DOT Climate Change Center
About
Since 1999, the DOT Climate Change Center has led policy, research, and action across the US Department of Transportation to address the nation’s most pressing challenges on climate change and transportation. On this page you will find information on climate change related activities across the US Department of Transportation. More about the Center.
Sign up for DOT Climate Change Center Updates 
Announcements
DOT Releases StoryMap on the DOT Climate Action Plan, showcasing how DOT is integrating consideration of climate resilience into decision-making and ensuring that transportation investments are adapted to climate change. September 24, 2024.
DOT Awards $5 Million Research Initiative for Novel Cement Development to Reduce Carbon Emissions. September 24, 2024.
Secretary Buttigieg discusses how DOT is investing in climate resiliency projects across America to help communities prepare for future climate disasters. September 2024.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Request for Information about EV Charging Technologies and Infrastructure Needs of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, September 12, 2024
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant (CFI) Program Awards $521 million to 51 applicants, August 27, 2024.
FHWA Opens Applications for $800 Million in Funding to Reduce Climate Pollution from Transportation, Encourage Cleaner Construction Materials, August 27, 2024.
Sign up for upcoming DOT Climate Change Center webinars and view recordings of past webinars.
Learn about plans to expand intercity passenger rail across the country on a new Federal Railroad Administration website. July 23, 2024.
DOT Releases Report to Congress on Decarbonizing U.S. Transportation, July 12, 2024.
The Climate Change Center hosted a Climate and Transportation Symposium on July 11th and 12th. View recordings of the plenary sessions.
Biden-Harris Administration Releases Agency Climate Adaptation Plans, Demonstrates Leadership in Building Climate Resilience, June 20, 2024.
USDOT Finalizes New Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2027-2031, June 7, 2024.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Climate and Transportation Research Center. May 13, 2024.
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Closing of First Loan to Support Transit-Oriented Development. May 1, 2024.
Research
The Center and the USDOT National Transportation Library maintain the Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse, which is a curated collection of information on transportation and climate change issues, and provides monthly bibliographies of the latest research.
The DOT RD&T Strategic Plan 2022-2026 sets USDOT’s research agenda and grand challenge for Climate and Sustainability along with four other goals. Learn more about DOT research.
DOT Climate Change Policies
Policy Statement on Buy Clean Initiative
Policy Statement on Climate Adaptation
Operating Administration Climate Change Websites
The DOT Climate Change Center coordinates climate change related actions across the Department of Transportation. Since much of the implementation takes place at the level of the operating administrations within the Department, important content related to implementation of climate change actions can be found on the operating administration webpages below.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Climate Change Website
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Environmental Programs Website and Aviation Climate Action Plan
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Energy and Emissions Website and Resilience Website
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Climate Change Website
Maritime Administration (MARAD) Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) Program
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
Climate Challenges
The U.S. Department of Transportation developed climate challenges for different modes of transportation (aviation, public transportation, highway, and rail) to encourage and support transportation stakeholders in taking aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Public Transportation Climate Challenge - Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge
Highways Climate Challenge - Quantifying Emissions of Sustainable Pavements
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge
DOT Funding Programs and Climate Change
Most DOT funding programs have eligibilities for transportation climate solutions. Some programs have a focus on climate change. Learn more.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Guidance
The Council on Environmental Quality issued guidance to assist agencies in analyzing greenhouse gas and climate change effects of their proposed actions under NEPA.
Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Climate Change in NEPA