Library

For a more extensive document library, please refer the material listed in the US Global Change Research Program library

See also:
Press Releases
&
Overview of U.S. Research on Climate and Global Change.

• Synthesis and Assessment Products
• Strategic Plan
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Our Changing Planet
• Press Releases
• Meetings and Workshops
• Other Documents

Synthesis and Assessment Products

Second Public review draft of the Unified Synthesis Product: Global Climate Change in the United States is posted. Comments will be accepted from 13 January through 27 February 2009. See also invitation to comment, instructions for providing comments, and Federal Register notice. (posted 13 January 2009)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.2 (Best practice approaches for characterizing, communicating, and incorporating scientific uncertainty in decisionmaking) posted online. See also public review comments. (posted 22 December 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.3 (Aerosol properties and their impacts on climate) posted online. See also public review comments and peer review comments. (posted 15 December 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.4 (Abrupt Climate Change) posted online. See also press release from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (posted 15 Dec 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 1.3 (Reanalysis of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for Attribution of Causes of Observed Change) posted online. See also press release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (posted 11 Dec 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.3 (Decision support experiments and evaluations using seasonal to interannual forecasts and observational data) posted online. See also press release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (posted 17 Nov 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.4 (Trends in emissions of ozone-depleting substances, ozone layer recovery, and implications for ultraviolet radiation exposure) posted online. See also press release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (posted 13 Nov 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.2. (Thresholds of Change in Ecosystems) posted online. See also public review comments. (posted 4 November 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 1.2 (Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes) posted online. See also public review comments and peer review comments. (posted 28 October 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.1 (Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region) posted online. See also public review comments and FAC review comments. (posted 22 October 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.4 (Abrupt Climate Change) posted online. See also public review comments and peer review summary document. (posted 8 October 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.3 (Decision Support Experiments and Evaluations Using Seasonal to Interannual Forecasts and Observational Data). See also public review comments. (posted 10 Sep 2008)

Final (third) review draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.4 (Trends in Emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances, Ozone Layer Recovery, and Implications for Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure). See also public review comments. (posted 09 Sep 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.1 (Uses and Limitations of Observations, Data, Forecasts, and Other Projections in Decision Support for Selected Sectors and Regions) posted online. See also press release from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (posted 8 September 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.2 (Climate Projections Based on Emissions Scenarios for Long-Lived and Short-Lived Radiatively Active Gases and Aerosols) posted online. See also press release and brochure from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (posted 4 September 2008)

Public Review Draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.2 (Thresholds of Change in Ecosystems) posted online. Comments will be accepted from 2 September 2008 through 17 October 2008. See also invitation to comment and Federal Register notice. (posted 2 September 2008)

Public Review Draft of Synthesis and Assessment Product 1.2 (Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes) posted online. Comments will be accepted from 11 August 2008 through 25 September 2008. See also invitation to comment and Federal Register notice. (posted 11 August 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.1 (Climate Models: An Assessment of Strengths and Limitations) posted online. See also press release and brochure from the Department of Energy. (posted 31 July 2008)

Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.6 (Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems) posted online. See also press release and brochure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (posted 17 July 2008)

Public Review Draft of the Unified Synthesis Product (Global Climate Change in the United States) posted online. Comments will be accepted from 17 July 2008 through 14 August 2008. See also invitation to comment and Federal Register notice. (posted 17 July 2008)

>> Visit Library of the Synthesis and Assessment Products for more postings ...

