Climate Change Impacts on Environmental Protection at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: A Horizon Scan.

This article focuses on a pilot horizon scanning initiative conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) to identify emerging climate change impacts on environmental protection and to integrate strategic foresight into research planning. The process involved defining signal domains, gathering information through internal scanning and expert interviews, and prioritizing 12 key signals related to climate change effects and responses across biophysical, sociocultural, and technological systems. The study highlights the importance of anticipatory approaches to address complex, uncertain, and long-term climate challenges affecting human health and the environment, and recommends formalizing horizon scanning as a continuous part of EPA's strategic research planning with adequate resources, leadership, and evaluation. This approach aims to enable EPA and similar organizations to better anticipate emerging issues and adapt research priorities proactively rather than reactively.