Example Uses of the US National Climate Assessment Regional Chapters
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) was established by Congress in 1990 to coordinate federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society. The US National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a quadrennial report mandated by the Global Change Research Act (GCRA) in 1990 to:
Integrate, evaluate, and interpret the findings of the Program and discusses the scientific uncertainties associated with such findings;
Analyze the effects of global change on the natural environment, agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation, human health and welfare, human social systems, and biological diversity; and
Analyze current trends in global change, both human-induced and natural, and project major trends for the subsequent 25 to 100 years.
Beginning in NCA3 in 2014, regional chapters were added to the sectors and topics covered in the assessments. Regional chapters became more prominent in NCA4 (2018) and NCA5 (2023), as they are often the first resource sought by many local governments and practitioners to understand climate impacts within their own regions, and they provide examples of local adaptations and policies that can be used as models across regions. Although studies evaluating the overall impact and use of NCA products and reports over time are limited and need more documentation, regional chapters in both NCA4 and NCA5 have been used to inform planning or catalyze action around climate resilience. These can be broadly categorized across four types of uses (Lustig, 2024, forthcoming), to:
Learn or teach about climate change;
Justify an action or make a call to action;
Understand risk and inform planning;
Inform action.
To help quantify the impact of the assessment, Pacific RISA is tracking documented use-cases of Regional NCA chapters. To submit a use-case for a NCA4 or NCA5 Regional Chapter, please email Pacific RISA Communications Coordinator Krista Jaspers (kjaspers@asu.edu). Please keep your summary brief, and include the following information:
Your contact information and association with the NCA regional chapters (if any)
The type of use case you are documenting
Any supporting citations (media, photos, links to legislation, DOI/links to publications)
EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF USE CASES OF THE REGIONAL US NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT CHAPTERS
Types of Action →
Regional Chapter ↓
Learn/teach about climate change
Justify an action or call to action
Understand risk and inform planning
Inform action
Northeast
NCA4 Ch. 18 information was incorporated in the NJ Science and Technical Advisory Panel (Kopp et al 2019) report, and to inform the development of guidance for incorporating coastal flood risk information in projects/ decisions in NH. (Wake et al. 2019)
Southeast
In 2019, VA Gov. Northam signed EO 43: Expanding Access to Clean Energy and Growing the Clean Energy Jobs of the Future. The EO references the NCA4 message on decarbonization and the need for a transition to clean energy. (VA Exec. Order No. 43, 2019)
*NOTE that this is the report overview, not a regional chapter
The North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency requested the data underlying NCA5 Figure 22.12 to add to the North Carolina Resilience Exchange, a tool designed to empower local leaders with guidance, data, and resources to make their communities and natural spaces more resilient.
Midwest
The Manager of Sustainability and Special Projects with the NE Ohio Regional Sewer District used NCA4 Ch. 21 as background for their work: “The fourth National Climate Change Assessment has been particularly helpful in giving me an up-to-date perspective on climate change. Having moved to Cleveland for this position, I’ve also paid particular attention to the Midwest portion of the report.”
NCA Ch. 21 4 was used and cited in many of the local and regional climate action plans in communities across Minnesota, including a regional-scale plan recently completed for West Central Minnesota
Caribbean
The NCA4 and NCA5 US Caribbean chapters have been used in climate impacts communications. Comparatively, the NCA5 has been reaching a broader community in the region because of the translation into Spanish.
The NCA4 and NCA5 US Caribbean chapters have been integrated as key references for making informed decisions in planning and mitigation plans.
N. Great Plains
S. Great Plains
Regional chapter content has been used by climate-services boundary organizations in their coordination with researchers, outreach and education to information users, and strategic planning for guiding the organization. Tribal, municipal, and local governments across the region have used chapter information to frame their planning and actions.
NCA content was used to outline climate challenges in municipal planning documents, including Dallas’ Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan,
WA State cites NCA5 Ch. 27 as a call to reinforce the need for a statewide climate resilience strategy(1) as directed by the Legislature under the Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy, update to be published Fall 2024. (Chapter 70A.05.010 RCW)
In 2020, the Puget Sound Partnership updated a 2016 climate assessment with some of the findings from NCA4 Ch. 24. This update led to the development of climate guidance to inform ecosystem recovery projects in the Puget Sound region (Mauger and Vogel 2020).
Kitsap County, WA. relied heavily on NCA4 Ch. 24 to inform county-level policies and investments to prepare for climate change (Kitsap County 2020)
Southwest
Four authors of the NCA5 and USGCRP staff used the assessment as a foundation for the inaugural Four Corners Climate Summit hosted at a tribal serving college in rural Colorado. More than 400 people attended in-person and Fort Lewis College has committed to an annual climate summit(2).
The NCA4 Figure 25.2 shares actions already underway throughout the region to prompt others to consider these actions in their location. Some examples include rooftop solar, crop water savings, and health protection.
