{"id":27023,"date":"2024-02-05T21:34:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T02:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/climate\/?p=27023"},"modified":"2024-02-05T21:34:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T02:34:25","slug":"usda-celebrates-10-years-of-climate-hubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/climate\/2024\/02\/usda-celebrates-10-years-of-climate-hubs\/","title":{"rendered":"USDA Celebrates 10 Years of Climate Hubs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The USDA issued a press release today celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the founding of the USDA Climate Hubs. I have worked with our Southeast Regional Climate Hub<\/a> in Raleigh for most of that time, and they are a great resource for us in the Southeast. You can read some of my previous blog posts on products from the SERCH, including information their very helpful series on Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Guides for different crops, at https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/climate\/?s=hub<\/a>. They are currently working on some great new products that will be available in the future, so stay tuned for more information once they make their new products public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The text of the press release with more information is listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2024<\/strong> \u2013 Today marks 10 years since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created regional Climate Hubs<\/a>, which were established to help support the agricultural producers and rural communities make climate-informed decisions. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is highlighting how these regional climate centers \u2013 bolstered by President Biden\u2019s historic climate agenda \u2013 are helping farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and communities address the threats of climate change. The Climate Hubs are an important piece of USDA\u2019s bold agenda to address climate change, complementing investments of $19.5 billion through President Biden\u2019s Inflation Reduction Act<\/a>, the largest-ever climate investment, to help agricultural producers adopt climate-smart practices, $1 billion to the Urban and Community Forestry Program to combat extreme heat and climate change, and $3.1 billion to expand markets for climate-smart commodities through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we announced the creation of the Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change 10 years ago, our goal was to address the risks posed by intensifying climate change,\u201d said Vilsack. \u201cToday, as those risks are increasingly prevalent across the nation and the globe, the need for science-based, climate information and assistance is more important than ever. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to tackling the climate crisis and meeting the urgent and critical need for climate adaptation and mitigation, and USDA is continuing to support those efforts by guiding climate solutions for working lands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, 10 regional locations<\/a> were established across the United States. In May 2023, an International Climate Hub<\/a> was added to share best practices and collaborate with international partners and improve the world’s ability to mitigate and adapt to climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Climate Hubs form a network of more than 120 climate researchers and communicators who work across the USDA and with partners to support climate-informed decisions. The Hubs are a collaboration of several USDA agencies, including the Agricultural Research Service, Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service, and act as force multipliers for USDA\u2019s climate science and services extending the Department\u2019s reach. The Hubs also coordinate with the U.S. Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which each have regional climate change organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting both the National Climate Resilience Framework<\/a> and Federal Framework and Action Plan for Climate Services, the Climate Hubs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n