Case Studies

Long Range Planning: Climate Change Adaptation at DHS

Challenge

Following the issuance of Executive Order 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” and the successful Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2010 Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, DHS sought to incorporate climate change into Department strategies, plans, business processes, and programs.  Specific requirements included establishing a governance structure for climate change adaptation, conducting a leadership exercise to raise awareness, and developing a DHS Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap.  The climate change adaptation project would also serve as the first Department-wide, long-range planning initiative against a key strategic driver.  This required a new and repeatable process to align the climate change adaptation initiative with the DHS strategic framework as set out in the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review.

Solution

In support of the Office of Policy, HWC helped plan, design, and facilitate the DHS climate change adaptation activities for FY 2011.  In collaboration with senior leadership, HWC designed a structure for governance and implementation. Building on the experience of the 2010 Task Force, HWC built a robust analytic process that assisted working groups to examine potential DHS mission risks, identify requirements and capability gaps, and develop and prioritize actions. This process was the basis of the Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap, which provides potential actions and guidance for DHS in FY 2012 and beyond.  Leveraging relationships with nationally-recognized subject matter experts, HWC constructed and supported a tabletop exercise which allowed senior leadership to examine the possible impacts of climate change on their missions, objectives, assets, and capabilities.

Results

By examining climate change as a strategic driver, DHS is not only meeting the requirements of Executive Order 13514, but the Department now has a framework in place for future long-range planning initiatives.  The tabletop exercise enhanced leadership buy-in and support, provided strategic insight and guidance for future climate change adaptation activities within DHS, and resulted in a new model for the FEMA National Exercise Division to use when conducting exercises involving key strategic drivers. The Climate Change Adaptation governance model will continue to guide department activities in FY 2012 and beyond, including implementing selected Roadmap actions, examining the challenges posed by changing migration patterns, and conducting inter-agency assessment and planning.

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• Overview
• Creating a New Grants Management Division
• Leadership Transition
• Long Range Planning: Climate Change Adaptation at DHS
• Process Documentation and Standardization
• Improved Decision Support Through Information Management
• Strategic Foresight Initiative for the Emergency Management Community