Department of Energy 2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan

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Category: Executive

Document Type: Plan

Role: Main

U.S. Department of Energy 2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, published in August 2021 as a report to the White House National Climate Task Force and Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, outlines the department's strategy to enhance resilience to climate change impacts. The plan's purpose is to integrate climate adaptation and resilience across DOE's operations, policies, and programs. Its scope covers DOE sites, facilities, infrastructure, workforce, technology development, and supply chains. Key obligations and actions detailed in the plan include: * Assessing vulnerabilities and implementing resilience solutions at DOE sites. * Enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation co-benefits at DOE sites. * Institutionalizing climate adaptation and resilience across DOE policies, directives, and processes. * Providing climate adaptation tools, technical support, and climate science information. * Advancing the deployment of emerging climate-resilient technologies. * Updating climate vulnerability assessments. * Enhancing climate literacy within DOE's management workforce. * Enhancing climate resilience for climate-ready sites and facilities. * Ensuring a climate-ready supply of products and services. The affected sectors are primarily the Department of Energy's internal operations, infrastructure, and related supply chains, which indirectly impacts the broader energy sector. The provided text does not specify deadlines or compliance dates for these actions.

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Full text:

2021 Climate Adaptation
and Resilience Plan
Report to the White House
National Climate Task Force and
Federal Chief Sustainability Officer
August 2021

U.S. Department of Energy
2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
Table of Contents
I. Climate Adaptation Policy Statement ............................................................................................................. 1
II. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
III. Priority Adaptation Actions ........................................................................................................................... 4
PRIORITY ACTION 1: Assess Vulnerabilities and Implement Resilience Solutions at DOE Sites ................... 4
PRIORITY ACTION 2: Enhance Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Co-benefits at DOE Sites ...................... 7
PRIORITY ACTION 3: Institutionalize Climate Adaptation and Resilience Across DOE Policies, Directives,
and Processes ................................................................................................................................................. 11
PRIORITY ACTION 4: Provide Climate Adaptation Tools, Technical Support, and Climate Science
Information .................................................................................................................................................... 14
PRIORITY ACTION 5: Advance Deployment of Emerging Climate Resilient Technologies .......................... 16
IV. Specific Topic Areas ..................................................................................................................................... 19
SPECIFIC TOPIC 1: Update Climate Vulnerability Assessments .................................................................... 19
SPECIFIC TOPIC 2: Enhance Climate Literacy in DOE’s Management Workforce ........................................ 21
SPECIFIC TOPIC 3a: Enhance Climate Resilience for Climate-Ready Sites and Facilities ............................. 22
SPECIFIC TOPIC 3b: Ensure a Climate-Ready Supply of Products and Services ........................................... 24
V. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 26
Cover photo credits (left to right): TOP ROW - Thunderstorm near Cuero, TX [Lance Cheung, United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA)]. MIDDLE ROW - Western Area Power Administration’s
tower after a storm [WAPA], Camillo Fire in Coconino National Forest [Liza Simmons, USDA Forest
Service], inundated oil distribution equipment [DOE/Strategic Petroleum Reserve]. BOTTOM ROW -
Selective undergrounding of overhead power lines [Consolidated Edison Inc.], National Renewable
Energy Laboratory’s 1.5MW wind turbine behind a 450kW photovoltaic array [NREL], elevated
substation [Entergy Corporation].
i

U.S. Department of Energy
2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
I. Climate Adaptation Policy Statement
This Climate Adaptation Policy Statement affirms the Department of Energy’s (DOE) commitment to lead
by example in Federal efforts to manage the short and long-term effects of climate change on the
Department’s mission, policies, programs, and operations. It also reaffirms the Department’s goal to
address the challenges in President Biden’s Executive Order (E.O.) 14008 Tackling the Climate Crisis at
Home and Abroad, as well as the focus on identifying the physical risks from climate change across
government operations in Executive Order (E.O.) 14030, Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial
Risk, by making climate adaptation and resilience an essential element of the work the Department
does.
The mission of DOE is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy,
environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. DOE
works on the frontiers of scientific understanding and technical innovation to address the impacts of
climate change by researching, developing, and deploying innovative and promising sustainable and

Tags: Adaptation, Adaptation Planning, Climate Change, Climate Change Risks, Education, Energy, Governance, Infrastructure, Planning, Report, Technology

Sector: Urban;Transport;Public Sector;Health;Environment;Energy;Economy-wide;Buildings;Agriculture

Original Source