The climate crisis poses a multi-level threat to the American people, the global community, and DHS operations at home and abroad. It is vital for the Department to provide leadership and act to minimize its own environmental impact, to promote resilience against the risks posed by climate change, and to facilitate adaptation, so as to reduce harms and threats to the American people and abroad.
Addressing the climate emergency is a priority for DHS as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, workforce health, and other direct and indirect impacts of climate change will affect the Nation’s preparedness and national security over the long term. To combat this ongoing threat, DHS will implement a new approach to climate change adaptation and resilience, and it will do so with the sense of urgency this problem demands.
In the following video, Secretary Mayorkas announces new Department commitments to address the climate emergency at the White House Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate on April 22, 2021.
DHS recognizes the threats climate change poses to the Homeland and the American people. Sea-level rise, extreme weather events, drought, workforce health, and other direct and indirect impacts of climate change are already affecting the Homeland Security enterprise and the Nation’s preparedness and national security over the long term.
The Climate Change Action Group (CCAG) is developing a Strategic Framework to guide the Department’s approach to managing the climate crisis. The Framework will include strategic objectives, guiding principles, and lines of effort, and should be completed by 1st Quarter FY22.
Recent activities coordinated under the purview of the CCAG include:
- In April, FEMA issued a Request for Information seeking feedback from the public on how agency programs deal with climate change with a focus on underserved communities and populations. The comment period for the RFI concluded on July 21st and FEMA is reviewing submissions to identify areas where programs, regulations, and/or policies could benefit from reform.
- Similarly, in July, the Coast Guard issued a public RFI for feedback on how their programs, regulations, and policies could be enhanced to better respond to climate change, reduce environmental damage, and minimize climate-related impacts on disadvantaged communities. The public comment period for this RFI closes on October 6th.
- In June, FEMA released its Nature-Based Solutions Guide to help communities identify and engage staff and resources used to implement nature-based solutions to build resilience to natural hazards, which may be exacerbated by climate change.
- FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program is used to incentivize and spur action toward climate resilience at the state and local level. In May, the President announced funding of $1 billion for BRIC.
- In July, FEMA announced the selection of FY20 BRIC projects; the top five project types selected include: Flood Control ($550 million); Utility/Infrastructure Protection ($91.3 million); Wildfire Management ($49.3 million); Relocation ($21.9 million); and Saferoom/shelters ($15.2 million). Additionally, 18 of the 22 selected competitive projects addressed nature-based solutions.
- On August 9th, FEMA released the FY21 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for BRIC. It is due to the success of the BRIC program that the Administration increased FY21 funding to $1 billion, nearly doubling the size of the program from FY20. The application period for this program opens on September 30th and runs through January 28, 2022.
- FEMA also announced on August 9th that funding for this year’s Flood Mitigation Assistance grant is $160 million. The program will use the Centers for Disease Controls’ Social Vulnerability Index as a selection factor in its scoring process to help prioritize projects submitted by underserved communities.
- On August 5th, FEMA announced an unprecedented $3.46 billion in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program MGP funds for hazard mitigation measures across the 59 major disaster declarations issued due to COVID-19. This funding is designed to help address effects of climate change and other unmet mitigation needs, including funds to promote equitable outcomes in underserved communities.
- On August 16th, FEMA fundamentally improved and updated its National Risk Index, which is an online mapping tool to assess community level risk from 18 natural hazards and utilizes sea level rise data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Originally released in November of 2020, this new update is being made fully available for state, local, tribal and territorial governments, and provides customized analysis and reports to help communities and individuals make informed decisions about how they can become more resilient to their local risks, including impacts from climate change.
- FEMA is updating the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) risk rating methodology through the implementation of a new pricing methodology, known as Risk Rating 2.0- Equity in Action. This methodology leverages cutting-edge technology and gives FEMA the capability and tools to address rating disparities by incorporating more flood risk variables, including flood frequency, multiple flood types, and distance to water source. FEMA is fixing longstanding inequities in flood insurance pricing and establishing a system that is better equipped for the reality of frequent flooding caused by climate change.
- FEMA is engaged in an assortment of actions with respect to Federal Flood Risk Management, designed to reduce the risk of flooding. Some of those actions are expected to be announced soon.
