Agencies Update Climate Resiliency Plans; Building Upgrades, Workforce in Focus

More than 20 federal agencies released updated climate resiliency plans, covering the years 2024 through 2027. The goal is to ensure that “employees, resources, and operations are increasingly resilient to climate change impacts like extreme weather” such as the extreme heat we’re seeing this summer throughout the nation.

The Climate Adaptation Plans touch a number of areas involving the federal workforce and beyond and complement the National Climate Resilience Framework, a roadmap to create a climate resilient nation by aligning “climate resilience investments across the public and private sectors through common principles and opportunities.”

The reports include risk assessments, implementation plans, and ways to demonstrate progress.

Federal Buildings

One of the critical areas in many of the plans is retrofitting federal buildings. After all, about half the federal workforce works inside office buildings, and making those facilities climate resilient is critical.

Many of the changes focus on protecting federal buildings from flooding.

The General Services Administration (GSA) will integrate flood risk information into its asset management systems, asset planning processes, and site acquisition guidance for GSA-controlled, federally owned buildings.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assessing the long-term viability of its offices in locations prone to severe flooding. 

“The agency will complete site-specific resilience assessments at all owned facilities within the next two years and continue to upgrade and increase the climate resilience of our facilities and protect our workforce,” wrote EPA Administrator Michael Regan in the EPA plan.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is also working to “realign space requirements across the entire real property portfolio and evaluate opportunities to reduce the real property footprint in floodplains.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) plans to install upgraded HVAC systems in regions prone to extreme heat, better drainage systems in regions prone to extreme precipitation, and fire-safe upgrades for buildings in regions prone to wildfires.

Fostering a Climate Ready Workforce

On the topic of the federal workforce, agencies to hope to ensure “continuity of operations and safeguard federal employee wellbeing in the face of increasing exposure to climate-related hazards.” 

Many agencies are implementing screening tools that will allow them to update the workforce on severe weather including flooding, extreme heat, and wildfires.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is providing guidance for agencies when dangerous weather events occur.

DOE is bolstering communications systems to warn employees of workplace climate hazards. It’s also planning to improve air filtration systems inside buildings and to shuffle workers around if needed to avoid outside hazards.

Agencies point out that communication and data sharing are critical to keeping the federal workforce protected.

OSHA Proposes Rule to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

On the heels of efforts focused on enhancing climate resiliency of federal infrastructure and workers, the Biden administration last week announced a new proposed rule to protect indoor and outdoor workers from extreme heat.

The proposed rule from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) would benefit over 36 million workers and if implemented would substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace, according to the proposal.

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the country.

“Workers all over the country are passing out, suffering heat stroke and dying from heat exposure from just doing their jobs, and something must be done to protect them,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker. “Today’s proposal is an important next step in the process to receive public input to craft a ‘win-win’ final rule that protects workers while being practical and workable for employers.”