Climate Change Adaptation Task Force Releases Progress Report
In 2009, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiated the Interagency
Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes representatives
from more than 20 Federal Agencies.
When President Obama signed the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, he told the Task Force to develop, within one year, Federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.
Today, the Climate Change Adaptation Task Force of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, released an Interim Progress Report, which outlines the Task Force’s progress to date and recommends key
components to include in a national strategy on climate change
These six components include:
- Integration of Science into Adaptation Decisions and Policy
- Communications and Capacity-building
- Coordination and Collaboration
- A Flexible Framework for Agencies
John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming at NWF, said:
“This report emphasizes what we have known for a long time. We need an all hands on deck response if we are to succeed in safeguarding America’s communities, wildlife and natural assets from the impacts of climate change.
“From the alarming news that migratory birds are declining to recent extreme winter weather events, the omens of climate change are all around us. The sobering reality is we have piped so much carbon pollution into the atmosphere already that we will be dealing with the unavoidable consequences of climate change for decades to come.
“We applaud the Obama administration for working on a national strategy to safeguard people and wildlife from the impacts of the climate change. However, planning alone will not be enough to meet the challenge of climate change. Congress must pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that substantially reduces carbon pollution and includes robust and dedicated funds for safeguarding natural systems and human communities from the increasing effects of climate change on our country.”