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Category: National News

Washington, DC - Last week, representatives of more than 190 nations agreed to an unprecedented global climate agreement that establishes a long-term, durable framework to address one of the gravest threats facing humanity.  As the President said, the agreement in Paris creates a mechanism for us to continually tackle climate change in an effective way and begin the next phase of building a low-carbon, climate-resilient future while generating new jobs and industries. 

That’s why today the Administration is taking action to build upon the tremendous progress we’ve made here at home by announcing a new public-private water innovation strategy. This strategy includes an aggressive two-part approach led by Federal agencies to address the impacts of climate change on the use and supply of our nation’s water resources and calls on private sector and other stakeholder groups to help significantly scale up research and investment in water efficiency solutions. The Administration’s new water innovation strategy calls for: 

As drought conditions persist throughout the western United States, every drop of water counts. This innovation strategy means new cost-effective water solutions – and it means new businesses and new jobs for Americans. To kick-start this strategy and set up the United States as a leader on the path towards greater water efficiency and improved water technologies, today, the Administration is:

The public-private water innovation strategy expands upon the unprecedented action the President has taken to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change, and protect our natural resources for future generations.

The Obama Administration’s Actions to Help Communities Suffering from Drought

Even as droughts are expected to intensify in most regions of the United States, especially longer-term droughts in the Southwest, the southern Great Plains, and the Southeast, climate change is already putting pressure on our water resources and infrastructure. In 2012 alone, droughts affected about two-thirds of the continental United States, impacting water supplies, tourism, transportation, energy and fisheries, costing the agricultural sector alone $30 billion.

Throughout this Administration, Federal agencies, including those in the interagency National Drought Resilience Partnership, have worked closely with State, local, and tribal governments, cities and towns, and the private sector to promote near-term drought relief and invest in long-term water security. For example: