Learning from the U.S. National Assessment of Climate Change Impacts

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Science
• Policy Analysis

Background:

• The U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change involved numerous experts and stakeholders.
• Evaluating large-scale, federally coordinated scientific assessments is crucial for understanding their effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the success of the U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change.
• To identify lessons learned and provide recommendations for future climate assessments.

Main Methods:

• Development and administration of an extensive survey.
• Preparation of a series of working papers.
• Conducting an invitational workshop with experts and stakeholders.

Main Results:

• The assessment was largely successful in its design of distributed stakeholder involvement.
• The assessment largely achieved its basic objectives.
• Key areas for improvement were identified for future assessments.

Conclusions:

• Future climate assessments require clearer collective objectives and better participant guidance and training.
• Enhanced budgeting flexibility and integration into ongoing processes are recommended for future assessments.
• The study provides valuable insights for improving the methodology and impact of large-scale climate change assessments.