Considerations for Climate Change and Variability Adaptation on the Navajo Nation

This report provides information to the Navajo Nation that has been deemed important for the future development of a climate change adaptation plan and is intended to be used by decision makers on the Nation.

Executive Summary:
Our goal with this report is to provide the Navajo Nation and its communities with information that we hope will be useful for the Nation as it engages in adaptation planning in response to climate change and variability. In Chapter 1, we discuss actions being undertaken by Native peoples around the United States in response to climate change and also provide some context about federal Indian law and the Navajo Reservation. In Chapter 2, we present an example of one way to approach the adaptation planning process, all the way from scoping and engagement to strategy implementation and monitoring and evaluation. Chapter 3 presents a synopsis of available information on climate changes currently being observed in the Southwestern United States and on the Navajo Reservation and introduces potential future climate changes in the Southwest. Chapters 4 through 12 focus on nine key sectors or resources: water, farming, range, health, tourism, biodiversity, forest, community infrastructure, and energy. For each sector or resource, we provide information that is relevant for the adaptation planning process described in Chapter 2. This information includes: (1) an introduction to the resource; (2) potential climate change and variability impacts on that resource; (3) an assessment of legal, political, economic, and other vulnerability and adaptive capacity factors that may contribute to or lessen impacts; (4) some potential adaptation strategies; and (5) an initial survey of funding options to facilitate adaptation planning and implementation efforts.

We hope that Considerations for Climate Change and Variability Adaptation on the Navajo Nation provides a helpful platform for Navajo decision-makers to continue assessing how to best adapt to a changing climate while managing the Reservation’s unique resources in whatever manner the Nation feels would be most beneficial for its people. Although this report includes information and knowledge shared by Navajo officials and stakeholders, this project does not represent the official views or policy of the Navajo government.