Climate Change

Climate change poses a significant challenge for the National Park System, affecting their management of both natural and cultural resources, as well as how they operate facilities, plan, and improve visitor experiences. The National Park Service (NPS) must confront climate change as a core responsibility to safeguard resources for future generations. The NPS Climate Change Response Strategy 2023 Update expands on previous initiatives to combat climate change, maintaining focus on research, adaptation, mitigation, and communication, while also incorporating new strategies that reflect a deeper understanding and experience in the field.

This strategy acknowledges the complicated and far-reaching impacts of climate change and highlights the importance of collaboration and inclusive approaches. The National Park Service understands the significance of leading by example for visitors, other government entities, businesses, the community, and even a worldwide audience. Through its management of parks, the NPS has a unique chance to motivate everyone to engage in environmental protection.

The National Park Service confronts a world that has been greatly affected by human-induced climate change, but the goal is still clear: to protect these parks for the enjoyment, learning, and inspiration of both current and future generations. Annually, more than 300 million people visit national parks to witness the beauty, emotions, and narratives of our shared history. Unfortunately, climate change is taking a toll on these parks, resulting in increased temperatures, droughts, wildfires, rising sea levels, loss of species, and extreme weather conditions.

It's really important to talk honestly about the difficulties of managing parks due to climate change with visitors, local communities, and everyone involved. The National Park Service needs to use the best data they can find to make informed decisions, which means they have to grasp global climate trends and make management choices that take these climate effects into account. Ongoing research from different fields is being published, which helps us learn more about the shifting climate and how it affects the parks.