Climate Change

Climate change is an urgent issue we face together. On this page, learn how we are addressing climate change and find resources for emergency managers.

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FEMA and the Changing Climate

Understand FEMA’s role in and resources for addressing climate change, along with tools to help you know your climate risk.

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Initiatives

FEMA Efforts Advancing Community-Driven Relocation

On Nov. 30, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the launch of a new Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation program, led by the Department of the Interior, to assist tribal communities severely impacted by climate-related environmental threats. In August 2022, the interagency Community-Driven Relocation Subcommittee was announced and is co-led by FEMA and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). This subcommittee convenes federal agencies to explore key considerations, issues and strategies for community partnerships to support voluntary movement away from high-risk regions.

A fact sheet is available that has more information this about community-driven relocation available funding from FEMA grant programs and current projects underway.

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FEMA Releases the Resources for Climate Resilience

The FEMA Resources for Climate Resilience assists FEMA’s state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners in navigating the FEMA resources that are available to support communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change and build resilience.

The document offers a description of available FEMA resources communities can use to plan for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the adverse impacts of climate change.  

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Press Releases

Biden-Harris Administration Expands Assistance to Boost Climate Resilience and Support Communities Using Low-Carbon Materials
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in America and climate resilience, FEMA announced today that it will make grant funds available to communities for low-carbon materials used in disaster recovery and climate resilience projects. States, tribes, territories and local communities will now have more access to cleaner building materials through eligible FEMA programs to rebuild from disasters or become more resilient to climate change.
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FEMA Releases Updated Guide to Help Communities with Resilience Grants Process
FEMA released an updated and consolidated guidance to help grant applicants successfully navigate our mitigation grant programs to enhance climate resiliency.
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FEMA Addresses Flood Risks in 25 Municipalities
According to the Puerto Rico Planning Board, floods on the island represent billions in losses and put at risk some 200,000 residences located in flood-prone areas. To reduce the effects of these natural events, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is working on 35 projects with an investment of $122 million.
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ICYMI: Biden-Harris Administration, Black Resilience Network Highlight Importance of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at Climate Resilience Roundtable
Last week, FEMA joined the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Black Resilience Network, and others to discuss efforts to reinforce climate resilience.
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Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Releases Strategy to Meet Aerial Firefighting Equipment Needs
The Biden-Harris administration’s Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission released a report yesterday, outlining a strategy to meet aerial firefighting equipment needs through 2030. As climate change fuels longer and more intense wildfire seasons, aerial assets bring unique response capabilities to wildland fire suppression. The report reexamines existing approaches to aviation fleet procurement, mobilization, composition and quantity to set aviation management on a new trajectory for the next decade and beyond.
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FEMA Advances Global Emergency Management Cooperation
In the face of growing global threats such as climate change and extreme weather events, FEMA increased and elevated its strategic international partnerships in 2022. This unprecedented level of international engagement both advances the agency’s role as a global leader in emergency management, while enhancing global safety, security and stability, which ultimately keeps people safe here in the United States and abroad.
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FEMA’s National Preparedness Report Underscores Continued Threat of Climate Change
FEMA released the 2022 National Preparedness Report today, revealing the impacts that climate change and associated natural disasters continue to have on emergency management capabilities and communities across the country.
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ICYMI: Sen. Gary Peters Joins FEMA Administrator to Announce STORM Act Funding, Meets with FEMA Reservists
On Dec. 20, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell at the agency’s headquarters to announce funding for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund grant program.
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Biden-Harris Administration Makes $135 Million Commitment to Support Relocation of Tribal Communities Affected by Climate Change
The Biden-Harris administration today announced the launch of a new Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation program, led by the Department of the Interior, to assist Tribal communities severely impacted by climate-related environmental threats.
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FEMA, MDEM and Baltimore host Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities News Conference at MedStar Health
FEMA, MDEM and Baltimore host Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities News Conference at MedStar Health on August 22, 2022 at 8:30am
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Emergency Management in a Changing Climate

The challenges posed by climate change, such as more intense storms, frequent heavy precipitation, heat waves, drought, extreme flooding and higher sea levels could significantly alter the types and magnitudes of hazards faced by communities and the emergency management professionals serving them. Emergency managers should adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Tools and Data

Knowledge and Capacity

Strategy and Policy

Last updated January 5, 2023
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