Issue Brief | States Leading the Way on Climate Adaptation

In a significant shift from previous federal priorities, the United States government is scaling back critical climate adaptation infrastructure precisely when climate impacts are intensifying nationwide. As the Trump administration moves to cut funding, staff, and authority from key components of FEMA and NOAA that help states and communities plan and prepare for climate driven disasters — including the cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program^{See footnote 1} — states are increasingly taking action to fill the funding and capacity gaps that those agencies have historically addressed.^{See footnote 2}  

From heat waves to floods, climate change impacts are present realities affecting communities nationwide.^{See footnote 3}  As the federal government pulls back from its historic leadership role, state governments across the country are stepping up with innovative, comprehensive approaches to climate resilience governance.

As documented in the Georgetown Climate Center's February 2025 report, "State Chief Resilience Officers: Establishment, Authority & Governance,"^{See footnote 4}  at least twelve states have established Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) positions or equivalents to coordinate their climate adaptation efforts. The report emphasizes that successful CROs are "positioned and empowered to serve as crucial bridges between federal programs and state/local needs, helping to unlock and align funding from multiple sources." New York, Maine, and New Jersey are exemplifying this best practice through ambitious state-level initiatives that not only protect people and communities but provide valuable blueprints for other states to follow. Some of these approaches are newly enacted into law, while others have been proposed and are pending in state legislatures, but each provides a model for other states to consider.  

New York: Building a Resilience Backbone

Legislators in New York aren't waiting for federal leadership to address climate threats. With sixteen climate disaster declarations in less than 15 years,^{See footnote 5}  policymakers in the Empire State are proposing to take decisive action through their Climate Resilient New York Act of 2025,^{See footnote 6}  reintroduced on January 28, 2025, after not passing in the previous legislative session.

"These rising risks pose economic, social, environmental, and public health and safety challenges," acknowledges the legislation, which follows national best practices in establishing three critical components of effective climate governance: a dedicated Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), a permanent Office of Resilience, and a comprehensive statewide resilience plan.^{See footnote 7} 

Chief Resilience Officer: Empowered Leadership

The legislation establishes a Chief Resilience Officer appointed by the governor with significant authority to drive resilience efforts. This position would serve as the state's primary leader on climate adaptation, representing New York's consensus viewpoint at federal, regional, state, and local levels. The CRO would monitor and pursue funding opportunities, coordinate cross-agency applications for federal support, and develop intergovernmental agreements for regional projects like the New York-New Jersey harbor protection initiatives.^{See footnote 8} 

Beyond coordination, the CRO would identify policy barriers to effective adaptation, provide recommendations to legislators, and serve as the state's subject-matter expert on resilience issues. The position would ensure alignment across planning efforts and function as a clearinghouse for municipalities seeking guidance on flooding, extreme heat, and other climate risks. These responsibilities align with the Georgetown Climate Center's recommendation to "give CRO positions explicit authority to coordinate across agencies and levels of government."^{See footnote 9} 

Office of Resilience: Institutional Backbone

The Office of Resilience proposed in the bill provides permanent institutional capacity for climate adaptation within the executive department. This office would coordinate the resilience task force, establish an interagency coordination team, and develop New York’s statewide resilience framework. It would provide technical guidance to agencies and local jurisdictions, track progress toward statewide goals, and identify policies necessary to implement risk reduction strategies.

Importantly, the office would have authority to require assistance from other state agencies and departments, maintaining dedicated staff and resources to establish resilience as a permanent priority beyond any single administration. This institutional permanence addresses a common challenge in climate adaptation work, where efforts often collapse when administrations change or champions move on. The Georgetown Climate Center report recommends that states "provide the CRO with sufficient staff, budget authority, and other resources to do the job, and enough certainty to insulate them from political pressures."^{See footnote 10} 

Statewide Resilience Plan: Comprehensive Action Framework

The legislation would mandate development of a strategic statewide resilience plan that brings scientific rigor and equity considerations to climate adaptation. This plan would include spatial analysis of projected climate threats and create an accessible database of vulnerable critical infrastructure. It would visually map existing federal, state, and local projects addressing climate risks to improve coordination and reduce duplication.

The New York approach emphasizes natural solutions wherever possible, recognizing that traditional “gray” infrastructure alone cannot address climate challenges. The plan prioritizes "living shorelines, riparian restoration, permeable surfaces, rain gardens, green roofs, tree canopy expansion, wetland restoration,"^{See footnote 11}  and other approaches that deliver multiple benefits beyond risk reduction.

Perhaps most notably, the legislation requires that disadvantaged communities "receive at least forty percent of the benefits of proposed plans and projects,"^{See footnote 12} with a guaranteed minimum of thirty-five percent. This equity focus acknowledges that climate impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and ensures adaptation investments address historical disparities.

The plan must undergo significant public engagement, including six regional hearings, and be updated every five years to evolve with changing conditions and new information. The bill was referred to the New York State Senate’s Finance Committee on January 28, 2025, where it currently awaits further action.