Alaska
Tribal and Federal agencies have requested and received presentations about NCA5 Ch. 29 findings to assist their planning and operations.
Hawaiʻi and USAPI
The Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency created posters of NCA4 Figure 27.2 for use in community meetings and climate impacts communications.
Used for supporting management of endangered birds at the federal level and has become “bread and butter” in state and county government in Hawaiʻi, “softening the ground for policy” (Moser 2022)
NCA3 & NCA4 Ch. 27 catalyzed the PIRCA, a sustained sub-national assessment process that helped unite a regional climate assessment network working at an island jurisdictional scale. (Keener et al 2022)
In 2018, Mayor Caldwell of the City & County of Honolulu, HI, called a press conference with regional authors from NCA4 Ch. 27 to promote a directive guiding the use of sea level rise projections in county planning.
Angel, J., C. Swanston, B.M. Boustead, K.C. Conlon, K.R. Hall, J.L. Jorns, K.E. Kunkel, M.C. Lemos, B. Lofgren, T.A. Ontl, J. Posey, K. Stone, G. Takle, and D. Todey, 2018: Midwest. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 872–940. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH21
Chang, M., L. Erikson, K. Araújo, E.N. Asinas, S. Chisholm Hatfield, L.G. Crozier, E. Fleishman, C.S. Greene, E.E. Grossman, C. Luce, J. Paudel, K. Rajagopalan, E. Rasmussen, C. Raymond, J.J. Reyes, and V. Shandas, 2023: Ch. 27. Northwest. In: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH27
Dupigny-Giroux, L.A., E.L. Mecray, M.D. Lemcke-Stampone, G.A. Hodgkins, E.E. Lentz, K.E. Mills, E.D. Lane, R. Miller, D.Y. Hollinger, W.D. Solecki, G.A. Wellenius, P.E. Sheffield, A.B. MacDonald, and C. Caldwell, 2018: Northeast. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 669–742. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH18
Keener, V., D. Helweg, S. Asam, S. Balwani, M. Burkett, C. Fletcher, T. Giambelluca, Z. Grecni, M. Nobrega-Olivera, J. Polovina, and G. Tribble, 2018: Hawai‘i and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 1242–1308. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH27
Keener VW, Grecni ZN, Moser SC (2022) Accelerating Climate Change Adaptive Capacity Through Regional Sustained Assessment and Evaluation in Hawai‘i and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Frontiers in Climate 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.869760
Kitsap County, City of Bremerton, and City of Port Orchard (2020) Kitsap County Climate Change Resiliency Assessment. https://www.kitsap.gov/dcd/Kitsap_climate_assessment/KitsapCountyClimateAssessment_June2020%20-%202%20Full%20Assessment%20LowRes.pdf
Kopp RE, C Andrews, A Broccoli, A Garner, D Kreeger, R Leichenko, N Lin, C Little, JA Miller, JK Miller, KG Miller, R Moss, P Orton, A Parris, D Robinson, W Sweet, J Walker, CP Weaver, K White, M Campo, M Kaplan, J Herb, and L Auermuller (2019). New Jersey’s Rising Seas and Changing Coastal Storms: Report of the 2019 Science and Technical Advisory Panel. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Prepared for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Trenton, New Jersey. https://climatechange.rutgers.edu/images/STAP_FINAL_FINAL_12-4-19.pdf
Mauger, G.S. and J.M. Vogel. 2020. PSP Climate Literature Review: A tailored review of climate change science to inform recovery. Report prepared for the Puget Sound Partnership. Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington.
May, C., C. Luce, J. Casola, M. Chang, J. Cuhaciyan, M. Dalton, S. Lowe, G. Morishima, P. Mote, A. Petersen, G. Roesch-McNally, and E. York, 2018: Northwest. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 1036–1100. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH24
Moser SC (2022) Impacts of the Second PIRCA & NCA4’s Pacific Islands Chapter: Evaluation of the Pacific RISA’s Efforts in Guiding a Sustained Regional Assessment Process. Hadley, MA
Wake C, Knott J, Lippmann T, et al (2019) New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Summary – Part I: Science. Prepared for the New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Science and Technical Advisory Panel. Report published by the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. https://dx.doi.org/10.34051/p/2019.1
2024 Earth to Sky Hawaiʻi Educator Climate Change Workshop Summary Report. (waiting for full citation from Leon Geschwind)
Our Vision
Resilient and sustainable Pacific Island communities using climate information to manage risks and support practical decision-making about climate variability and change.
