WRI: eight policy opportunities to support climate resilience
On December 14, 2016, the World Resources Institute (WRI) released a report entitled "Roadmap for supporting local climate resilience: lessons learned from the rising Tide Summit", which proposed eight priority policy opportunities for the United States federal government to help local governments and communities build climate resilience based on the recommendations of the 2015 "rising Tide Summit". For each opportunity, the report also identifies actions that the federal government needs to take to further help improve local climate resilience.
(1) increase the incentive for pre-disaster resilience. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has begun to develop a new "disaster deductible" (disaster deductible) policy, which requires states to pay deductible fees before receiving federal disaster assistance. States can reduce their deductibles by implementing pre-disaster resilience measures. To make further progress, the federal government can: 1 provide additional pre-disaster assistance by increasing funding for FEMA pre-disaster mitigation projects; and 2 promote "disaster deductibles" from concept to comprehensive policies to encourage states to implement pre-disaster measures.
(2) integrate resilience into planning, design, management and investment. The federal government recently introduced regulations requiring all federal investors to take flood risk reduction measures in floodplains. Based on recent actions, the federal government can: 1 require federally funded projects of all agencies to include the best available climate data and forecasts, ensure that long-term infrastructure investments and commitments include future climate-related risks; and 2 make federal disaster assistance dependent on state plans and measures to reduce future risks related to climate change.
(3) improve inter-departmental and inter-governmental coordination and support. FEMA's Integrated disaster reduction working Group (Mitigation Integration Task Force) and related pilot projects are bringing together partners. To achieve additional sustained progress, the federal government could: (1) create a national resilience centre within the National Security Council (National Security Council) to provide technical support to states and communities in promoting climate resilience initiatives; and (2) establish working groups as a permanent body to improve intergovernmental resilience coordination and advise resilience centres.
(IV) give priority to pre-disaster support for vulnerable populations and the most at-risk communities. The Subcommittee on Climate change under the Federal Interdepartmental working Group on Environmental Justice (Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice) is assessing the impartiality of resilience work. In addition, the federal government could: 1 require part of federal disaster assistance to address the resilience needs of the poorest and most at-risk communities, this includes funding for pre-disaster training for local government officials, emergency workers and community leaders; and 2 priority should be given to the development of relocation guidelines as a resource for communities to view relocation as an effective and necessary solution.
(v) expand public-private partnerships (PPPs) to complement government resilience. A recent successful example is the National disaster resilience Competition (National Disaster Resilience Competition), through which the federal government and private foundations provided $1 billion to states and communities to implement resilience initiatives. To help expand PPPs, the federal government can: (1) implement initiatives similar to the national disaster resilience competition to provide federal budget projects for agencies responsible for providing disaster assistance; and (2) mobilize federal agencies and the private sector to jointly develop financing mechanisms, such as tax credits, to provide incentives for resilience-based built environment renovation.
(VI) resilience initiatives to promote natural and multiple benefits. In 2015, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Community Initiative report, which provides examples of existing green infrastructure projects. Under the new government, federal agencies can: 1 encourage the implementation of green and nature-based solutions by increasing federal cost sharing for this type of resilience investment; and 2 provide technical support for state and local development of resilience strategies, these resilience strategies include reducing carbon synergies, such as reducing energy consumption, improving the efficiency of transportation systems, and advancing the transition to clean energy systems.
(VII) strengthening indicators and economic impact assessments focusing on disaster resilience. On the basis of the draft Intersectoral thinking on Community resilience indicators and country-level measures released by the disaster reduction Framework leadership Group led by FEMA in the summer of 2016, the federal government can: 1 develop a tool to enable local and states to better demonstrate the costs, damage and losses caused by climate-related events. The tool should be managed by FEMA and provide guidance for accounting for the impact on non-economic assets and other indirect costs; 2 bring together federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector to develop comprehensive resilience indicators to help localities understand and monitor their climate resilience.
(8) enhance the usefulness of resilience-related data in order to raise public awareness. Recently, the White House Climate data Initiative announced the resilience and Preventive Partnership (Partnership for Resilience and Preparedness), which will support climate resilience by mobilizing and deploying data to help address the needs of stakeholders. To do more, the federal government can: 1 update the United States Climate resilience Toolkit to more effectively account for disaster-related information online, including local climate and marine trends, extreme weather and coastal flood damage, resilience spending, resilience case studies and funding opportunities 2 disseminate data with local characteristics to allow the public and policy makers to better understand other impacts of increased coastal floods and extreme weather events, and to provide decision makers with the necessary information in resilience decision-making.
Source: "Climate change Science dynamic Monitoring KuaiBao", Lanzhou Literature and Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1, 2017. Please indicate the source.