- FEMA is going to issue a set of changes to its Individual Assistance Program Guide, designed to simplify applications and in that way to promote equity.
- Beginning August 1st, 2021, NFIP DHS continues to lead by example with respect to the sustainability and resilience of our own operations.
- DHS has a goal to electrify 50 percent of the mobile fleet by FY30. The Department is currently analyzing its fleet to identify potential electric vehicle replacements and determine sites for pilot programs to install charging equipment.
- DHS is also working with the Office of Management and Budget and the Council for Environmental Quality and to complete the DHS Climate Action Plan (CAP), as required by EO 14008. DHS priorities outlined in the CAP include: 1) Energy and Water Resilience, 2) Environmental Justice and Racial Equity, 3) Sustainability and Facility Standards, 4) ICT and Cybersecurity, and 5) Fleet Electrification.
- The CCAG continues to work externally to implement actions outlined in Executive Orders that impact DHS missions and operations. On August 5th, the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it will propose robust fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light duty trucks in line with EO 13990. DHS is assessing the impact to our vehicle fleet and existing fuel contracts.
- The CCAG is also working with the EPA to assess the impact of recent rule making under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 to phase down production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other greenhouse gases. Overall reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from this rule would benefit populations vulnerable to damages associated with climate change.
The DHS Climate Action Plan outlines the steps the Department is taking to tackle the climate crisis, including bolstering the Department’s ability to adapt to climate change, building national resilience, undertaking mitigation measures, and addressing key vulnerabilities. This plan is part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to confronting the climate crisis.
The DHS Climate Action Plan includes five priority actions:
- Incorporating climate adaptation into national preparedness and community grants and projects, including through the continuation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program – the funding for which President Biden doubled to $1 billion – to provide incentives for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to adopt modern, disaster-resistant building codes. DHS initial BRIC selections include wildfire resilience programs, flood control programs, and small-town coastal hazard mitigation plans.
- Incorporating climate adaptation planning and processes into homeland security mission areas, including by reviewing current budget planning policies to assess whether climate change considerations are appropriately incorporated.
- Creating climate-resilient facilities and infrastructure, including by aiming to electrify 50 percent of the DHS vehicle fleet by 2030.
- Ensuring climate-ready services and supplies, for both the Department and the Nation, including by using CISA’s national risk assessment program to assess climate impacts and adaptation strategies to secure supplies of food, medicine, energy, and other vital resources.
- Increasing climate literacy, including by developing and implementing a DHS-wide climate education plan to raise awareness among our employees about the climate crisis and how to combat it through adaptation and resilience strategies.
DHS leads the federal government in smart business solutions, approaches, and technology. The Department is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, and generated waste as well as operating high-performance, sustainable buildings and fleets. DHS is committed to increasing resilience and adaptation through an assortment of measures designed to reduce the risks associated with climate change.
Partnership constitute the foundation for securing the homeland. Preparedness for and resilience to catastrophic events requires the Department to collaborate with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and our brave local first responders. DHS work with the public must also:
- Address the disproportionately high and adverse climate-related impacts disasters have on disadvantaged communities;
- Reduce unnecessary barriers to participation and effectiveness;
- Increase equity; and
- Promote preparedness and resilience at the individual level.
