Accomplishments of the U.S. Global Change Research Program

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is an interagency program, established by the Global Change Research Act (GCRA) of 1990, mandated by Congress to "assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change". Since the USGCRP began, scientific understanding of global change has increased and the information needs of the nation have changed dramatically. A better understanding of what is changing and why can help decision makers in the public and private sectors cope with ongoing change. Accomplishments of the U.S. Global Change Research Program highlights the growth of global change science in the quarter century that the USGCRP has been in existence, and documents some of its contributions to that growth through its primary functions of interagency planning and coordination, and of synthesis of research and practice to inform decision making. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Strategic Planning and Coordination 3 Assessments and Stakeholder Engagement 4 Building on the Accomplishments of the USGCRP for the Next 25 Years References Acronyms Appendix A: Global Change Research Act of 1990 Appendix B: Statement of Task Appendix C: List of USGCRP Products Appendix D: List of National Academies Reports for the USGCRP Appendix E: Table of USGCRP Strategic Planning Goals and Objectives Appendix F: Committee Member Biographies