ABSTRACT

In the second decade of the twenty-first century, adaptation to anthropogenic climate change in the United States is occurring at local, state, tribal, and federal levels of government, reflecting where adaptation needs are matched by existing policy-making opportunities. This has resulted in an uncoordinated and diverse patchwork of adaptation policies to date. Common approaches to adaptation at state, local and tribal levels are described and illustrated with selected examples. General opportunities for, and examples of, federal adaptation policy-making efforts are also discussed. Examples of self-organization among different stakeholders at the regional level as well as a discussion of likely challenges to future U.S. adaptation policy making conclude the entry.