CCSP Unified Synthesis Product

The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) was established in 2002 to coordinate climate and global change research conducted in the United States and to support decision-making on climate-related issues. As one of its major activities, the CCSP is producing twenty-one synthesis and assessment reports that address its research, observation, and decision-support needs. These important reports constitute a comprehensive view of the state of the science and serve to help frame new questions that face policymakers. The CCSP leadership, in coordination with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), has now called for the production of an additional, integrative document entitled the CCSP Unified Synthesis Product (USP). The USP will synthesize the information contained in the 21 SAPs, the recent IPCC reports, and other recent results that have appeared in the scientific literature. By doing so, it will provide a single coherent analysis of the current understanding of climate change science, summarize the contributions of the CCSP Program, and identify important gaps in the science.

(NOTE: The Second Public Review Draft of the Unified Synthesis Product (USP) is now available for public review and comment. The document, along with instructions for submitting comments, can be accessed at: www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/usp/default.php

The public comment period will end on February 27, 2009.)