Adapting to the effects of climate change
This “Adapt” section of the Guide covers policies that help society become more more resilient and adapt to climate changes that are unavoidable because of historical emissions, even as we seek to reduce future impacts through emission reductions and carbon removal. Since greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities have already accumulated in the atmosphere, and because these gases tend to remain in the atmosphere long after they’re emitted, society will continue to face climate impacts.
There are many types of policies, including incentives, investments, standards, and other efforts to build capacity to address the effects of climate change. Clicking on the boxes below takes the user to summaries of the core policy types included in this section, and from there to filter or dive into specific policy options, each of which includes a brief description, design considerations, U.S. experience, additional resources, and related policies.
Policy Mechanisms
Incentives
Incentives provide financial signals that can increase the adoption of resilience and adaptation measures. They include grants, project cost-sharing, and tax credits or deductions.
Investments
Investments are federal outlays that can be used to fund or incentivize resilient management or infrastructure (green or grey). This includes some of the country’s largest hazard prevention programs.
Standards
Standards seek a specific action or outcome, providing policymakers more certainty. In the adaptation context refer to those actions that put in place a requirement to take actions that would increase resilience.
Information, Coordination and Capacity Building
Information, coordination and capacity building programs enhance our national understanding of what is effective adaptation so it can be deployed from coast to coast.
