New Recommendations Help Improve America’s Resilience to Climate Change
“We applaud the Task Force’s recognition of the role that nature plays in reducing threats posed by climate change,” said Lynn Scarlett, managing director for global public policy at The Nature Conservancy. “Natural systems like coastal wetlands, floodplains, oyster reefs and coral reefs can absorb floodwaters, reduce wave impacts from storms and provide a host of other benefits such as enhancing water quality and providing spawning grounds for fish and other species.”
Along with the recommendations, the White House also released a new online Climate Resilience Toolkit. It enables local planners to more easily assess their vulnerability to climate change impacts and develop solutions to lessen and adapt to these impacts.
“The Nature Conservancy welcomes the inclusion of our Coastal Resilience 2.0 tool as part of this toolkit,” added Scarlett. “As called for by the Task Force, it is essential that we provide such scientifically sound information in a way that is easily accessible and provides real solutions.”
The Conservancy’s tool is an interactive map that allows local decision makers to assess their impact to storm surge and sea level rise and enables the testing of solutions in response to those threats.
The Task Force’s recommendations come from leaders around the country who met over the past year to think about how the federal government can enhance the nation’s resilience to climate change. With input from across state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, trade associations, academic organizations, civil society, and various other stakeholders, their recommendations were informed through real-world examples that demonstrate how climate change is affecting their communities now in profound ways that threaten lives and livelihoods.
The White House factsheet contains further information on the recommendations, actions and online toolkit.
