Overview of EPA’s Draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan Lesley Jantarasami Presentation to National Tribal Forum May 23, 2012

Overview Adaptation Across the Federal Government EPA’s Adaptation Efforts to Date Key Elements of Draft EPA Adaptation Plan 2

Every federal agency is required to produce an adaptation plan A Task Force Guiding Principle: Prioritize the most vulnerable: Adaptation plans should prioritize helping people, places, and infrastructure that are most vulnerable to climate impacts and be designed with meaningful involvement from all parts of society. Adaptation Across the Federal Government Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force formed in spring 2009 The Task Force includes over 20 federal agencies Two major reports to the President from the Task Force, in 2010 and

Three cross-cutting national strategies to address key issues related to climate adaptation: –National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate –Draft National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy –Draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan 4

EPA’s Adaptation Efforts EPA’s FY Strategic Plan discusses integrating climate change adaptation into various Agency processes In June 2011, the Administrator signed a Policy Statement on Adaptation –EPA will develop and implement a Climate Change Adaptation Plan to integrate climate adaptation into the Agency’s programs, policies, rules, and operations. –Every Program and Regional Office will produce a more detailed adaptation Implementation Plan. 5

Cross-EPA Adaptation Planning Workgroup Charge: To develop and implement a climate change adaptation plan for EPA –Set priorities for the Agency –Lead to development of Program Office and Regional Office Implementation Plans –Develop improved performance measures “One EPA” approach –Representatives from almost every Program and Regional Office –Open and inclusive process 6

Draft EPA Adaptation Plan: Vision of the Future EPA 7 EPA continues to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment even as the climate changes.

Considering Climate Impacts 8 Examples of climate impacts considered include: Increasing extreme temperatures Increasing ozone pollution Increasing frequency or intensity of wildfires Increasing heavy precipitation events Sea-level rise Ocean acidification Melting permafrost

Considering Vulnerabilities to EPA Mission 9 Areas examined include: –Air Quality –Water Quality –Contaminated Sites –Chemicals –Agency Facilities and Operations The forthcoming Implementation Plans that will be produced by every EPA Regional Office will capture regional differences in vulnerabilities.

Tribal Vulnerabilities 10 Indigenous people are among the most vulnerable communities in North America. Tribes generally have fewer resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural hazards, including those related to climate change. The disproportionate vulnerability of tribes to climate change has implications for EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment in Indian country.

Mainstreaming Adaptation in EPA 11 Adaptation Plan discusses Agency priorities including: –Strengthening adaptive capacity of EPA staff and partners through training –Developing decision-support tools that enable EPA staff and partners to integrate adaptation planning into their work –Developing Program and Regional Office Implementation Plans –Partnering with tribes to increase adaptive capacity

Addressing Tribal Adaptation-Related Priorities 12 Supporting the development of adaptive capacity in tribes and identify clear steps for ongoing collaboration. Working with tribes to identify and support the use of climate change relevant Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Leveraging existing EPA partnerships with tribes and tribal networks.

For Additional Information Thank you! Lesley Jantarasami Office of Air and Radiation Office of Atmospheric Programs 13 Joel D. Scheraga, Ph.D. Senior Advisor for Climate Adaptation Office of Policy Gerald (Jerry) Filbin, Ph.D. Office of Policy