In early April 2012, the Natural Resources Defense Council ("NRDC") issued what it calls the first comprehensive and comparative review of each state's preparedness for the potential risks associated with climate change impacts on water resources. The report, entitled "Ready or Not: An Evaluation of State Climate and Water Preparedness Planning," explores the various measures each state is taking to identify, analyze, and address these water-related risks and concludes that while many states have developed comprehensive and integrated strategies, their research suggests that many states have not even begun to identify, much less plan for, these risks. (For a summary Issue Brief, click here. 

NRDC premised the study on a finding by the U.S. Global Change Research Program that warmer climatic temperatures are causing changes to the water cycle, which include changes in precipitation and drought patterns, loss of lake and river ice, and untimely and altered patterns of snow accumulation and melting. These changes, they report, result in impacts to the nation's water resources that include increased risk of pollution to or limitation of water supply, impaired hydropower development, expanded flooding and erosion, saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater aquifers, and even changes to the pH of the ocean.

Figure ES-1 of the report summarizes the analysis and breaks these risks down further to the state level, providing a summary of the study's findings insofar as the specific risks faced by each. According to the report, every state faces at least two material threats to water resources, and most states face many more.

The report ranks each state on its progress in identifying and planning for these risks and presents a summary of priority planning tools for those states that rank lowest in the study. In reviewing the actions already taken by each state, the report evaluates two components of each state's planning: reduction of greenhouse gas pollution and preparation for climate change impacts on water resources.

Not surprisingly, California is among the nine states that achieved the highest ranking by NRDC. According to the report, California, along with several New England states, is a leader with respect to both components.

Trailing behind, according to NRDC's evaluation, are the Midwestern states together with Texas and Alabama. The report identifies these states as either lacking or having inadequate greenhouse gas reduction plans and as having no preparedness/adaptation plan in place for addressing anticipated water resource risks. The latter issue could be of critical importance to business leaders seeking reliable infrastructure, such as a clean and sufficient water supply.

Finally, the report recommends a number of strategies for states to consider in developing their climate change risk management plans. In particular, the following are presented as among the top priority planning tools, according to NRDC, many of which are focused on addressing climate change itself rather than planning for the risks should they manifest themselves:

  • Set greenhouse gas pollution reduction targets or goals and develop a plan for meeting these reduction levels;
  • Foster partnerships to stay current on climate science and sector-specific developments;
  • Conduct a statewide vulnerability assessment to determine potential climate change impacts; and
  • Develop a comprehensive adaptation plan to address climate risks in all relevant sectors and integrate climate change preparedness into existing planning processes.

NRDC also includes "federal action" as another element of this toolbox, using the report as an opportunity to press for federal climate change legislation. From a business perspective, the vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan elements would enable states to address the water supply and other water risks potentially associated with climate change in a comprehensive, proactive manner, rather than risking impacts with no system for protecting valuable, critical water resources.

Depending on the receptiveness of the audience, the NRDC report could encourage state government officials to increase efforts at greenhouse gas regulation and long-term climate change planning, although it comes at a time when even the most aggressive states are, at best, holding steady and in some cases scaling back their climate change-related regulatory efforts.

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