Podcast: Beyond Adaptation Plans: Measuring Success in the Next Era of Federal Climate Adaptation
In episode 258 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Bryan Hubbell, Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future and former EPA research leader, about how climate adaptation can move from good intentions to measurable results. Drawing on nearly three decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bryan reflects on EPA's often-overlooked role in advancing adaptation across public health, ecosystems, wildfire smoke, and contaminated sites. Doug and Bryan explore one of the field's biggest challenges: how to determine whether adaptation efforts are actually reducing climate risk. They discuss the need for stronger evidence, better knowledge sharing, and new ways to connect research with real-world decision making. The conversation also looks ahead to the next era of federal climate adaptation, examining how a future administration can rebuild adaptation capacity while creating stronger institutions that help communities learn, innovate, and better prepare for a changing climate.
Transcript of episode available here.
Links in this Episode:
Adaptation Evidence Bank poster presented at the 2026 National Adaptation Forum
Climate Change Impacts on Environmental Protection at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: A Horizon Scan
How the Trump Administration Ended Independent Science at the E.P.A.
Key Themes Covered in This Episode
Measuring climate adaptation success.
Lessons from nearly three decades at EPA.
Turning adaptation research into better decisions.
Building stronger adaptation institutions.
Preparing for the next era of federal climate adaptation.
For Educators & Students
Climate adaptation policy
Measuring adaptation success
Evidence-based decision making
Federal climate adaptation
Institutionalizing climate adaptation
Who Should Listen to This Episode
Climate adaptation professionals
Federal, state, and local government leaders
Resilience and sustainability practitioners
Researchers and university students
Anyone interested in the future of climate adaptation governance.