The Climate Program Office comprises 5 divisions. Each Division supports unique work that is necessary to implement NOAA's Strategic Plan and advance the climate mission goal.

The Administrative Services Division supports administrative functions of the office, including budget execution, grants and contracts management, and information technology services.

The Program Planning Division serves as a focal point for strategic planning for the NOAA Climate Goal, coordinating efforts within the Office of Atmospheric Research as well as across other NOAA line offices.

The Climate Observations Division includes programs whose main task is to obtain consistent climate observations and make the data available.

The Ocean Climate Observation (OCO) Program supports a global network of ocean observing instruments to produce continuous records and analyses of a range of ocean parameters. Observations include sea level, ocean carbon content, sea surface temperature, sea ice thickness and concentration, and air-sea exchanges of heat, momentum, and fresh water.

The Arctic Research Program, working with national and international partners, maintains a suite of Arctic climate observing networks. The program supports analysis of Arctic climate data and provides information for climate assessment activities.

The Atmospheric Climate Observation (ACO) Program connects a global network of climate reference stations that adhere to rigorous observation standards. The Program expands the global network through collaborative agreements and by building new stations in data-sparse locations.

The Office of Climate Observations coordinates ocean observing efforts across NOAA and other federal agencies as well as among a broad range of international ocean observing programs. As the observing networks are managed by distributed agencies and nations, the Office supports integrative tasks that span all observing networks.

The Research Program Division supports programs that involve physical science research through data analysis and computer modelling. Programs in this division are:

The Climate Change Data Detecton (C²D²) Program ensures that the data sets researchers need to understand the climate system are available for analysis. The program provides support for documenting variations in climate on time scales ranging from less than one year to periods of 100 years and longer. C²D² also provides data and information management support for national and international climate assessment projects.

The Atmospheric Composition and Climate Program (ACC) supports research to improve understanding and predictions on the affects of aerosols and chemically active greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Program also supports interagency and international efforts to characterize the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer, including its role in climate change.

The Global Carbon Cycle (GCC) Program uses global observations, field studies, and computer modeling to quantify the magnitude and dynamics of carbon sources and sinks across the planet. GCC also supports work to improve predictions of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in the future, under conditions of a potentially modified carbon cycle.

The Climate Prediction Program for the Americas (CPPA) supports research to improve climate predictions and hydrological forecasts in North, Central, and South America. The Program emphasizes abilities to quantify uncertainties and the sources and limits of predictability in systems such as ENSO and the North and South American monsoons.

The Climate Variability and Predictability (CVP) Program supports research on the interrelationships among components of the ocean and atmosphere within the global climate system. The program funds an array of modeling and diagnostic studies focused on large-scale climate variability and abrupt climate change.

The Applied Research Centers (ARC) conduct mission-oriented applied R&D with stable funding under five-year-renewable Institutional Awards. Each center has a unique capability to contribute to NOAA's Climate Mission Goal.

The Climate Test Bed (CTB) at the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) works to accelerate transition of research into climate forecast operations. The CTB brings scientists from the external research community and NCEP together to work on high priority enhancements to climate forecast operations.

The Explaining Climate to Improve Predictions (ECIP) Program supports improvements in the processes of reanalysis and attribution. Reanalysis refers to the development of consistent, global climate data sets produced by reprocessing existing data that have variable temporal and spatial resolutions. Attribution is the process of connecting observed results with their causes: in the case of climate, this means delivering explanations for observed climate variability and change.

The Climate Assessments and Services Division supports decision making, transition of research to operations, and production and delivery of experimental local and regional climate services.

The Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program supports regional research centers based in universities and other scientific institutions. The RISA Program emphasizes regional- and local-scale research, working directly with people who are involved with activities, resources, or property that may be vulnerable to climate variability and change.

The Sectoral Application Research Program (SARP) catalyzes interdisciplinary research on the affects of and potential responses to climate variability and change in specific sectors of society. Current projects serve the Coastal and Water sectors. SARP projects include development of innovative outreach activities to enhance sector abilities to use climate information and decision support resources.

The Transition of Research Applications to Climate Services (TRACS) moves experimentally mature climate information from research mode into operational settings. The program's primary goal is to generate sustained delivery of useful climate information products and services to local, regional, national, and international decision and policy makers.

The International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) is an end-to-end climate prediction and applications institution that demonstrates the US leadership in international climate prediction and applications. IRI was established as a cooperative agreement between NOAA's Climate Program Office and Columbia University.

The Communications and Education Group supports efforts to build a climate-literate public and provide broad access to climate data. The group communicates the challenges, processes, and results of climate science to various audiences through stories and data visualization.

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), provides dynamic and easily accessible drought information for the nation. NIDIS supports drought research focusing on risk assessment, forecasting, and management plus development of decision-support resources.