Strategic Plan

U.S. Climate Change Science Program Revised Research Plan: An update to the 2003 Strategic Plan. A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. See also press release (dtd 29 May, 2008). (links posted 29 May 2008)

Summary of Revised Research Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). The CCSP in 2008 will supplement its 2003 Strategic Plan with a Revised Research Plan. This summary of the Revised Research Plan is open for public comment for 60 days (through 26 February 2008). Comments will be considered in developing the final Revised Research Plan as well as a Scientific Assessment, both due by June 2008. (posted 28 Dec 2007)

Bush Administration Launches Historic Federal Climate Change Initiatives.  "Advances Understanding of Climate Variability, Potential Responses and Options."  Press release (dtd 24 July 2003) from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. (posted 24 July 2003) Now available are the following reports by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research: (posted 24 July 2003) The U.S. Climate Change Science Program.  Vision for the Program and Highlights of the Scientific Strategic Plan. Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program

Strategic Plan: (posted 11 November 2002) A fully updated strategic plan for the combined US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI).  Available for review; comments accepted until 13 January 2003.   It will be the focus of a public workshop in Washington, DC on 3-5  December 2002.  A final version of the plan will be published in April 2003. (posted 15 November 2002)

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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The three Working Groups full reports and the Synthesis Report, the final part of the AR4, are available online.

Towards New Scenarios for Analysis of Emissions, Climate Change, Impacts, and Response Strategies. Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Expert Meeting, held on 19-21 September, 2007, in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. Available for expert review until 23 January 2008.  [comment period now closed](posted 3 January 2008)

Summary for Policymakers of the Fourth Assessment Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [PDF]. Released 17 November 2007. See also: Press Briefing Via Conference Call by Senior Administration Officials on IPCC Report, transcript issued by the White House Office of the Press Secretary on 16 November 2007. (link posted 17 Nov 2007)

Frequently Asked Questions from the IPCC's "Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis." Nineteen FAQs (each as a separate PDF file) from the Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, first published in 2007 (link posted 29 Aug 2007)

International Scientific Panel Approves Report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.  Panel indicates high confidence that “anthropogenic warming over the last three decades has had a discernible influence on many physical and biological systems” Press release (dated 6 April 2007) from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. See also: Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.  Summary for Policymakers, links to information related to the Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (posted 6 April 2007)

Climate Change 2007. The Physical Science Basis.  Links to information related to the Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  (link added 2 Feb 2007

Available upon request: U.S. Government collation in support of the Expert and Government Review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III Fourth Assessment Report.  To obtain a copy, please submit a request to . (posted 18 September 2006).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC:  Government and Expert Review.  The second-order draft of Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change is available for expert and government review.   Comments were due 23 August 2006 [comment period now closed].  The draft report is available along with instructions and related materials.  See also Federal Register notice (dtd 24 July 2006).  (links posted 1 August 2006).

Available upon request: U.S. Government collation in support of the Expert and Government Review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I Fourth Assessment Report.  To obtain a copy, please submit a request to . (posted 13 June 2006)

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC:  Government and Expert Review.  The second-order draft of Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis is available for expert and government review.  The draft report is available along with instructions and related materials.  Comments were due 9 May 2006 [comment period now closed] . See also Federal Register notice (dtd 7 April 2006).  (posted 7 April 2006).

Start of Government/Expert Review of 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.  Letter (dtd 12 September 2005) to expert reviewers from Thelma Krug and Taka Hiraishi (Co-Chairs, Task Force Bureau, National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC]).  The letter invites reviewers to contribute to the Expert Review of the Second Order Draft of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006 Guidelines). The review started on 12 September 2005 and lasts for eight weeks until 7 November. (posted 4 October 2005)

IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Storage and Capture, U.S. Government Review. Invitation to comment on the draft special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group III.  Page includes links to instructions and to drafts.  To have comments considered as part of the official U.S. position, all U.S. expert comments must be sent to CCSPO at srccs-USGreview@climatescience.gov by COB 23 February 2005. [comment period closed on 23 Feb 2005](links posted 13 January 2005)

IPCC/TEAP Special Report on Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System: Issues Related to Hydrofluorocarbons and Perfluorocarbons.  U.S. Government Review.   Draft special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP).  The draft report, posted for review, assesses scientific and technical information related to alternatives to ozone-depleting substances.  The draft was open for comments until 2 November 2004. [review period now closed]   (posted 22 September 2004)

Call for U.S. Nominations to serve as Authors and/or Reviewers of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). Issued by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State on 4 December 2003.  Note: The deadline for nominations was 12:00 noon on Monday January 5, 2004.  The U.S. government no longer is accepting nominations.

