Products

Assesses effects of global change on human health, welfare and settlements. Learn More

Our Changing Planet. The U.S. Global Change Research Program for Fiscal Year 2012. A report by the U.S. Global Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 Learn More

Committee on Earth-Atmosphere Interactions: Understanding and Responding to Multiple Environmental Stresses, National Research Council Learn More

By partnering with other segments of the community to understand user needs, generate relevant and rich informational products, and utilize effective communication vehicles, the National Weather Service can take a leading role in the transition to widespread, effective incorporation of uncertainty information into predictions. "Completing the Forecast" makes recommendations to the National Weather Service and the broader prediction community on how to make this transition. Learn More

This book identifies short-term and long-term goals for federal government sponsors and other public and private partners in establishing a coordinated nationwide "network of networks" of weather and climate observations. Learn More

This book presents and recommends a prioritized, short-term strategy for recovery of crucial climate capabilities lost in the NPOESS and GOES-R program descopes. However, mitigation of these recent losses is only the first step in establishing a viable long-term climate strategy-one that builds on the lessons learned from the well-intentioned but poorly executed merger of the nation's weather and climate observation systems. Learn More

This report presents a vision for the Earth science program; an analysis of the existing Earth Observing System and recommendations to help restore its capabilities; an assessment of and recommendations for new observations and missions for the next decade; an examination of and recommendations for effective application of those observations; and an analysis of how best to sustain that observation and applications system. Learn More

This book concludes that, when done correctly, public participation improves the quality of federal agencies' decisions about the environment. Well-managed public involvement also increases the legitimacy of decisions in the eyes of those affected by them, which makes it more likely that the decisions will be implemented effectively. This book recommends that agencies recognize public participation as valuable to their objectives, not just as a formality required by the law. It details principles and approaches agencies can use to successfully involve the public. Learn More

This report reviews lessons learned from past assessments, which are intended to inform policymakers about the scientific underpinnings of critical environmental issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and ozone depletion. Learn More

This report lays out a framework for creating and implementing metrics for the Climate Change Science Program. A general set of metrics provides a starting point for identifying the most important measures, and the principles provide guidance for refining the metrics and avoiding unintended consequences. Learn More

Materials from a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program on 14-16 November 2005. Learn More

A Tour of the Cryosphere. DVD produce by NASA in 2005. Learn More

he United States of America's Third National Communication Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Learn More

Factsheet on the U.S. CCSP Learn More

Factsheet on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) research elements. Learn More

Factsheet on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program's budget. Learn More

Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Change on the United States. Findings and Summary of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Learn More

Report from the U.S. Climate Change Technology Program. Learn More

Evaluating Progress of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program is the first review of the CCSP's progress since the program was established in 2002. It lays out a method for evaluating the CCSP, and uses that method to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the entire program and to identify areas where progress has not met expectations. The committee found that the program has made good progress in documenting and understanding temperature trends and related environmental changes on a global scale, as well as in understanding the influence of human activities on these observed changes. Learn More

This book proposes six priorities for restructuring the United States' climate change research program to develop a more robust knowledge base and support informed responses. Learn More

This is a Summary for Policymakers of the Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) The

Summary for Policymakers is a Special Report of Working Groups I & II of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC.)

Learn More

The Essential Principles of Climate Science presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change.

Learn More

The Essential Principles of Climate Science presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change.

Learn More

Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education presents energy concepts that, if understood and applied, will help individuals and communities make informed energy decisions.  This resource identifies seven Essential Principles and a set of Fundamental Concepts to support each principle. The guide does not seek to identify all areas of energy understanding, but rather to focus on those that are essential for all citizens.

Learn More

Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education presents energy concepts that, if understood and applied, will help individuals and communities make informed energy decisions.  This resource identifies seven Essential Principles and a set of Fundamental Concepts to support each principle. The guide does not seek to identify all areas of energy understanding, but rather to focus on those that are essential for all citizens.

Learn More

The Plan outlines priorities for research in carbon cycle science, including a substantial expansion in the scope of the field. In addition to reaffirming the need for basic research and for continuing the current areas of research in carbon cycle science, the Plan outlines specific recommendations for new priorities. Learn More

The Essential Principles of Climate Science presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change.