Additional Information
- March 9, 2023: FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Lowers Energy Costs, Combats the Climate Crisis, and Advances Environmental Justice | WhiteHouse.gov
- February 23, 2023: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Expand Offshore Wind Nationally and Harness More Reliable, Affordable Clean Energy | WhiteHouse.gov
- December 19, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes More Than 100 Actions in 2022 to Strengthen Energy Efficiency Standards and Save Families Money | WhiteHouse.gov
- December 15, 2022: Biden-Harris Administration Releases Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook for Clean Energy and Climate Programs | WhiteHouse.gov
- December 7, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces First-Ever Federal Building Performance Standard, Catalyzes American Innovation to Lower Energy Costs, Save Taxpayer Dollars, and Cut Emissions | WhiteHouse.gov
- November 19, 2022: FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces New U.S. Support for Clean Energy in the Mekong Region | WhiteHouse.gov
- November 18, 2022: FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Advances Transmission Buildout to Deliver Affordable, Clean Electricity | WhiteHouse.gov
- November 1, 2022: FACT SHEET: U.S. -UAE Partnership to Accelerate Transition to Clean Energy (PACE) | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 6, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Strengthens the Federal Government’s Resilience to Climate Change Impacts | WhiteHouse.gov
- September 15, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Expand U.S. Offshore Wind Energy | WhiteHouse.gov
- September 15, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Buy Clean Actions to Ensure American Manufacturing Leads in the 21st Century | WhiteHouse.gov
- September 8, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Climate Portal to Help Communities Navigate Climate Change Impacts | WhiteHouse.gov
- August 18, 2022: STATE FACT SHEETS: How the Inflation Reduction Act Lowers Energy Costs, Creates Jobs, and Tackles Climate Change Across America | WhiteHouse.gov
- August 3, 2022: FACT SHEET: White House Takes Action on Climate by Accelerating Energy Efficiency Projects Across Federal Government | WhiteHouse.gov
- August 1, 2022: Biden-Harris Administration Announces over $1 Billion in Project Selections to Make Communities More Resilient to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
- August 1, 2022: FACT SHEET: 10 Ways the Biden-Harris Administration Is Making America Resilient to Climate Change | WhiteHouse.gov
- July 20, 2022: FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Executive Actions on Climate to Address Extreme Heat and Boost Offshore Wind | WhiteHouse.gov
- June 30, 2022: FACT SHEET: Health Sector Leaders Join Biden Administration’s Pledge to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 50% by 2030 | WhiteHouse.gov
- June 23, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Launches New Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership to Grow American-Made Clean Energy | WhiteHouse.gov
- June 9, 2022: FACT SHEET: Tackling Climate Change and Creating Clean Energy Jobs in the Americas | WhiteHouse.gov
- June 8, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates World Ocean Day with Actions to Conserve America’s Deepest Atlantic Canyon, Cut Plastic Pollution, and Create America’s First-Ever Ocean Climate Action Plan | WhiteHouse.gov
- June 6, 2022: FACT SHEET: President Biden Takes Bold Executive Action to Spur Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing | WhiteHouse.gov
- May 23, 2022: FACT SHEET: U.S.- Japan Climate Partnership | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 20, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Creates Cost-Saving Clean Energy Opportunities to Combat Climate Crisis | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 20, 2022: FACT SHEET: Readout of the April National Climate Task Force Meeting | WhiteHouse.gov
- February 2, 2022: U.S. Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development Launch Joint Effort With Puerto Rico to Modernize Energy Grid
- January 31, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Tackles Super-Polluting Methane Emissions | WhiteHouse.gov
- January 12, 2022: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Races to Deploy Clean Energy that Creates Jobs and Lowers Costs | WhiteHouse.gov
- January 12, 2022: Department of Homeland Security Announces Climate Change Professionals Program
- December 8, 2021: FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America’s Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability | WhiteHouse.gov
- December 2, 2021: Feature Article: Balance of Power—Building a Resilient Electric Grid
- November 2, 2021: U.S. President Biden, European Commission President Von Der Leyen, And UK Prime Minister Johnson Announce Commitment To Addressing Climate Crisis Through Infrastructure Development | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 29, 2021: FACT SHEET: President Biden Renews U.S. Leadership on World Stage at U.N. Climate Conference (COP26) | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 21, 2021: DHS Releases New Strategic Framework for Addressing Climate Change