Our Changing Planet

Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2009. A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2009. (posted August 2008).

Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2008. A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2008. (posted 16 November 2007).

Preview of Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2008. 
(posted 27 April 2007).

Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2007. A report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2007. (posted 15 December 2006).

Our Changing Planet.  The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2006.  A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. A Supplement to the President’s Fiscal Year 2006 Budget. (posted 9 November 2005).  See also U.S. Climate Change Science Program Releases Our Changing Planet:The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2006, press release (dated and posted 10 November 2005) from the CCSP.  The hardcopy version of the report is available free of charge from the GCRIO Online Catalog

U.S. Climate Change Science Program Releases Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005. Press release (dtd 25 Aug 2004) from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (posted 25 Aug 2004).

Our Changing Planet.  The Fiscal Year 2003 US Global Change Research Program and Climate Change Research Initiative [PDF, 1.6 Mb] Records of  the Planning Workshop for Scientists and Stakeholders (Washington, DC, 3-5 December 2002).

Press Releases

U.S. Climate Change Science Program Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Change on the United States. A report of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology Council. See also press release (dtd 29 May, 2008). (links posted 29 May 2008)

U.S. Climate Change Science Program Provides Key Contributions to IPCC Fourth Assessment.  Press release (dtd 16 February 2007) from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.(posted 16 February 2007)

Brennan takes helm of U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Press release (dtd 19 June 2006) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (posted 19 June 2006)

CCSP, NRC Agree to Create Review Committee  for Advising, Evaluating Climate Research Activities.  Press release (dtd 27 June 2005). 

Updated Schedule and Scope of the CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Products.  Letter from Jim Mahoney (Director, CCSP) to Senator Jim DeMint (Republican, South Carolina). (link posted 20 July 2005)

Director of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Announces Retirement Plans.  Press release (dtd 19 July 2005) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  (link posted 19 July 2005)

Climate Change Science Program Hosts Ecosystems Workshop.  Press release (dtd 23 Feb 2004) announcing workshop hosted by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Ecosystems Interagency Working Group.  The three day workshop starts on 23 February 2004 and is being held in Silver Spring, Maryland.  During the three-day workshop, participants will provide input on specific areas of ecosystem science and work to develop approaches for conducting further research that will yield improved ecosystem management in the context of a changing climate. (posted 23 Feb 2004)

Testimony of James R. Mahoney, Ph.D. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.  Presented before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.  Hearing on Climate Change -- Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Trading System, 8 January 2003, Washington, DC.  See also press release (dtd 8 January 2003). A video file of the entire hearing is available on the C-SPAN Technology/Science page.  Additional statements and testimony from the hearing is available from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. (posted 8 January 2003)

Meetings and Workshops

Report of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Stakeholder Listening Session, held October 15, 2008 at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY posted online. (posted Nov 11, 2008)

Report of the Water Managers Roundtable, held March 18, 2008 at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory posted online. (posted Sep 30, 2008)

Report of the Climate Information Users Roundtable, held October 10, 2007 at the US Climate Change Science Program Office in Washington, DC. (posted Jan 2008)

Climate Science in Support of Decision Making.  Final report of the CCSP Workshop held November 14-16, 2005. (posted 20 June 2006)

Participants in the CCSP Workshop on Climate Science in Support of Decision Making. (posted 13 December 2005)

Presentations to the CCSP Workshop on Climate Science in Support of Decision Making.   Through the workshop agenda, most presentations now are available as MS Powerpoint and Adobe PDF files.  (posted 2 December 2005).

Town Hall Meeting: The Climate Change Science Program [PDF, 5.7 Mb, 79 pages].  Presentation of CCSP officials at a meeting held in conjunction with the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, 11 December 2003,  San Francisco, California.

