Planning for Climate Change in the West

Primarily arid landscapes link the Intermountain West, which includes all or a portion of 11 states west of the Rocky Mountains—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This seemingly boundless region has been shaped since its European settlement by dramatic fluctuations in its water and energy resources, land use patterns, economy, and a climate known for its extremes. Recent trends in all of these forces, fueled by rapid growth and change, must be altered if the Intermountain West is to achieve sustainability.

Keywords: climate change; planning; building codes; land use; transportation; energy; water resources; barriers; policies; recommendations