PDF version of this Overview section

There are both important commonalities and important differences in the climate-related issues and consequences faced around the country. For example, water is a key issue in virtually all regions, but the specific changes and impacts in the West, in the Great Lakes, and the Southeast will differ. Regional texture is thus critical in thinking through how to best respond to the changing climate we will face in the coming decades and century. 

Twenty regional workshops involving a wide range of researchers and stakeholders helped identify key issues facing each region and began identifying potential adaptation strategies. This report groups the findings of these efforts into larger regions to offer a glimpse of the regional mosaic of consequences that are possible due to climate change and variability. The impacts highlighted here suggest that it is vital that people everywhere start to learn about climate impacts and consider them in their short- and long-term decisions about infrastructure, land use, and other planning. In many cases, research is needed to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and costs of the adaptation strategies identified in the regional overviews