The U.S. government has identified seven goals to help fish, wildlife, plants, and ecosystems cope with the impacts of climate change (National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy). These goals are designed to inspire and enable natural resource managers, legislators and other decision makers to take effective steps toward climate change adaptation over the next five to ten years:

Agriculture has been able to adapt to recent changes in climate; however, increased innovation will be needed to ensure the rate of adaptation of agriculture and the associated socioeconomic system can keep pace with climate change over the next 25 years. The effects of climate change on the food system will depend on the system’s adaptive responses to local climate stressors.