Abstract

The Northwest—Washington, Oregon, and Idaho—encompasses diverse communities, economies, and ecosystems, with almost 14 million residents.1 From western coastal regions to forested mountains to arid shrub-steppe, the Northwest is home to numerous culturally and economically important native plants and animals. Northwest ecosystems provide housing, recreation, food, and income that support the collective health and well-being of the region’s communities and economies. The 43 Federally Recognized Tribes in the Northwest also rely on the region’s ecosystems to sustain their livelihoods. Climate change has already affected all areas in the Northwest and will continue transforming the region in consequential ways. Northwest communities are employing a variety of strategies to adapt to and prepare for climate change; however, there are limits to the long-term effectiveness of adaptation actions without comparable investments to mitigate climate change.