Washington, D.C. — Today, President Barack Obama signed an executive order directing federal agencies to make it easier for communities to build resilience against storms and also named the members of the Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, which was proposed as part of his Climate Action Plan. Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and the Director of Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress, released the following statement:
President Obama’s new executive order and the Task Force on Climate Preparedness will help communities reduce their vulnerability to climate-related extreme weather. Investments in community resilience will save lives. Every $1 invested in community resilience will reduce disaster damages by $4.
The newly appointed, bipartisan members of the Task Force on Climate Preparedness represent diverse communities that are threatened by extreme weather. These officials are well suited to identify gaps that leave our lives and livelihoods vulnerable to damage from extreme weather linked to climate change.
In the past three years, federal taxpayers spent $6 on disaster cleanup for every $1 spent on community resilience. A top priority for the task force is to estimate the total price tag of investments needed to better prepare communities for extreme weather. The members should also propose a reliable source of federal revenue to invest in community resilience and reduce damages.
Related resources:
Find a full list of products addressing the issues surrounding Superstorm Sandy and climate resiliency here.
To speak with an expert on this topic, contact Anne Shoup at [email protected] or 202.481.7146.
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