Introduction: In response to identified vulnerabilities, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is implementing cross-cutting adaptation actions to bolster the resilience of American agriculture, forestry sectors, and rural and urban communities against the impacts of climate change. These actions aim to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and on-the-ground practices, ensuring producers have access to relevant climate data and educational resources.
Key Challenges
- Sustained Adaptation Planning: Adaptation planning must be an ongoing, iterative process integrated into decision-making rather than a standalone activity.
- Consideration of Current and Projected Climate Change: USDA must consider both present and future climate change scenarios in its planning and decision-making processes.
- Implementation and Monitoring: Adaptation actions must go beyond planning stages and be effectively implemented, monitored, and re-evaluated over time.
- Regional Variability: Climate change impacts vary regionally, necessitating adaptation actions tailored to specific geographical contexts.
Proposed Adaptation Actions
- Building Resilience Across Landscapes: USDA will invest in soil and forest health to enhance resilience to climate change. This includes promoting conservation practices, improved water management, reforestation, and ecosystem restoration to protect ecosystem functions vital for long-term sustainability.
- Increasing Outreach and Education: USDA aims to promote the adoption of climate-smart adaptation strategies through expanded outreach and education efforts.
- Enhancing Access to Climate Data: USDA will improve access to climate data and decision support tools at regional and local scales, ensuring stakeholders have the information needed to make informed decisions.
- Supporting Research and Development: USDA will continue to support research efforts to develop climate-smart practices and technologies tailored to agricultural and forestry contexts. Research priorities include evaluating adaptive practices, enhancing crop resilience, and studying climate impacts on ecosystems.
- Utilizing Climate Hubs: USDA will leverage the Climate Hubs to deliver climate adaptation science and tools across USDA agencies, supporting farmers, ranchers, and landowners in making informed decisions.
- Enhancing Climate Literacy: USDA will prioritize climate literacy across its workforce, ensuring employees at all levels have the knowledge and skills needed to address climate change impacts effectively.
Next Steps: USDA will develop guidance for agencies to formulate climate adaptation plans aligned with updated regulations. These plans will integrate climate risks into strategic planning and decision-making, with metrics established to measure progress and foster continuous improvement in climate resilience efforts.