Extreme weather and climate events can escalate to disasters for vulnerable communities and systems, both human and natural. Weather- and climate-related disasters have social as well as physical dimensions. As a result, disaster risk is affected by changes in the frequency and severity of physical events and by diverse and dynamic patterns of exposure and vulnerability.

Research demonstrates that both mitigation (efforts to reduce future climate changes) and adaptation (efforts to reduce the vulnerability of society to climate change impacts) are needed in order to minimize the damages from human-caused climate change and to adapt to the pace and magnitude of changes that will occur. There is mounting evidence that risk and vulnerability of indigenous peoples in the United States will increase substantially unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced.

Although there is uncertainty about the rate and magnitude of projected temperature increases and future climate-related impacts, adaptive actions can provide benefits. Climate change adaptation actions often fulfill other societal goals, such as sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and improvements in quality of life. Therefore, adaptation strategies can provide multiple benefits when incorporated into existing decision-making processes.

Tribal Nations in every region of the United States have begun building adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change impacts. Proactively preparing for climate change can reduce impacts, vulnerabilities, and costs over time, while also facilitating a more rapid and efficient response to changes. Adaptation (to address and prepare for impacts) and mitigation (to reduce future climate change) are both becoming more widespread, but current implementation efforts are insufficient to avoid increasingly negative social, environmental, and economic consequences.