The US National Climate Assessment

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This book provides essential lessons in climate policy and assessment, illustrating the components necessary for a sustained climate assessment process. It examines the third U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA3) report in relation to previous assessments, focusing on both process and content. Mandated by law, the U.S. Global Change Research Program produces these reports every four years, offering a thorough evaluation of climate science and its impacts across various sectors. A significant aspect of the NCA3 approach is its interdisciplinary process and engagement strategy, which involved numerous public and private stakeholders. The book emphasizes the importance of establishing infrastructure for improved assessments over time and adopting an experimental approach to analyze climate impacts on interconnected systems. Innovations discussed include the creation of regional climatologies and projections for all U.S. regions, alongside the Global Change Information System. Furthermore, it underscores the necessity of involving decision-makers in the assessment process to ensure findings are actionable. The authors share valuable lessons from NCA3 that can inform future assessments and adaptation strategies, both domestically and globally, while also evaluating the role of state climate assessments in the national context.