US National Climate Assessment
Example Uses of the US National Climate Assessment Regional Chapters
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) was established by Congress in 1990 to coordinate federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society. The US National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a quadrennial report mandated by the Global Change Research Act (GCRA) in 1990 to:
Beginning in NCA3 in 2014, regional chapters were added to the sectors and topics covered in the assessments. Regional chapters became more prominent in NCA4 (2018) and NCA5 (2023), as they are often the first resource sought by many local governments and practitioners to understand climate impacts within their own regions, and they provide examples of local adaptations and policies that can be used as models across regions. Although studies evaluating the overall impact and use of NCA products and reports over time are limited and need more documentation, regional chapters in both NCA4 and NCA5 have been used to inform planning or catalyze action around climate resilience. These can be broadly categorized across four types of uses (Lustig, 2024, forthcoming), to:
To help quantify the impact of the assessment, Pacific RISA is tracking documented use-cases of Regional NCA chapters. To submit a use-case for a NCA4 or NCA5 Regional Chapter, please email Pacific RISA Communications Coordinator Krista Jaspers (kjaspers@asu.edu). Please keep your summary brief, and include the following information:
EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF USE CASES OF THE REGIONAL US NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT CHAPTERS
Regional Chapter ↓
*NOTE that this is the report overview, not a regional chapter
Oklahoma City’s adaptokc, San Antonio’s SA Climate Ready.
NCA4 Ch. 27 and the PIRCA reports are used as key reference materials in the Pacific Islands Climate Change Educators Workshop training, which provides regional climate curriculum for K-12 teachers.
REFERENCES
Angel, J., C. Swanston, B.M. Boustead, K.C. Conlon, K.R. Hall, J.L. Jorns, K.E. Kunkel, M.C. Lemos, B. Lofgren, T.A. Ontl, J. Posey, K. Stone, G. Takle, and D. Todey, 2018: Midwest. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 872–940. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH21
Chang, M., L. Erikson, K. Araújo, E.N. Asinas, S. Chisholm Hatfield, L.G. Crozier, E. Fleishman, C.S. Greene, E.E. Grossman, C. Luce, J. Paudel, K. Rajagopalan, E. Rasmussen, C. Raymond, J.J. Reyes, and V. Shandas, 2023: Ch. 27. Northwest. In: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH27
Dupigny-Giroux, L.A., E.L. Mecray, M.D. Lemcke-Stampone, G.A. Hodgkins, E.E. Lentz, K.E. Mills, E.D. Lane, R. Miller, D.Y. Hollinger, W.D. Solecki, G.A. Wellenius, P.E. Sheffield, A.B. MacDonald, and C. Caldwell, 2018: Northeast. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 669–742. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH18
Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy, Chapter 70A.05.010 RCW. (2023). https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70A.05.010&pdf=true
Keener, V., D. Helweg, S. Asam, S. Balwani, M. Burkett, C. Fletcher, T. Giambelluca, Z. Grecni, M. Nobrega-Olivera, J. Polovina, and G. Tribble, 2018: Hawai‘i and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 1242–1308. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH27
Keener VW, Grecni ZN, Moser SC (2022) Accelerating Climate Change Adaptive Capacity Through Regional Sustained Assessment and Evaluation in Hawai‘i and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Frontiers in Climate 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.869760
Kitsap County, City of Bremerton, and City of Port Orchard (2020) Kitsap County Climate Change Resiliency Assessment. https://www.kitsap.gov/dcd/Kitsap_climate_assessment/KitsapCountyClimateAssessment_June2020%20-%202%20Full%20Assessment%20LowRes.pdf
Kopp RE, C Andrews, A Broccoli, A Garner, D Kreeger, R Leichenko, N Lin, C Little, JA Miller, JK Miller, KG Miller, R Moss, P Orton, A Parris, D Robinson, W Sweet, J Walker, CP Weaver, K White, M Campo, M Kaplan, J Herb, and L Auermuller (2019). New Jersey’s Rising Seas and Changing Coastal Storms: Report of the 2019 Science and Technical Advisory Panel. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Prepared for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Trenton, New Jersey. https://climatechange.rutgers.edu/images/STAP_FINAL_FINAL_12-4-19.pdf
Mauger, G.S. and J.M. Vogel. 2020. PSP Climate Literature Review: A tailored review of climate change science to inform recovery. Report prepared for the Puget Sound Partnership. Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington.
May, C., C. Luce, J. Casola, M. Chang, J. Cuhaciyan, M. Dalton, S. Lowe, G. Morishima, P. Mote, A. Petersen, G. Roesch-McNally, and E. York, 2018: Northwest. In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 1036–1100. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH24
Moser SC (2022) Impacts of the Second PIRCA & NCA4’s Pacific Islands Chapter: Evaluation of the Pacific RISA’s Efforts in Guiding a Sustained Regional Assessment Process. Hadley, MA
Wake C, Knott J, Lippmann T, et al (2019) New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Summary – Part I: Science. Prepared for the New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Science and Technical Advisory Panel. Report published by the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. https://dx.doi.org/10.34051/p/2019.1
Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy, Chapter 70A.05.010 RCW. (2023). https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70A.05.010&pdf=true
2024 Earth to Sky Hawaiʻi Educator Climate Change Workshop Summary Report. (waiting for full citation from Leon Geschwind)
Our Vision
Resilient and sustainable Pacific Island communities using climate information to manage risks and support practical decision-making about climate variability and change.
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