The climate is changing, and so must we.

Last month continued Earth’s year-long streak of record-breaking heat, marking the 13th consecutive month of unprecedented global temperatures. Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl made history as the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in over a century and set a record for the most tornado warnings issued in a single day.

Despite being categorized as only a Category 1 hurricane at landfall, Hurricane Beryl left millions of Texans without power during a heatwave, placing strain on healthcare systems and endangering residents. With climate scientists predicting more frequent and severe storms, these events underscore an urgent reality: Infrastructure designed for the past can’t keep up.

Adapting to the new climate is unavoidable. The question is: Will this adaptation be methodically planned, or will it be haphazard, leading to frequent flooding, extended power outages, and roads buckling under escalating heat?

We need well-coordinated and adequately funded climate resilience initiatives now.

Currently, federal, state, and local governments collectively invest over $400 billion annually in public infrastructure. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2023 Inflation Reduction Act have allocated several billion for climate adaptation and resilience funding.

However, these measures are insufficient. The Government Accountability Office reported a 35% staffing gap at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2022, underscoring the need for stronger support.

Fortunately, there are several promising bills before Congress that could steer us in the right direction:

1. The bipartisan National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security Act would mandate a national climate adaptation and resilience strategy.

2. The FEMA Independence Act would elevate FEMA to a cabinet-level organization.

3. The bipartisan Natural Disaster Safety Board Act would establish a commission to study future climate disasters and advocate for necessary policy changes.

Last week, the Biden administration set a precedent for climate resiliency by proposing a rule to protect 36 million workers from extreme heat. Let’s keep the momentum going.

We must ensure our leaders plan for the inevitable changes to our climate, ensuring a sustainable future for us all. The time to adapt is now.