Maine: Practical Protection at Multiple Scales

While New York’s bill focuses on governance architecture, Maine has passed legislation to both strengthen government adaptation structure and advance hazard mitigation on the ground.  The "Act to Increase Storm Preparedness," Introduced in January 2025 as Legislative Document No. 1, passed by the Maine Legislature, and signed by Governor Janet Mills on April 22,^{See footnote 13}  this initiative responds to concrete damages – "$90,000,000 of damage to public infrastructure and significant additional damage to private property" from recent winter storms.^{See footnote 14} 

The bill was shaped by extensive community input gathered by the Commission on Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience, which "traveled widely throughout Maine to visit communities on the front lines of storm damage and flood vulnerability"^{See footnote 15}  including Stonington, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Rumford, Mexico, Jay, Rockland, Machias, and Caribou. These visits revealed compelling local needs – from homes damaged by storm surges in Saco and rising river levels in Mexico to emergency communications challenges in Stonington and Rumford.

What makes Maine's approach particularly promising is its comprehensive structure: the legislation is organized into three distinct but complementary parts, each addressing different aspects of climate resilience:

Homeowner-Level Resilience

The Home Resiliency Program provides direct grants to Maine homeowners for specific projects that make homes more resistant to extreme weather events. Funded by a transfer of $15 million from the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, the program includes equity-focused provisions allowing "the Bureau of Insurance to establish two or more tiers of eligibility based on the income or financial means of the applicant" (Committee Amendment to L.D. 1, 2025).^{See footnote 16}  This aims to ensure that assistance reaches those with the least capacity to fund their own resilience improvements.

Financing Infrastructure Resilience

The centerpiece of Maine's approach is the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund established within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. This innovative financing mechanism supports "county, municipal and tribal governments to reduce risks from extreme weather events and other natural hazards such as flooding and damaging winds."^{See footnote 17} 

As the Commission testimony noted, communities like Jay face "challenges of rebuilding damaged infrastructure with tight municipal budgets."^{See footnote 18}  The revolving loan fund creates a sustainable funding stream for these infrastructure projects, with loans meant to "complement grant assistance and help advance county, municipal and tribal projects through low-interest loans."^{See footnote 19} 

Part B also addresses emergency communications challenges by allocating $800,000 to "update the Maine Emergency Management Agency's communications technology and warning systems statewide."^{See footnote 20}  This responds to findings from communities like Stonington and Rumford, where "emergency communications could have been clearer and timelier" during recent disasters.^{See footnote 21} 

State Coordination and Scientific Foundation

Like New York’s bill, Maine’s recently passed legislation recognizes the need for centralized coordination of climate resilience efforts through the establishment of a State Resilience Office. With substantial funding of $9.6 million, this office will develop critical tools including "an inland, coastal and riverine hydrologic model, a new online community risk data hub of flood risk and other hazard information for public use and to update flood maps."^{See footnote 22} 

This responds directly to challenges identified in Machias and Caribou, where the Commission "heard about outdated flood maps that are more than 40 years old and the difficulty of managing flood risk with limited municipal staff."^{See footnote 23}  The legislation also establishes regional certified floodplain managers to provide technical assistance to communities with limited capacity.

The State Resilience Office will collaborate with "state agencies, county, municipal and tribal governments, regional councils and county, local and tribal emergency management agencies" (Committee Amendment to L.D. 1, 2025)^{See footnote 24}  to harmonize resilience efforts across all levels of government. This coordination role parallels the Georgetown Climate Center's finding that "successful CROs are positioned and empowered to serve as crucial bridges between federal programs and state/local needs, helping to unlock and align funding from multiple sources."^{See footnote 25} 

Maine's newly enacted legislation demonstrates how states can translate lived experience into forward-looking adaptation policy. By addressing homeowner needs, creating sustainable infrastructure financing, and building scientific and technical capacity, Maine has developed a multi-faceted approach to climate resilience that serves as a model for other states facing similar challenges.

New Jersey: Regulatory Revolution for Long-term Protection

New Jersey takes yet another path with its proposed Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) rules,^{See footnote 26}  demonstrating how regulatory innovation can drive climate adaptation. This impressive group of zoning, planning and building rules represent essential steps all communities should take to address climate driven hazards.

The REAL rules are part of New Jersey's broader Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) initiative,^{See footnote 27}  directed by Governor Murphy's Executive Order 100 from January 2020.^{See footnote 28}  The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection notes this "ground-breaking" rulemaking will make New Jersey "the first state in the nation to initiate a comprehensive update of  land resource protection regulations to address the current and future impacts of a changing climate."^{See footnote 29} 

Forward-Looking Risk Assessment

The initiative is driven by compelling data on New Jersey's vulnerability: almost two-thirds of the state's coastline is at high or very high risk of coastal erosion, 98 percent of the coastline is projected to be at medium or very high risk to sea-level rise, and over half a million acres of New Jersey land are highly vulnerable to coastal hazards.^{See footnote 30} 

The establishment of an "Inundation Risk Zone" (IRZ) covering land projected to be “inundated by tidal waters daily or permanently by the year 2100”^{See footnote 31}  represents a profound shift in how states approach future risks. Unlike traditional regulations that focus only on currently identified flood zones, New Jersey's approach incorporates future climate projections to prevent new development in areas that will become unsafe in coming decades. Development within these zones will require an "Inundation Risk Assessment" analyzing "potential adverse impacts of inundation on the site of the regulated activity in the future."^{See footnote 32}  This prospective risk assessment forces developers and communities to confront future climate realities before investing in areas that may become uninhabitable.