Learn More

The Essential Principles of Climate Science presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change.

Learn More

The report identifies relevant federal research and science needs, including research on mitigation and adaptation strategies Learn More

A report outlining the research needs on the human health effects of climate change. Learn More

2008: North American Continental Margins: A Synthesis and Planning Workshop. Report of the North American Continental Margins Working Group for the U.S. Carbon Cycle Scientific Steering Group and Interagency Working Group. Learn More

The Interagency Crosscutting Group on Climate Change and Human Health (CCHHG) is charged by the USGCRP with planning, coordinating, implementing, evaluating, and reporting on federal research and related scientific activities on the human health impacts of global environmental change. Learn More

Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change offers much-needed guidance to those creating public policy and assists in implementing that policy. The information presented in this book will be invaluable to the research community, especially social scientists studying climate change; practitioners of decision-making assistance, including advocacy organizations, non-profits, and government agencies; and college-level teachers and students. Learn More

To date, decisions related to the management and protection of the nation's people, resources, and infrastructure have been based on records in the recent past, when climate was relatively stable. Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, part of the congressionally requested America's Climate Choices suite of studies, calls for a new paradigm-one that considers a range of possible future climate conditions and impacts that may be well outside the realm of past experience. Learn More

Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change, part of the congressionally requested America's Climate Choices suite of studies, focuses on the role of the United States in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The book concludes that in order to ensure that all levels of government, the private sector, and millions of households and individuals are contributing to shared national goals, the United States should establish a "budget" that sets a limit on total domestic greenhouse emissions from 2010-2050. Meeting such a budget would require a major departure from business as usual in the way the nation produces and uses energy-and that the nation act now to aggressively deploy all available energy efficiencies and less carbon-intensive technologies and to develop new ones. Learn More

Advancing the Science of Climate Change calls for a single federal entity or program to coordinate a national, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. Seven cross-cutting research themes are identified to support this scientific enterprise. In addition, leaders of federal climate research should redouble efforts to deploy a comprehensive climate observing system, improve climate models and other analytical tools, invest in human capital, and improve linkages between research and decisions by forming partnerships with action-oriented programs. Learn More

Informing Decisions in a Changing Climate examines the growing need for climate-related decision support--that is, organized efforts to produce, disseminate, and facilitate the use of data and information in order to improve the quality and efficacy of climate-related decisions. Drawing on evidence from past efforts to organize science for improved decision making, it develops guidance for government agencies and other institutions that will provide or use information for coping with climate change. This volume provides critical analysis of interest to agencies at every level, as well as private organizations that will have to cope with the world's changing climate. Learn More

Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study, Phase I. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

SAP 4.6. Human Health and Welfare in a Changing Climate: Frequently Asked Questions. Brochure. Learn More

Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Best practice approaches for characterizing, communicating, and incorporating scientific uncertainty in decisionmaking: A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Decision-Support Experiments and Evaluations using Seasonal-to-Interannual Forecasts and Observational Data: A Focus on Water Resources. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Findings, Summary, and Frequently Asked Questions of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Report 1.3: Reanalysis of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for Attribution of Causes of Observed Change. Learn More

Findings, Summary, and Frequently Asked Questions of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Repor 2.2: The First State of the Carbon Cycle Report: North American Carbon Budget and Implications for the Global Carbon Cycle. Learn More

Findings, Summary, and Frequently Asked Questions of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Report 2.4: Trends in Emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances, Ozone Layer Recovery, and Implications for Ultraviolet Radiation. Learn More

Climate Projections Based on Emissions Scenarios for Long-Lived and Short-Lived Radiatively Active Gases and Aerosols. Findings and Summary. Learn More

Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate. Findings and Summary. Learn More

Findings of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.4: Abrupt Climate Change. Learn More

Human Health and Welfare in a Changing Climate Summary and Findings. Learn More

Findings, Summary, and Frequently Asked Questions of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Report 5.3 "Decision-Support Experiments and Evaluations using Seasonal-to-Interannual Forecasts and Observational Data: A Focus on Water Resources". Learn More

Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States. Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.5. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the subcommittee on Global change Research. Learn More

