential risks and vulnerabilities, asses them under different climate scenarios and issue recommendations for adaptive management.
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