Fifth National Climate Assessment

The National Climate Assessment is a Congressionally-mandated report that is updated every four years to assess and inform the Nation about the impacts of climate variability and climate change on the U.S., as well as presenting what is being done, and what can be done, to minimize impacts and risks. The U.S. Global Change Research Program coordinates this inter-agency effort, bringing together experts from 13 Federal agencies, the broader Federal government, as well as hundreds of experts in the academic, non-profit, and private sectors. A critical component of the Fifth National Climate Assessment is a robust, inclusive, and transparent stakeholder engagement and public review process.

Dr. Kris May serves as a Chapter Lead Author for the Coastal Effects and Focus on Blue Carbon chapters. Dr. May leads a team of 12 Federal and academic scientists focusing on current climate variability and future climate risks, impacts on jobs and communities, the natural and built environments, and frontline communities – the communities anticipated to feel the impacts of a changing climate first and the worst. In the Firth National Climate Assessment, special consideration is being given to social and environmental justice issues in the face of climate change. For the first time in NCA history, an entire chapter Social Systems and Justice is dedicated to this topic.

The Coastal Effects chapter explores the transformation of coastal landscapes resulting from climate impacts, including sea level rise and shifting storm patterns. Proactive community-led adaptation strategies, including nature-based solutions and planned relocation, can help communities adapt to both current and future increases in the severity of coastal hazards across the US.

Pathways’ Dr. Juliette Finzi Hart serves as a contributing chapter author for the Coastal Effects chapter. Daisy Ramírez López serves as technical contributor for the Coastal Effects and Focus on Blue Carbon chapters. The Pathways team provided our services pro-bono to the consortium of 14 federal agencies led by the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

For the first time in National Climate Assessment history all chapters were fully translated into Spanish. Pathways’ Daisy Ramírez López supported the Spanish translation review for two chapters.