What EPA Is Doing About Climate Change
Climate change is real and happening all around us. Taking action to fight the urgent threat of climate change offers an opportunity to build more resilient infrastructure, protect public health, strengthen America's working communities, and spur American technological innovations.
EPA's work is improving society’s understanding of climate change and its impacts on human health and the environment. The data, tools, and resources that EPA develops can also be used by other agencies, organizations, states, Tribes, and communities to help tackle the climate crisis effectively and sustainably.
For more information about EPA's climate change website mission and goals, see Climate Change at EPA.
On this page:
- Measuring Emissions Data
- Reducing Emissions
- Investing in Our Future
- Evaluating Policy Options, Costs, and Benefits
- Advancing the Science
- Partnering Internationally
- Helping Communities Reduce Emissions and Adapt
- Climate Connections
Measuring Emissions Data
EPA is responsible for measuring greenhouse gas emissions using two programs designed to help the public and policymakers understand the nation’s total emissions as well as the sources and types of these emissions at individual facilities.
Reducing Emissions
EPA works with industry and others to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through regulatory initiatives and partnership programs. Within the Agency, EPA implements a range of strategies to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and take other steps to reduce its carbon footprint.
Investing in Our Future
EPA is making historic investments to tackle climate change, protect public health, create jobs in communities across the country, and deliver a more prosperous future.
Evaluating Policy Options, Costs, and Benefits
EPA conducts analyses to understand the physical and economic impacts of climate change under different emission scenarios and to quantify the economic impacts and effectiveness of proposed climate policies. EPA also provides free tools to state, local, and Tribal governments to help them evaluate their own clean energy policies and programs.
- Climate Change Impacts and Risk Analysis
- Climate Economic Analysis
- Tools for State, Local, and Tribal Governments
Advancing the Science
EPA conducts research on climate change to understand its impacts and help manage its risks. EPA partners with other federal agencies and international organizations to coordinate research. EPA’s research includes efforts to better understand the links between climate change and air quality, ecosystems, and human health.
- Climate Change Indicators
- Climate Change Research
- Wildland Fire Research
- U.S. Global Change Research Program homepage
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Partnering Internationally
EPA is engaged in a variety of international activities to advance climate change science, monitor the environment, and promote activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EPA establishes partnerships, provides leadership, and shares technical expertise to support these activities.
Helping Communities Reduce Emissions and Adapt
Climate change is happening and affecting communities, livelihoods, and environments. In response, EPA is providing technical assistance, tools, and resources to help state, Tribal, and local governments in planning, adapting, and building climate resiliency.
- Energy Resources for State, Local, and Tribal Governments
- State and Local Transportation Resources
- Climate Ready Estuaries
- Creating Resilient Water Utilities
- Adaptation Resource Center
- Smart Growth and Climate Change
- Community-Port Collaboration
Climate Connections
Explore climate change topics at EPA:
- Energy and the Environment
- Climate and Transportation
- Climate and Waste
- Climate and Water
- Climate and Indoor Air Quality