October 8, 2014

On October 8, the White House unveiled a new agenda to protect federal lands against the impacts of changing climate by conserving and restoring natural resources and carbon sinks. The agenda makes up part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, and details strategies to promote climate resiliency, community preparedness, and natural carbon sequestration.

The new agenda, “Enhancing the Climate Resilience of America’s Natural Resources,” outlines partnerships between federal agencies and local communities to monitor ecosystems and improve land-use management, and identifies four key strategies to protect federal lands. The strategies include fostering climate-resilient lands and waters, managing and enhancing carbon sinks, enhancing community preparedness through natural resource management, and modernizing federal programs to improve climate resilience.

The agenda was accompanied by climate-related programs and reports from several federal agencies. The Department of Agriculture announced a new competition to promote sustainable use of wood, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced plans to enhance resilience in coastal economies. The Army Corps of Engineers also released a report demonstrating that a third of its coastal projects will be impacted by sea level rise resulting from climate change.

Sources: E&E News, White House

Updated 11/4/2014