Climate-Adjusted Standards

The rules introduce a "Climate Adjusted Flood Elevation (CAFE)”, “calculated by adding five feet to FEMA's 100-year flood elevation in tidal flood hazard areas.”^{See footnote 33}  This adjustment ensures that infrastructure and development will withstand not just current conditions but projected future flood levels through 2100. By establishing this clear design standard, New Jersey provides certainty for developers while protecting future residents.

Regulatory Streamlining

New Jersey's approach also stands out for its administrative improvements and consolidation across four key regulatory areas: Coastal Zone Management rules, Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act rules, Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, and Stormwater Management rules. The REAL rules replace existing disjointed permitting processes with "limited categorical exemptions, general permits-by-registration, permits-by-certification, or general permits"^{See footnote 34}  that streamline approvals while maintaining rigorous standards. This reform acknowledges that regulatory complexity often hampers resilience efforts, especially for smaller communities with limited staff capacity.

The rules also address critical infrastructure vulnerabilities by establishing “more stringent design and construction standards for critical facilities and infrastructure, which are commensurate with the level of anticipated risk.”^{See footnote 35}  This prioritization ensures that police stations, hospitals, power plants, roads, bridges, utilities, and other essential services can continue functioning during climate emergencies.

Importantly, NJDEP has been clear about what the REAL rules don't do, addressing common misconceptions. The rules don't create prohibited "no-build" zones, don't prevent rebuilding storm-damaged homes, don't hinder urban redevelopment, and don't require owners to purchase flood insurance. Rather, they establish a forward-looking framework based on scientific projections from the 2019 Science and Technical Advisory Panel Report to guide development in ways that enhance resilience while allowing continued growth.

By tackling challenges like sea-level rise, extreme weather, chronic flooding, and other climate impacts through a comprehensive regulatory approach, New Jersey is creating a model for how states can use their regulatory authority to enhance long-term resilience while balancing development needs. This approach aligns with the Georgetown Climate Center's recommendation that states "structure positions to enable strategic alignment of relevant funding sources and programs."^{See footnote 36} 

The public comment period for these groundbreaking regulations ended on Thursday, November 7, 2024, and stakeholders are now waiting for further action from the state.

Different Paths, Shared Vision

New York, Maine, and New Jersey are pioneering distinctly different yet complementary approaches to climate resilience that reflect each state's unique geography, political landscape, and climate vulnerabilities.

New York's emphasis on centralized governance and coordination addresses the fragmentation that often undermines adaptation efforts. By creating a Chief Resilience Officer position with meaningful authority, establishing agency resilience coordinators, and mandating regular interagency coordination, New York creates accountability for resilience outcomes that typically fall between agency jurisdictions. The state's detailed requirements for vulnerability assessment, critical infrastructure inventory, and project mapping create the comprehensive situation awareness necessary for effective action.

Maine's multi-level approach demonstrates how states can address household, community, and regional resilience simultaneously. Through direct homeowner grants, revolving infrastructure loans, emergency communications upgrades, and regional floodplain management, the state is creating complementary programs that reinforce each other. Maine's focus on staffing and technical assistance recognizes that funding alone cannot build resilience—communities need expertise and capacity to implement effective solutions.

New Jersey's regulatory overhaul shows how modernized land use and environmental regulations can guide development away from current and future high-risk areas while incentivizing nature-based solutions. By establishing forward-looking standards like the Inundation Risk Zone and Climate Adjusted Flood Elevation, New Jersey is preventing today's development decisions from becoming tomorrow's disasters. The state's regulatory streamlining demonstrates that effective climate protection doesn't necessarily mean more complex rules—often, it means smarter ones.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate that states need not wait for federal leadership to take meaningful climate action. By developing innovative approaches tailored to their specific contexts, New York, Maine, and New Jersey aren't just protecting their own communities—they're creating models that can inspire and inform adaptation efforts nationwide. 

Their approaches mirror the key recommendations from the Georgetown Climate Center's report, which emphasizes the importance of organizational placement, coordination authority, strategic alignment of resources, and sufficient staffing and budget authority.

As climate impacts intensify across America, these pioneering state initiatives offer valuable lessons for building resilience through governance innovation, strategic investments, and forward-looking regulations. The bold leadership shown by these states proves that comprehensive climate adaptation isn't just necessary—it's achievable through thoughtful, science-based policy development.

Georgetown Climate Center collects examples of government leadership on climate adaptation in our Adaptation Clearinghouse. To see our latest entry for the Maine legislation described in this piece, and search thousands of other adaptation and resilience policies and case studies, visit GCC's Adaptation Clearinghouse.