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10/14/2021

Treasury Launches Effort to Study Impact of Climate Change on Households and Communities | U.S. Department of …

Treasury Launches Effort to Study Impact of Climate Change on
Households and Communities
October 13, 2021

Financial Literacy and Education Commission Convenes Meeting to Explore Financial Risks to
Households and Communities from Climate Change
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury launched a new e ort to study
the impact of climate change on households and communities. The Financial Literacy and
Education Commission (FLEC) convened a meeting, which was chaired by Under Secretary for
Domestic Finance Nellie Liang to begin to explore the financial risks to households and
communities, especially low-income and historically disadvantaged communities, of climate
change and climate transition. The meeting included participation from Adair Morse, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Capital Access, David Uejio, representing the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau, Vice Chair of the Commission, Todd Harper, Chairman, National Credit
Union Administration, and Richard Cordray, Chief Operating O icer for Federal Student Aid at
the U.S. Department of Education.
“This meeting is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to
tackling climate change. Under Secretary Yellen’s leadership, the Treasury Department is
working to better understand financial risks to households, especially in low-income and
historically disadvantaged communities, posed by climate change and climate transition,”
Under Secretary Liang said. “Americans across the country have seen firsthand how extreme
weather events, which have increased due to climate change, can impact their financial
wellbeing. Beyond events like storms and wildfires, we expect climate change to impact
insurance, credit, and household savings. It’s vital that Treasury undertake this work, in
collaboration with other experts in and outside of government, in order to help families
prepare for climate-related financial risk and assist local governments, philanthropic
agencies, and financial intermediaries in building community financial resilience.”
As FLEC begins work on household climate resilience, its analysis will especially focus on
historically disadvantaged people and regions. FLEC will work to develop an understanding
of:
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0404

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10/14/2021

Treasury Launches Effort to Study Impact of Climate Change on Households and Communities | U.S. Department of …

how households, communities, and the smallest businesses experience financial
resilience in the face of climate change and climate transition, supported by resiliencesupporting financial products and financial infrastructure supporting environments.
how to map climate-related financial risks, and identify which groups and regions will be
most impacted; and
what tools and best practices could be e ective at addressing risks and vulnerabilities
and how to implement them equitably.
FLEC’s e orts are a direct response to President Biden’s Executive Orders 14030 and 13985,
“Climate-Related Financial Risk” and “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities Through the Federal Government.” FLEC is an interagency body created by the
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 to improve financial education and
coordinate federal financial education activities.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0404

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