A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research Learn More

Preliminary review of adaptation options for climate-sensitive ecosystems and resources. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes. A report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Reanalysis of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for Attribution of Causes of Observed Change. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research Learn More

Scenarios of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Atmospheric Concentrations. Sub-report 2.1A of Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.1 by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Global Change Scenarios: Their Development and Use. Sub-report 2.1B of Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.1 by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

The First State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR): The North American Carbon Budget and Implications for the Global Carbon Cycle [2007]. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research Learn More

Atmospheric Aerosol Properties and Impacts on Climate, A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Trends in Emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances, Ozone Layer Recovery, and Implications for Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Climate Models: An Assessment of Strengths and Limitations. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Learn More

Climate Projections Based on Emissions Scenarios for Long-Lived and Short-Lived Radiatively Active Gases and Aerosols. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate. Regions of Focus: North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, and U.S. Pacific Islands. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Abrupt Climate Change. A report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region. A report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Thresholds of Climate Change in Ecosystems. A report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2001 Budget. Published 2000. Learn More

Our Changing Planet. The U.S. Global Change Research Program for Fiscal Year 2013. A Report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013. Learn More

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is an important resource for understanding and communicating climate change science and impacts in the United States. It informs the nation about already observed changes, the current status of the climate, and anticipated trends for the future. The NCA report process integrates scientific information from multiple sources and sectors to highlight key findings and significant gaps in our knowledge. The NCA is also establishing consistent methods for evaluating climate impacts in the U.S. in the context of broader global change. Finally, findings from the NCA provide input to federal science priorities and are used by U.S. citizens, communities and businesses as they create more sustainable and environmentally sound plans for the nation’s future.

This two page fact sheet provides an overview of the draft Third National Climate Assessment Report, and answers the most frequently asked questions regarding the draft report.

Learn More

As mandated by Congress, the USGCRP develops a new Strategic Plan every ten years that must “provide for [the] development and coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States Research Program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.” The Plan will be implemented through the next decade by the collective efforts of 13 U.S. government agencies that collaboratively help the Nation better understand global change and its impacts. This 2012-2021 Strategic Plan builds on past USGCRP Strategic Plans and the accomplishments of the USGCRP, and recognizes that effective response to global change requires a strong scientific foundation. The Plan continues to encompass both the fundamental research that improves understanding, as well as the research necessary to inform responses to climate and global change. Learn More

The vision document provides an overview of the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) long-term strategic plan to enhance scientific understanding of global climate change. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2002 Budget. Published 2001. Learn More

. A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2003 Budget. Published 2002. Learn More

Our Changing Planet. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for FY 2006 [2005]. A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Learn More

Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Learn More

The Summary for Policymakers is a report of Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Learn More

This Synthesis Report with its Summary for Policymakers is the fourth and final part of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – “Climate Change 2007”. Learn More

A report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1993 Budget. Published 1992. Learn More

The Strategic Plan fulfills Congress's mandate in the Global Change Research Act to develop a program to "understand, assess, predict, and respond to" global change. It reflects recommendations from multiple reports of the National Academies, from dozens of listening sessions with stakeholders around the country, and from collaborative planning among the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) member agencies. Altogether, the USGCRP envisioned through this Strategic Plan, by connecting fundamental human and Earth system research with the translation and dissemination of credible and authoritative information, harnesses the work of Federal agencies into a coordinated effort for the future benefit of the Nation. Learn More

This document is the Assessment Overview, based on a longer, referenced Foundation report. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1998 Budget. Published 1997. Learn More

4-page Companion Brochure of the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Learn More

20-page Highlight Booklet of the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Learn More

This CD contains all four volumes of the IPCC Third Assessment in both HTML and PDF formats: Learn More

Four page fact sheet on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program's "Synthesis and Assessment" products. Learn More

Factsheet on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program's Strategic Plan. Learn More

Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program 2003. Includes in both PDF and HTML format. Learn More

Our Changing Planet. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for FY 2004 and 2005 (CD) [2004]. A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

Our Changing Planet. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for FY 2006 (CD) [2006]. A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change; The Collected Works of the 2000 National Assessment. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1995 Budget. Published 1994. Learn More

