Cooperative Extension System Climate Action Plan

o Improve interagency connections and coordination between USDA and NOAA

• Implementation and Adoption of Practices

o 25% of landowners, stewards, and managers will engage with Extension programs or resources and demonstrate an increased knowledge of climate change practices and establish an implementation plan for the next five years

o 20% of landowners, stewards, and managers will apply at least one climate-smart practice within the next three years

o Owners/managers indicate they will implement practices to make forests or rangelands better adapted to future climate

o Owners/managers indicate they will implement practices to make forests or rangelands sequester carbon more effectively

Awareness and Education

o Extension personnel who are engaged with NR landowners/stewards/managers demonstrate improved awareness of climate-smart practices that are relevant to their clients (Note: This bullet is duplicated and can be counted once for the purpose of categorization) o Extension personnel demonstrate new or improved practices, behaviors, or choices that result from working with communities on climate action planning or outreach o Statistically significant knowledge increase by Extension educators of others engaged in climate work and climate resources available within Extension

Planning and Policy Development

o By 2026: Complete climate resilience planning pilot process with two counties in pilot states. Municipalities will have developed a Climate Resilience Plan via an equitable, participatory process, including clear steps for implementation

o Communities participate in a Climate Action Planning process guided by Extension professionals

o Communities share best practices on goals, objectives, and policies

• Recognition and Capacity Enhancement

o Increased Extension capacity to provide climate-related technical services

o Increased equity in the distribution and implementation of climate-related solutions

o Increased capacity for Extension, the U.S., its territories, and the Indigenous nations therein to understand, prepare for, and respond to community needs for climate-related plans and policies o Increased congressional recognition of Extension's capabilities, effectiveness, and centrality in delivering programs leading to climate change solutions

• Farmer/Landowner Engagement and Education

o Farmers and landowners will have access to tools including modules, trainings, and to prepare climate adaptation and/or mitigation practices that can be incorporated into farm business plans o Farmers will be engaged in on-farm experimentation and/or learning networks to increase their understanding of the economic benefits of climate-smart agriculture

o Farmers will see the value of climate-smart agriculture and continue to innovate in this area

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