To assist you in learning more about the climate change landscape in your state, we compiled a table of helpful online search terms to use. For each of the topics, include your state’s name along with the suggested search terms. To get a full landscape view of the state, it can also be helpful to research the government websites of a diverse selection of cities and counties. Try to look at cities and counties that vary by geography, size, and rural-urban scale.

Topic Suggested Search Terms for Online Research
State climate risks and hazards Climate risks, climate hazards, climate change, environmental issues
State climate policies Climate change policies, climate change regulations, state climate change initiatives, climate policy framework, climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, clean energy policies for addressing climate change, renewable energy goals
Climate plans State-level climate action plans, climate resilience and preparedness plans, sustainability plans, hazard mitigation plans, transportation goals and plans
Climate targets and reductions Greenhouse gas reduction targets, renewable energy targets, electric vehicle targets, net-zero emissions targets
Key stakeholders Transportation agency, energy commission, planning departments, environmental justice, health department, community-based organizations, philanthropies related to climate
Local environmental organizations Local climate change organizations, climate action nonprofits, climate change advocacy groups, grassroots climate change initiatives, conservation groups combating climate change, environmental justice organizations
How to refer to climate change in your state Climate change terminology in my state, state climate action plan, climate change and resilience government website, politics of climate change in my state, environmental action, state’s general plan
Climate-related research Climate change impacts in my state, [insert local university] climate change team, climate data and analysis, climate modeling and forecasting
Determining if your state prioritizes environmental justice initiatives Environmental justice efforts, state commitment to environmental justice, assessing environmental justice initiatives, environmental justice prioritization, state policies on environmental justice
Vulnerable regions and communities Climate vulnerability assessment, communities at risk from climate change, identifying climate-vulnerable regions, climate justice and equity in vulnerable communities
Infrastructure resilience Infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation strategies for infrastructure, climate-proofing infrastructure, infrastructure vulnerability assessment to climate change
Funding opportunities Adaptation funding grants, grants for renewable energy and climate initiatives, government funding for climate change impacts, sustainable development funding, conservation funding

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