A report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1994 Budget. Published 1993. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1992 Budget. Published 1991. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1997 Budget. Published 1996. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1996 Budget. Published 1995. Learn More

A report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. Published 2010. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget. Published 2008. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget. Published 2007. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget. Published 2006. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 Budget. Published 2004. Learn More

A report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1990 Budget. Learn More

A report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1991 Budget. Published 1990. Learn More

Our Changing Planet. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for FY 2007 and 2009. A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Learn More

A report prepared for the U.S. Carbon Cycle Scientific Steering Group and Interagency Working Group by the North American Carbon Program Implementation Strategy Group. Learn More

The Revised Research Plan is an update to the 2003 Strategic Plan of the US Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), a document that was developed via a thorough, open and transparent multi-year process involving a wide range of scientists and managers. Learn More

This Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program describes a strategy for developing knowledge of variability and change in climate and related environmental and human systems, and for encouraging the application of this knowledge. Learn More

The first regional and strategic guidance workshops to contribute to the 2013 NCA were held in Chicago in February 2010. Learn More

The first regional and strategic guidance workshops to contribute to the 2013 NCA were held in Chicago in February 2010. Learn More

The workshop on planning regional and sectoral assessments as a part of the 2013 NCA was held in Reston, Virginia on November 15-17, 2010. Learn More

The workshop on strategies for knowledge management for the 2013 NCA was held in Reston, Virginia in September 2010. Learn More

This workshop focused on developing indicators for ecosystem responses to climate change and integrating observational networks. The workshop was held in Washington, DC on November 30-December 1, 2010. Learn More

The workshop on including and conducting vulnerability assessments as a part of the 2013 NCA was held in Atlanta, Georgia on January 19-20, 2011. Learn More

This workshop focused on techniques for quantitatively valuing climate impacts and adaptation in the context of the upcoming NCA. The workshop was held in Arlington, VA on January 12-13, 2011. Learn More

This workshop focused on monitoring changes in the physical climate system, as part of a series that includes workshops on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and socioeconomic systems. The workshop was held in Washington, D.C. on March 29-30, 2011. Learn More

This Working Group I contribution to the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) provides a comprehensive assessment of the physical science of climate change and continues to broaden the view of that science, following on from previous Working Group I assessments. The results presented here are based on the extensive scientific literature that has become available since completion of the IPCC’s Third Assessment Report, together with expanded data sets, new analyses, and more sophisticated climate modelling capabilities. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1999 Budget. Published 1998. Learn More

This report summarizes the science of climate change and the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. It is largely based on results of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), and integrates those results with related research from around the world. Learn More

A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2010. Learn More

A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 2000 Budget. Published 1999 Learn More

This document is the Foundation report, which provides the scientific underpinnings for the Assessment. Learn More

The NCA report process integrates scientific information from multiple sources and sectors to highlight key findings and significant gaps in our knowledge. Learn More

The workshop on including and developing societal indicators as a part of the 2013 NCA was held in Washington, DC on April 28-29, 2011. Volume 5c of the NCA Report Series summarizes the discussions and outcomes of this workshop. Learn More

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications for society. The USGCRP began as a presidential initiative in 1989 and was mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-606), which called for "a comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change."

Learn More

The U.S. government supports a large, diverse suite of activities that can be broadly characterized as "global change research." Such research offers a wide array of benefits to the nation, in terms of protecting public health and safety, enhancing economic strength and competitiveness, and protecting the natural systems upon which life depends. The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), which coordinates the efforts of numerous agencies and departments across the federal government, was officially established in 1990 through the U.S. Global Change Research Act (GCRA). In the subsequent years, the scope, structure, and priorities of the Program have evolved, (for example, it was referred to as the Climate Change Science Program [CCSP] for the years 2002-2008), but throughout, the Program has played an important role in shaping and coordinating our nation's global change research enterprise. This research enterprise, in turn, has played a crucial role in advancing understanding of our changing global environment and the countless ways in which human society affects and is affected by such changes. Learn More

Temperature Trends in the Lower Atmosphere: Steps for Understanding and Reconciling Differences. A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, Washington, DC. Learn More