Changes in weather patterns can hinder the USPS from satisfying its core customer promise of delivering mail, while significantly increasing the costs of fulfilling demand and maintaining the infrastructure needed to run its business. [2] These environmental changes have the ability to impact the USPS throughout its delivery chain: from its employees to its fleet of vehicles, from transportation infrastructure to its inputs.<\/p>\n Extreme weather can endanger employees who are up against tight delivery deadlines. And these impacts are costly. Severe weather led to 679 widespread power outages between 2003 and 2013, costing the economy $33 billion each year. [5] For a business whose employees drive more than 1.4 billion miles every year, transportation is a significant risk for the USPS. [4] Flooding can impact infrastructure by weakening bridges, destroying roads, and interrupting repairs. Heat can affect aircraft performance, causing delays and hiking transportation costs. At a macro level, regulations could shock the entire system. New laws that control greenhouse gas emissions, for example, may increase operating costs (i.e. more expensive fuel products or costs from retrofitting vehicles). [6]<\/p>\n Luckily, the USPS has been proactive in addressing the issue of climate change, as evidenced by its 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Plan. In it, the USPS identifies and begins to implement risk measurement practices and strategic plans aimed at combating climate change. These include:<\/p>\n Results thus far have been mixed. More positively, the USPS has cut greenhouse gases by 12.4% since 2008, and in 2015 alone, it performed over 1,500 compliance inspections for tanks. [10, 4] Additionally, since 2003, it has reduced facility energy use by 32.1%. However, the USPS has been unable to stem its reliance on petroleum use, which has increased by 19% in the past decade. [4]<\/p>\n This begs the question, is the USPS doing enough? With the great deal of uncertainty that is expected to materialize as a result of climate change, the USPS must employ strict controls and risk measures to ensure business continuity. They will need to invest in the right technology to better optimize shipment processes, allowing for reduced transport times. Additionally, it will be critical to reinforce strong cost management practices to protect its business from pressures to come. While the USPS has begun partnering with sustainable companies, and has even reduced its costs by $8BN over the past 2 years, it has ended FY 2013 and 2014 with net losses of over $5BN, respectively. [11] In order to remain competitive, the USPS will need to improve its ability to manage costs while generating significant revenue growth. One example could be relying more on electric vehicles to power its fleet. An electric vehicle can travel 43 miles for every $1.00 of energy versus 18 miles for a traditional vehicle. [12] Finally, stress testing its operations will allow the USPS to be better prepared in the face of uncertain outcomes.<\/p>\n Only through strong preparation will the USPS be able to continue its over 200-year legacy of reliable and timely mail delivery.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [Word Count: 724 words]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cited Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n [1] Sarah Ninivaggi, \u201cUSPS Goes Green,\u201d (21 April 2015), accessed 31 October 2016, https:\/\/uspsblog.com\/usps-goes-green\/<\/a><\/p>\n [2] \u201cUnited States Postal Service Climate Change Adaptation Plan,\u201d (June 2014), accessed 31 October 2016, https:\/\/about.usps.com\/what-we-are-doing\/green\/pdf\/CCAP_FINAL_2014.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [3] \u201cUnderstanding the Link Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather,\u201d US Environmental Protection Agency<\/em> (last updated 19 October 2016), accessed 1 November 2016, https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climate-change-science\/understanding-link-between-climate-change-and-extreme-weather<\/a><\/p>\n [4] \u201c2015 Annual Sustainability Report,\u201d United States Postal Service<\/em> (2016), accessed 1 November 2016, http:\/\/about.usps.com\/publications\/sar2015\/sar2015.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [5] Justin Sink and Jim Snyder, \u201cEnergy Review Warns of Rising U.S. Costs from Climate Change,\u201d Bloomberg News<\/em> (21 April 2015), accessed 1 November 2016, \u00a0http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2015-04-21\/white-house-unveils-road-map-for-upgrading-energy-infrastructure<\/a><\/p>\n [6] \u201cUnited States Postal Regulatory Commission 2015 Report on Form 10-K\u201d (30 September 2015), accessed 2 November 2016, https:\/\/about.usps.com\/who-we-are\/financials\/10k-reports\/fy2015.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [7] \u201c2016 Climate Leadership Award Winners\u201d US Environmental Protection Agency <\/em>(last updated 23 March 2016), accessed 2 November 2016 https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climateleadership\/2016-climate-leadership-award-winners<\/a><\/p>\n [8] \u201cGreening Our Fleet,\u201d United States Postal Service<\/em>, accessed 3 November 2016 https:\/\/about.usps.com\/what-we-are-doing\/green\/greening-our-fleet.htm<\/a><\/p>\n [9] Kate Sheppard, \u201cU.S. Postal Service Is Worried About What Climate Change Will Mean For Mail,\u201d Huffington Post<\/em> (31 October 2014), accessed 3 November 2016 http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2014\/10\/31\/mail-climate-change_n_6085108.html<\/a><\/p>\n [10] \u201c2015 U.S. Postal Service Key Performance Indicators,\u201d United States Postal Service<\/em>, accessed 3 November 2016 http:\/\/about.usps.com\/publications\/sar2015\/sar2015\/sar2016_doc_001.htm<\/a><\/p>\n [11] \u201cRestructuring the U.S. Postal Service to Achieve Sustainable Financial Viability,\u201d U.S. Government Accountability Office<\/em>, accessed 3 November 2016 http:\/\/www.gao.gov\/highrisk\/restructuring_postal\/why_did_study#t=0<\/a><\/p>\n [12] \u201cHow Do Gasoline & Electric Vehicles Compare?\u201d Idaho National Laboratory<\/em>, accessed 4 November 2016 https:\/\/avt.inl.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/fsev\/compare.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n![\"picture-1\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/picture-1.png\")
<\/a>[3]<\/p>\n<\/a>[4]<\/p>\n\n