A Clear Call for Federal Support on Climate Adaptation

May 26, 2010 | Global Warming

The climate adaptation wonks are coming out of the woodwork in DC this week. More than 150 experts from government, non-profits, academia, and the private sector are meeting at the National Climate Adaptation Summit in Washington, DC.  The summit is meant to explore the tools and information that are needed to inform effective climate adaptation and look at how the various levels of government can best work together to ensure resilient communities.

The summit’s first day (subscription required) included a clear call for federal involvement in helping state and local governments adapt. Speakers noted the need for the federal government to provide relevant information on climate impacts and the merits of different adaptation solutions. This morning in his keynote address, Governor Bill Richardson outlined some more specific ways that the federal government can help state and local governments adapt. Among other things, he called for a central information portal that can be used to help plan adaptation strategies. Most notably, he also made the case for a national climate adaptation fund that would be funded by emissions allowances under a cap and trade system enacted by Congress.

Despite the repeated calls for federal assistance, no one seems to be mentioning that the most hotly debated climate bill in Congress is largely silent on the federal government’s role in helping states and municipalities adapt to climate change. Governor Richardson’s call for a community adaptation fund comes barely two weeks after the unveiling of the American Power Act, which omitted that exact provision despite the fact that it has been included in virtually every other recent piece of climate legislation. Previous bills also called for authorization of a National Climate Service and provided incentives for states to begin adaptation planning, which only a handful have started to this point. Despite the inclusion of essential natural resources adaptation provisions, the bill fails to provide direct adaptation assistance for state and local governments.

This is clearly a glaring example of inadequate communication between different levels of government that the summit’s participants have been discussing. The attendees of this summit from local and state government and federal agencies understand the need for federal leadership here. Will Congress catch up?

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