Department of Transportation
Climate Adaptation Plans and Policy Statements
Since the Obama Administration, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has published a series of internal policy statements and adaptation plans that outline DOT’s work to advance climate-smart transportation infrastructure, and outline the steps that it will take to address climate change.
On December 8, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14057 (Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability). In response to EO 14057, and the accompanying Federal Sustainability Plan, DOT (along with more than 20 Federal agencies) compiled Climate Adaptation Plans, which were released by the White House in June 2024.
On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad). This executive order signaled that climate change would be a priority in policy-making across the federal government, established a number of new offices, and instructed agency heads to take steps toward developing climate policies. Section 211 of the Executive Order directed each agency to develop a draft action plan that describes steps the agency can take with regard to its facilities and operations to bolster adaptation and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.
In June of 2024, DOT released its 2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan, which describes both the climate hazards the agency faces and the actions it plans to take in response. The 2024-2027 Plan outlines four priorities:
- To “[s]upport investments in climate-smart infrastructure across all transportation modes with continued guidance, technical assistance, and decision support tools;”
- To “[e]xpand coordination between climate resilience and environmental justice activities through grant programs and technical assistance;”
- To “[l]everage federal climate data services to provide decision support resources for climate resilience and adaptation activities to DOT stakeholders;” and
- To “[i]mplement projects to reduce climate impacts on federal property, operations, and supply chains identified through ongoing natural hazard risk assessments.”
Biden Administration (2021-2025)
2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan
In June of 2024, DOT released its 2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan, which describes both the climate hazards the agency faces and the actions it plans to take in response. The 2024-2027 Plan outlines four priorities:
- To “[s]upport investments in climate-smart infrastructure across all transportation modes with continued guidance, technical assistance, and decision support tools;”
- To “[e]xpand coordination between climate resilience and environmental justice activities through grant programs and technical assistance;”
- To “[l]everage federal climate data services to provide decision support resources for climate resilience and adaptation activities to DOT stakeholders;” and
- To “[i]mplement projects to reduce climate impacts on federal property, operations, and supply chains identified through ongoing natural hazard risk assessments.”
2022 Climate Adaptation Progress Update
In October of 2022, DOT released a 2022 Climate Adaptation Progress Report, which outlined the steps DOT had taken to implement the 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan.
Executive Order on Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability
On December 8, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14057 (Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability). In response to EO 14057, and the accompanying Federal Sustainability Plan, DOT (along with more than 20 Federal agencies) compiled Climate Adaptation Plans, which were released by the White House in June 2024.
2021 Climate Adaptation Plan
In August of 2021, DOT released its 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan. The plan was released in response to Section 211 of President Biden's Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad). The 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan declared it the policy of DOT to "ensure that Federally supported transportation infrastructure, and DOT programs, policies, and operations, both consider climate change impacts and incorporate adaptation and resilience solutions whenever possible," and outlined guiding principles relevant to effecting that policy. In addition, the plan identifies 5 priority actions for DOT:
- To incorporate resilience into DOT's grant and loan programs;
- To enhance climate resilience throughout the project planning and development process;
- To ensure resiliency of DOT facilities and operational assets;
- To ensure climate-ready services and supplies; and
- To improve climate education and research on resilience.
Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad). This executive order signaled that climate change would be a priority in policy-making across the federal government, established a number of new offices, and instructed agency heads to take steps toward developing climate policies. Section 211 of the Executive Order directed each agency to develop a draft action plan that describes steps the agency can take with regard to its facilities and operations to bolster adaptation and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.
First Trump Administration (2017-2021)
Executive Order Revoking Order Preparing the United States for Climate Change
On March 28, 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order 13783 (Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth). Among other directives, E.O. 13783 revoked President Obama's EO 13653 (Preparing the United States for Climate Change).
Obama Administration (2009-2017)
2014 Climate Adaptation Plan
DOT's 2014 Climate Adaptation Plan updated DOT's 2012 Climate Action Plan, and further describes steps DOT will take to move towards fully integrating considerations of climate change adaptation and resiliency into DOT policies, programs, and operations.
Executive Order on Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change
In November 2013, President Obama issued Executive Order 13653 (Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change), which directed federal agencies to take various steps to prepare for climate change impacts and to support state and local resilience efforts. Alongside E.O. 13514, E.O. 13653 required each agency to evaluate agency climate change risks and vulnerabilities and to identify and manage the effects of climate change on the agency’s operations and mission in both the short and long term.
2012 Climate Action Plan for Resilience
DOT's 2012 Climate Action Plan "focused on the climate change’s impacts to DOT’s critical mission activities—safety, state of good repair and federally owned building’s environmental sustainability." The plan "lays out steps DOT will take to move towards fully integrating considerations of climate change and variability in DOT policies, programs and operations."
Executive Order on Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance
On October 5, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13514 (Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance), which instructs federal agencies to set or achieve various emissions reduction and energy and environmental benchmarks by 2015, 2020, and 2030. Among other directions, E.O. 13514 required each agency to evaluate agency climate change risks and vulnerabilities and to identify and manage the effects of climate change on the agency’s operations and mission in both the short and long term.