Climate Energy and Environment

Climate, energy, and the environment shape policy decisions that affect the air you breathe, fuel prices, disaster readiness, and how the U.S. engages with global risks.

Climate Risks, Security, and Disaster Response

Climate policy is now treated as a national security and emergency planning issue. Federal agencies track climate trends, assess nationwide risks, and weigh the costs of climate damage through programs such as the National Climate Assessment and related federal analyses.

The military also factors climate into strategy and operations, while continuing long-term cleanup efforts tied to contaminated bases and other environmental legacies.

On the civilian side, disaster response depends on coordination across federal, state, and local governments. Budget pressures can affect flood warnings and emergency response, and local governments may underinvest in prevention when the benefits are spread across communities over time.

Related coverage includes how NOAA and NASA coordinate climate monitoring, how government data shows climate change is accelerating, and the future of the National Climate Assessment.

Other articles explain why climate change is now treated as a national security threat, the Pentagon’s climate strategy, and how America’s three-tier disaster response system works.