Plan for climate change's worst impacts while working to prevent them
[...]
We no longer have the luxury to focus solely on mitigation. The world must adapt to and build resilience against these climate threats. Resilience measures such as fortifying electric power grids to withstand wildfires and other natural disasters or restoring tidal marshes and reefs to protect coastal communities from storms and flooding will save lives, safeguard homes, protect livelihoods and maintain ecosystems. Importantly, since climate risks are borne disproportionately by disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, well-targeted resilience measures will aid those in greatest need of assistance. Put simply, resilience investments are necessary and just.
[...]
Mitigation and resilience measures are largely carried out in sectors with different missions and different stakeholders. While mitigation is the primary climate concern of agencies focused on energy and transportation, climate resilience is more the purview of those addressing housing, health and water. Consequently, research and development grants for emerging green technologies such as batteries or hydrogen fuels rarely competes for funding with training programs for pre-disaster preparedness. Likewise, the exercise of revising the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards is fully distinct from that of reauthorizing and reforming the National Flood Insurance Program.
[...]
A comprehensive climate approach that integrates both climate mitigation and resilience will reveal that climate planning is not a zero-sum game. The climate community (both those focused on mitigation and those on resilience) should coordinate accordingly.
[...]