 Earth Observation Summit.  Materials from the U.S.-sponsored meeting held on 31 July 2003. (posted 4 August 2003)

Planning Workshop for Scientists and Stakeholders: Photo Gallery.  Includes hundreds of photos from the 3-5 December 2002 workshop. 

Other Documents

Ozone Day, 2007: 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. Twenty years ago, on 16 September 1987, a group of countries signed the Montreal Protocol in a pivotal step towards protecting stratospheric ozone. To commemorate the day -- now known internationally as "Ozone Day" -- we provide links to a selection of online material related to ozone depletion and the Montreal Protocol. (link posted 12 Sep 2007)

New CCSP "InfoSheets."  These brief documents (dated January 2006) are available in both HTML format and as 2-4 page PDF files.

• CCSP Overview.
• Research Elements Overview.
• Strategic Plan Overview.
• CCSP Budget Overview.
• CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Products.
• Methane as a Greenhouse Gas.  Also available: Related Online Resources.
• CCSP Annual Report to Congress: Our Changing Planet.

CCSP Communications Program: Information on Abrupt Climate Change. (updated 27 May 2004)

FY02 and FY03 Climate and Global Change Interagency Inventory.  The Climate and Global Change Interagency Inventory Data Sheet (dtd August 2002)  is a working document that includes information provided by federal agencies regarding their climate and global change research activities.  The data differ in some respects from information reported in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 and FY 2003 editions of Our Changing Planet, the annual U.S. Global Change Research Program report to Congress. Some of these discrepancies are the result of differences between requested and enacted levels of funding. In addition, some programs in the President's FY03 request as part of CCRI were not labeled as CCRI programs in the inventory.

• Summary
• Complete inventory

Letter to President Bush on Climate Change Science and Technology Plan.  Letter (dtd 9 Sep 2002) from Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and Donald Evans, Secretary of Commerce.  Also available as PDF file.  See also U.S. Climate Research and Technology Progress Outlined, press release (dtd 24 September 2002) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  (posted 26 September 2002). 

Interagency Program Inventory (July-August 2002)

Briefings on Climate Programs by CCSPO Agencies, July 2002

James R. Mahoney, Assistant Secretary for
Oceans and Atmosphere, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Testimony on The Administration's Climate Change Initiatives.  Hearing before the US House of Representatives, Committee on Science, 10 July 2002. 

US Global Climate Change Initiative

• Transcript of President Bush's Speech. Presented 14 February 2002 at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Silver Spring, Maryland.

• Fact Sheet

• Global Climate Change Policy Book.  Includes graphics:
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Unit of Gross Domestic Product, Through 2015 Path to Long-Term Stabilization
  • Forecast US Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions from Business-as-Usual Levels, 2012

Nomination of Dr James R. Mahoney to be Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Hearing (24 January 2002) before the U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  (posted 30 June 2006)

The US Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI):Survey of Research Strategies to Reduce Scientific Uncertainties.  Document (August 2001) Presented By Donald L. Evans, Secretary, Department of Commerce, at the Request of President George W. Bush, Jr.

President Bush Discusses Global Climate Change.  Remarks from the White House Rose Garden, 11 June 2001.

• Listen to the President's Remarks (audio) View the President's Remarks (video)
• Climate Change Review - Initial Report (105KB).  Document from US Cabinet-level working group charged with examining "the science, technologies, current U.S. efforts, and a wide range of innovative options for addressing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

Leading Climate Scientists Advise White House on Global Warming.  Press release (dtd 6 June 2001) from the US National Academies, announcing release of the National Research Council report, Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions.  See also:

• Powering the Future: Warming Up.  Online NewsHour: 7 June 2001. .

Testimony of David L. Evans (PDF), Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, before the US Senate, Commerce Committee, Hearing on  Climate Change Technology and Policy Options, July 10, 2001.