National Climate Assessments

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is an ongoing activity, with required reports to the President and Congress that integrate, evaluate, and interpret the findings of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). EPA is one of thirteen federal agencies that comprise the USGCRP and has been a substantial contributor to the NCA.

First Assessment

The first assessment report was completed in 2000. EPA sponsored the Health Sector Assessment and three Regional Assessments � Great Lakes, Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic.

• Regional Assessments - Mid-Atlantic
  • MARA: http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/midatlantic.htm
  • CARA: http://www.cara.psu.edu/
• Regional Assessments - Gulf Coast
  • http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/gulfcoast.htm
  • http://bush.tamu.edu/istpp/environment/projects/ScienceinGulfofMexicoDecisionMaking.asp
• Regional Assessments - Great Lakes
  • http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/greatlakes.htm
  • http://www.geo.msu.edu/glra/
• Pileus Project
  • http://www.pileus.msu.edu/
• Health Sector Assessment
  • http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/health/default.htm

Second Assessment

The second assessment produced the report Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States in 2009. EPA contributed two Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAP) to this effort (see http://globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/saps):

• SAP 4.4: Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources
• SAP 4.6: Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems

Third Assessment

EPA is involved in the current Assessment, organizing two workshops; supporting a third workshop; serving on the Interagency Working Group and NCA Development and Advisory Committee; contributing to technical input teams as authors and reviewers; and conducting a case study for the Coastal Chapter. Reports from the EPA-sponsored workshops are:

• Valuation Techniques and Metrics for Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Options: Methodological Perspectives for the National Climate Assessment
• Ecosystem Responses to Climate Change: Selecting Indicators and Integrating Observational Networks