Global Change Reports and Assessments |
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According to the Analysis of Global Change Assessments by the National Research Council, scientific assessments are evaluation and consensus building processes for establishing an integrated view of recent scientific breakthroughs and providing policy-relevant information to decision makers. An assessment can establish the importance of an issue, provide an authoritative resolution of policy-relevant scientific questions, demonstrate the benefits of policy options, identify new research directions, and provide technical solutions. The assessment process in itself is a key interface between science and policy and a crucial mechanism by which science informs policy making. For assessments to be effective and credible, the process has to be open and must provide accurate, useful, and scientifically tested information. For information regarding USGCRP Scientific Assessments, please contact Dr. Fabien Laurier.
USGCRP Scientific AssessmentsThe latest assessment from the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is the 2009 state of the knowledge report of Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S. (Second Climate Assessment).
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ReportsInternationally, many assessments have been produced to address important questions related to environmental issues such as ozone depletion, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity. Many of these assessments have provided the scientific basis for the elaboration of international agreements, including the Assessment Report Series from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. National Research Council ReportsHistorically, the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has partnered with the National Research Council of the National Academies. From this partnership resulted a series of reports that provide advice on Federal climate change research and related activities. |