US Department of Agriculture

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2014)

From 2010 to 2012, annual greenhouse gas mitigation benefits associated with USDA conservation programs totaled more than 11 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent
From 2009 to 2012, USDA investments assisting thousands of rural small business, farmers and ranchers have resulted in more than 6600 projects to install renewable energy systems and energy efficiency solutions and saved enough energy to power more than 680,000 homes annually
Forest growth and afforestation in the United States currently account for a net gain in carbon storage, offsetting approximately 13 percent of the Nation’s fossil fuel CO2 production

USDA Regional Climate Hubs deliver science-based tools, strategies and practical information to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to support decision-making related to climate change
USDA is working with NOAA, DOI and several other federal agencies to establish a National Soil Moisture Network with an emphasis on expansion into underserved regions and vulnerable populations

USDA is participating wholly or in coordination with other agencies in 19 actions including identifying vulnerabilities to climate change, maintaining agricultural sustainability, managing drought and leading efforts to address climate change through international negotiations

Wildfires: Increasing wildfire season length, size and severity of large fires, coupled with an expanding wild land-urban interface, have been multiplying wildfire suppression costs and reducing the capacity to provide other services including ecosystem services
Invasive Insects and Pathogens: Climate change impacts on ecosystems and habitat characteristics will result in shifts of animal and pest populations into new and expanded habitats. This movement can increase the rapid spread of diseases and pests in regions already under stress from climate extremes
Drought: Drought is a very serious extreme that has occurred more frequently and for greater lengths of time in the last decade. Consequently, portions of the central and southern US, and more recently California, have experienced significant periods of widespread drought since 2010
Rising Sea Levels: Coastal lands and coastal Tribes are increasingly at risk of damage to their lands, including infrastructure, due to rising sea level
Extreme Weather Events: Prolonged personnel exposure to the elements during extreme flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Human health and safety risk to employees and contractor/cooperators

USDA is focusing ongoing efforts in improving climate adaptation and resilience on a number of current investments. Currently USDA supports climate adaptation and resilience in multiple initiatives in the areas of Energy Management and Greenhouse Gas (GHG), Sustainable Buildings, Sustainable Locations, Fleet Management, Sustainable Procurement and Bio-Preferred Products
USDA Regional Climate Hubs deliver science-based tools, strategies and practical information to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners within each region of the United States to support decision-making related to climate change
The passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) will allow agency updates of programs and policies including grants, loans, and additional technical assistance to assist in addressing the impacts of climate change