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Britain in Talks With NATO to Boost Arctic Security
The Arctic Is No Longer a Frozen Backwater For decades, the Arctic sat quietly on the margins of global politics—remote, frozen, and largely ignored. That era is over. Britain is now in talks with NATO to strengthen Arctic security, acknowledging growing risks posed by Russia and China. In a notable shift, London’s assessment aligns closely with warnings long emphasized by Donald Trump, particularly as he continues to express strategic interest in Greenland. What once sounded like an eccentric fixation has evolved into a serious geopolitical conversation. The Arctic is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most contested regions, and Britain is positioning itself to play a larger role. Why Britain Is Paying Attention Now Although the UK is not an Arctic nation, it is an Arctic-adjacent power with significant strategic interests. British officials increasingly view the High North as critical to national and allied security. Melting ice is opening new shipping routes, exposing untapped natural resources, and making military movement easier than ever before. Britain’s talks with NATO focus on intelligence sharing, joint exercises, surveillance capabilities, and protecting undersea infrastructure such as communication cables and energy pipelines. These are not abstract concerns. Any disruption in the Arctic could have immediate consequences for European security and global trade. In short, what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. Russia’s Expanding Arctic Footprint Russia is the dominant military power in the Arctic, and it is not slowing down. Moscow has reopened Soviet-era bases, deployed advanced missile systems, expanded its icebreaker fleet, and increased patrols across the region. The Arctic coastline represents a core part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent, making it strategically vital to the Kremlin. From NATO’s perspective, this military buildup creates both risk and uncertainty. Britain, which has long been vocal about Russian aggression—from Ukraine to cyber warfare—sees the Arctic as another front where deterrence must be strengthened before tensions spiral. The concern is not necessarily an immediate conflict, but miscalculation. In a region with harsh conditions and limited communication infrastructure, even minor incidents could escalate rapidly. China’s Quiet but Steady Arctic Ambitions While Russia’s presence is overt, China’s Arctic strategy is more subtle—and equally concerning to Western planners. Beijing calls itself a “near-Arctic state,” a label that has raised eyebrows in Europe and North America. Through investments, research stations, and partnerships, China is laying the groundwork for long-term influence. Britain shares NATO’s concern that China could use civilian projects for dual-use purposes, blending scientific research with intelligence gathering and infrastructure control. As Arctic shipping routes become commercially viable, China’s interest in controlling parts of the supply chain only grows. London’s alignment with these concerns reflects a broader shift in UK foreign policy: China is no longer viewed solely as an economic partner, but as a strategic competitor. Trump, Greenland, and Strategic Reality Donald Trump’s repeated interest in Greenland—most famously his suggestion that the United States should buy it—was widely mocked at the time. Yet behind the headlines was a strategic logic that many Western governments now openly acknowledge. Greenland sits at the heart of the Arctic, hosting vital air and naval routes between North America and Europe. It is also rich in rare earth minerals critical for modern technology and defense systems. As ice recedes, Greenland’s strategic value only increases. Britain’s current position, which aligns with Trump’s warnings about Arctic vulnerabilities, shows how quickly political perceptions can change. What once seemed unconventional now appears prescient. NATO’s Arctic Awakening NATO has traditionally focused on Eastern Europe and the North Atlantic. The Arctic, despite its importance, received less coordinated attention. That is changing. Britain’s talks with NATO reflect a broader alliance effort to integrate Arctic defense into its core strategy. This includes: Increased joint military exercises in cold-weather environments Enhanced monitoring of Russian and Chinese activity Strengthening cooperation with Arctic nations like Norway, Canada, and Denmark Protecting critical undersea and satellite infrastructure For Britain, this is also about credibility. As a leading NATO member and a key military power, the UK wants to demonstrate that it can contribute meaningfully beyond its immediate geography. Climate Change as a Security Multiplier One of the most striking aspects of Arctic security is how closely it is tied to climate change. Melting ice is not just an environmental issue—it is a strategic one. New sea lanes shorten travel between Asia and Europe, while access to oil, gas, and minerals becomes easier. This transformation increases competition and reduces natural barriers that once limited military movement. Britain’s involvement reflects recognition that climate-driven changes are reshaping the security landscape faster than traditional institutions were designed to handle. In this sense, Arctic security is a preview of future global challenges where environmental change and geopolitics collide. Domestic and Diplomatic Balancing Acts Britain’s Arctic engagement is not without challenges. Increased military involvement raises questions about defense spending, priorities, and escalation risks. Diplomatically, London must balance deterrence with dialogue, avoiding actions that could unnecessarily provoke Russia while still protecting allied interests. There is also the question of public awareness. Arctic security lacks the visibility of conflicts like Ukraine, making it harder to sustain political attention. Yet policymakers increasingly argue that prevention is cheaper—and safer—than crisis response. What This Means Going Forward Britain’s talks with NATO mark an important shift in how the Arctic is viewed: not as a distant frontier, but as a central arena in 21st-century security. Agreement with Trump-era assessments on Russia, China, and Greenland underscores how geopolitical realities can outlast political controversies. As competition intensifies, the Arctic will likely become a testing ground for cooperation, deterrence, and strategic foresight. Britain’s involvement signals that mid-sized powers are no longer content to watch from the sidelines. Final Thoughts The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth—and so are the geopolitical tensions surrounding it. Britain’s move to boost Arctic security with NATO reflects a growing consensus that ignoring the High North is no longer an option. Whether driven by Russia’s militarization, China’s quiet expansion, or lessons drawn from Trump’s blunt warnings, one truth stands out: the future of global security may well be shaped at the top of the world, where ice, ambition, and power now intersect.
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