A coordinated approach to adaptation
A collage of typical climate and weather-related events: floods, heatwaves, drought, hurricanes, wildfires and loss of glacial ice. (Image credit: NOAA)
“As the world gathers in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, this week for the COP27 UN climate conference offsite link, it’s with the backdrop of extreme weather and climate events that have gripped the planet this year and serve as a stark reminder of why our work here is so crucial.
“As a part of the United States delegation, I can say that we’re headed to COP27 with notable achievements to meet the need for attaining our 1.5 degrees C-aligned target.
“The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by Congress – signed into law by President Biden this past August – is the most sizable and comprehensive climate legislation enacted in U.S. history. The historic funding provided by the IRA puts the United States on track to achieve President Biden’s goal to cut U.S. emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030, solidifying our national commitment to climate action for years to come.
“As we expand the global conversation on climate adaptation in the coming weeks, our agency is working to empower people to make informed decisions for the future through continuous innovation and partnership. As we work to build a Climate-Ready Nation here at home, we want to support this model abroad as well – with a special focus on ensuring that underserved and underrepresented groups have equitable access to these critical tools and services.
“Our ability to adapt to climate threats in the coming decades will be determined by the channels of collaboration and cooperation that we strengthen right now. At NOAA, we’re scaling up our work with our international partners so that they can build capacity and take action based on our data, products, and services. This is a vital step in ensuring leaders and resource managers around the world can access and use services like NOAA’s multi-hazard early warning systems and predictions of water availability to prepare for weather and climate risks.
“In addition, our agency is investing in the ability of local communities to address climate adaptation and resilience. We are providing targeted technical assistance and supporting international climate research to further improve our capacity to protect lives, lifestyles, and livelihoods.
“I look forward to all that we can achieve for global climate preparedness in the coming weeks at COP27.
“To learn more about NOAA’s work in this space, visit noaa.gov/cop27 for updates and outcomes from COP27.”
— Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA Administrator
