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New York State Adaptation and Resilience Plan

 

Adaptation Resilience Plan Seal

 

New York State is establishing a unified approach to prepare for the impacts of climate change like increased extreme heat, severe flooding, and sea level rise.

New York State is already advancing efforts to address the impacts of climate change through commitments including the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act) and the Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA). Through programs such as the NYS Climate Smart Communities program, DOS Smart Growth Countywide Resilience Planning Program, and more, the State helps local communities build resilience and supports local adaptation. Additional resources include dedicated funding for planning and implementation of projects, providing technical assistance and other community support services, supporting region-specific climate resilience initiatives, and undertaking and funding targeted research.

Recognizing the need for a more unified approach to adaptation and resilience in New York State, in April 2025, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the New York State Adaptation and Resilience Plan (NYSARP), led by an agency team of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Department of State (DOS), Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in partnership with other state agencies.

The NYSARP unifies existing state-led adaptation and resilience planning initiatives to support local efforts to increase community adaptation and resilience to climate change impacts. The Vision and Principles (see below) are the core components to guide ongoing and future state-led climate resilience actions to better support local adaptation. The agencies welcome feedback on the NYSARP process at any time.

Adaptation and Resilience Vision

New York State is resilient and adaptable to climate change. Through inclusive planning and partnerships, coordinated and proactive action, and strategic investment, New York protects lives, strengthens infrastructure, and values nature now and in the future. 

Adaptation and Resilience Principles

Click each principle below for more details.

Prepare New Yorkers for near- and long-term impacts of climate change by empowering informed, future-focused decision making and providing options and resources to meet community needs. Create opportunities to participate in and benefit from a resilient and adaptable economy, safeguard affordability, and improve health and safety. Serve all communities, especially frontline communities that are most impacted by the impacts of climate change. This includes Disadvantaged Communities, environmental justice communities, and vulnerable communities in both rural and urban areas.

Develop proactive strategies that provide immediate benefits and avoid actions that may lead to increased risk of harmful climate-related outcomes across all sectors. Identify strategies to reliably fund and sustain climate adaptation and resilience strategies over time, which may evolve or change. Focus efforts on those that address challenges in multiple sectors such as health, housing, transportation, economic development, and agriculture utilizing solutions that support sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as increase adaptation and resilience.

Ground decisions in the most up-to-date and accurate climate science and data to ensure adaptation and resilience strategies effectively address current and future risks. Leverage evolving technologies to inform climate science. Better understand and apply ecosystems knowledge from local communities and Indian Nations.

Work harmoniously with natural ecosystems and processes to reduce climate risks, enhance biodiversity, and provide sustainable benefits for people and the environment. Consider when nature-based solutions can be prioritized over or used in conjunction with engineered solutions for maximum benefits. Prioritize self-sustaining systems that enable ecological restoration. Protect and steward critical natural and agricultural resources.

Understand and prioritize improving local and regional adaptative capacity. Strategically leverage State agency expertise and technical support to empower and support communities and reinforce local resilience. Develop improved and expanded access to State resources and tools and share best practices across State agencies, local governments, Indian Nations, and community partners to promote collaboration. Expand, enhance, and/or leverage ongoing work to build on existing efforts across regions, jurisdictions, and sectors.

Collaborate across state agencies through policy alignment, clear prioritization, and shared accountability for outcomes. Expand, enhance, and/or leverage ongoing work to build on existing efforts. Create systems of coordination within state agencies, as well as with businesses, local governments, schools, Indian Nations, and non-profit community partners to maximize these efforts and reduce any conflicts. Build durable interagency and cross-sector coalitions with shared methods and long-term objectives.

Develop strategies with community input, grounded in local solutions. Elevate community voices and meet functional needs to address inequities, remove barriers, and benefit local populations. Equitably distribute economic, social, and environmental benefits of adaptation and resilience efforts. Strive to demonstrate transparency and accountability in all engagements, commitments, and efforts. Share information early and often with stakeholders. Develop mechanisms for consistent public reporting and feedback. Provide transparency on datasets used to inform programs and actions. Focus on building and maintaining trust with local communities and stakeholders.

Review and revise climate adaptation and resilience approaches, challenges, and solutions to promote responsive outcomes that can adapt to changing conditions, new information, and emerging risks. Promote knowledge sharing and workforce development opportunities for New York State residents, businesses, communities, and governments to address climate change impacts, grow green economy jobs, and integrate best practices across sectors.

Development of the NYSARP

Engagement with Core Agency Partners

A Core Agency Working Group (CAWG) provides state agency perspective on current adaptation and resilience efforts and future direction.

The following agencies participate in the CAWG: Department of Agriculture and Markets; Department of Financial Services; Division of Budget; Department of Health; Department of State; Department of Transportation; Department of Public Service; Homes & Community Renewal; New York Power Authority / Canals; Office of General Services; Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation; and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Engagement with Local Government and Community Partners

The NYSARP team formed two adaptation advisory panels (AAPs) to provide important perspective and input. Advisory panels include:

  • Local Partners AAP: Members include local government representatives, regional planning organizations, and non-profits focused on planning efforts working on the county and municipal levels.
  • Climate Equity AAP: Members include local community groups and non-profits who represent disadvantaged and frontline communities across New York.

The AAPs provided key insights and feedback on the Vision and Principles through engagement sessions to envision a resilient and adaptable New York that supports action at the local level.

The NYSARP team is also consulting with Tribal and Nation leadership on a government-to-government basis for their valuable perspective. Insights received from Tribal and Nation leadership have been incorporated into the Vision and Principles.

Engagement with New Yorkers

To provide an opportunity for all New Yorkers to inform the state’s strategic direction on adapting and building resilience to climate change, NYS invites feedback and input on actions the state can take to strengthen adaptation and resilience at the state level and advance the application of the Vision and Principles in the development and implementation of local adaptation and resilience strategies.

NYSARP Input Form

Please contact the NYSARP team via email at [email protected] with any additional questions, comments, or suggestions.

2025 Summer Webinar Series

As part of the foundational phase, the State hosted a series of online webinars in summer 2025. This webinar series, led by DEC, NYSERDA, DOS, and DHSES, provided an overview of the NYSARP process and future opportunities to provide input. Additionally, each webinar showcased agency-specific programs and resources that were currently available at that time to support local and regional adaptation. Many of those resources are still available, but please contact the respective agency to learn more.

Webinar recordings are posted below. The NYSARP overview is the same across all webinars and represents the status in summer 2025, which has since evolved.

NYSARP Webinar Recordings

NYSERDA Webinar Recording DOS Webinar Recording DEC Webinar Recording
DHSES Webinar Recording

DEC Webinar Resource Links (PDF)

Adaptation and Resilience Resources

For additional resources and tools, please visit the Resilient NY website.

Planning for Climate Change in New York State

Climate Impacts Assessment

CLCPA

NYS Climate Smart Communities

New York’s Response to Climate Change

Community Risk and Resiliency Act

Extreme Heat Action Plan

MitigateNY State and Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Platform

DOS Resilience Planning

Funding and Tools for Local Action

NYS Environmental Bond Act & Funding Finder

DOS Model Local Laws

DOS Resilience Principles

Local Climate Change and Adaptation and Resilience Planning

DEC Climate Smart Communities Grants

NYSERDA Resilient Energy Systems and Resources

DOS Funding and Bid Opportunities

New York State Urban Heat Islands

Prioritizing Climate Justice

Office of Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Grant Programs

NYS Disadvantaged Communities

NYS Potential Environmental Justice Areas

Maps and Geospatial Information Tools

DOS DEIA

Contact for this Page

Office of Climate Change
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

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