Climate Adaptation Governance in the United States
Part of the Adaptation and Resilience project
Effective climate adaptation requires cohesive governance structures, yet the United States remains fragmented in its approach. This project examines the policy gaps and governance challenges shaping climate adaptation and disaster preparedness in the United States, with a particular focus on federal and local dynamics. In this project, we explore how existing policies enable or hinder adaptation, the role of federal institutions in shaping adaptation efforts, and the unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies - what is often referred to as maladaptation.
One key aspect of this project is analyzing federal adaptation policy gaps and progress, identifying where institutional inertia and policy misalignment create barriers to effective adaptation at the state and local levels. At the local level, CPL researchers have studied how municipalities navigate adaptation policy and planning, highlighting the disparities in resources and capacity that shape climate resilience across different communities. We explore the following questions:
What is the landscape of climate adaptation policies in the United States across governance levels?
What policies, programs, and laws do adaptation experts believe have been most effective for increasing resilience to extreme weather events in the United States?
What are the perceived gaps in the current legislative and policy landscape?
What policies have hindered progress on adaptation?
This project provides critical insights into the broader governance landscape of adaptation in the United States, identifying pathways for more effective and equitable policy solutions. Once we have completed our analysis of U.S. adaptation governance, we intend to replicate this work in other national contexts using the Policy Gap Analysis method developed by CPL researchers.