- October 21, 2021: Fact Sheet: Prioritizing Climate in Foreign Policy and National Security | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 18, 2021: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Launches Plan to Combat PFAS Pollution | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 15, 2021: FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Roadmap to Build an Economy Resilient to Climate Change Impacts | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 12, 2021: FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Makes Climate Information and Decision Tools More Accessible | WhiteHouse.gov
- October 7, 2021: DHS Releases New Climate Action Plan to Address the Impacts of Climate Change and Ensure the Department’s Climate Resilience
- October 7, 2021: FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Releases Agency Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plans from Across Federal Government | WhiteHouse.gov
- September 30, 2021: Coast Guard Awards Energy Performance Contract to Intensify Campus Resilience against Climate Threats at Training Center Petaluma | USCG
- September 23, 2021: DHS Prize Challenges | S&T
- September 23, 2021: DHS Launches National Climate Resilience Prize Competitions
- September 23, 2021: Department of Homeland Security Partners with Environmental Protection Agency to Enforce Phasedown of Climate-Damaging HFCs
- September 18, 2021: Joint US-EU Press Release on the Global Methane Pledge | WhiteHouse.gov
- August 12, 2021: Readout of the Fifth National Climate Task Force Meeting | WhiteHouse.gov
- August 12, 2021: The Coast Guard has Established a Working Group to Focus on Climate Change | USCG.mil
- August 11, 2021: Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the Need for Reliable and Stable Global Energy Markets | WhiteHouse.gov
- August 5, 2021: Biden Administration Commits Historic $3.46 Billion in Hazard Mitigation Funds to Reduce Effects of Climate Change
- August 5, 2021: FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Steps to Drive American Leadership Forward on Clean Cars and Trucks | WhiteHouse.gov
- July 19, 2021: FACT SHEET: U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership | WhiteHouse.gov
- July 8, 2021: Federal Register: Request for Information on Coast Guard Programs, Regulations, and Policies for Addressing Climate Change | USCG.mil
- July 2, 2021: FY20 Coast Guard Sustainability, Energy and Environmental Readiness (SEER) Award Winners | USCG
- June 30, 2021: FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Acts to Address the Growing Wildfire Threat | WhiteHouse.gov
- May 28, 2021: Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget
- May 27, 2021: Departments of Energy and Homeland Security to Collaborate on Climate Mitigation at Federal Facilities | Energy.gov
- May 20, 2021: FACT SHEET: President Biden Directs Agencies to Analyze and Mitigate the Risk Climate Change Poses to Homeowners and Consumers, Businesses and Workers, and the Financial System and Federal Government Itself | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 23, 2021: Remarks by President Biden at the Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Session 5: The Economic Opportunities of Climate Action | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 22, 2021: Secretary Mayorkas Announces New DHS Commitments to Address the Climate Crisis at Leaders Summit on Climate
- April 22, 2021: FACT SHEET: President Biden Sets 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target Aimed at Creating Good-Paying Union Jobs and Securing U.S. Leadership on Clean Energy Technologies | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 22, 2021: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 21, 2021: Readout of the Third National Climate Task Force Meeting | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 14, 2021: President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Key Administration Leaders on Climate and Transportation | WhiteHouse.gov
- April 9, 2021: Secretary Mayorkas's Statement on FY22 Discretionary Funding Request
- April 1, 2021: DHS Statement on New National Flood Insurance Program Pricing Methodology
- March 18, 2021: Readout of the Second National Climate Task Force Meeting | WhiteHouse.gov
- February 11, 2021: Biden-Harris Administration Launches American Innovation Effort to Create Jobs and Tackle the Climate Crisis | WhiteHouse.gov
- February 11, 2021: Readout of the First National Climate Task Force Meeting | WhiteHouse.gov
- January 27, 2021: Remarks by President Biden Before Signing Executive Actions on Tackling Climate Change, Creating Jobs, and Restoring Scientific Integrity | WhiteHouse.gov
- January 27, 2021: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy | WhiteHouse.gov
- May 20, 2021: Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk | FederalRegister.gov
- May 12, 2021: Executive Order on the Establishment of the Climate Change Support Office | FederalRegister.gov
- February 9, 2021: Executive Order on Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration | FederalRegister.gov
- February 1, 2021: Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad | FederalRegister.gov
- January 25, 2021: Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis | FederalRegister.gov
The DHS Climate Change Action Group is a coordinating body comprised of the Department’s senior leadership that drives urgent action to address the climate crisis and reports directly to the Secretary.
- The Social Cost of Carbon | WhiteHouse.gov
- U.S International Finance Plan | WhiteHouse.gov
- Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad | WhiteHouse.gov
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Efforts | NOAA.gov
- Reports and Resources from the U.S Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) | GlobalChange.gov
- U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit | Climate.gov