In February 1997, USGCRP and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) initiated a series of Regional Climate Change Workshops with the goal of examining the vulnerabilities of U.S. regions to climate variability and change. Each workshop was sponsored by one or more government agencies, and was carried out by coordinators from local institutions. The goal was to begin a two-way process of interaction: scientists gained input from stakeholders about their information needs, and stakeholders learned from scientists about climate change projections and possible consequences for the region.

The workshops were a first step in conducting regional assessments, serving to scope key issues and information needs. As a next step, each region was asked to expand upon the ideas and enthusiasm generated in the workshop by conducting a more in-depth, quantitative analysis of key issues (regional assessment), and continuing to engage the network of stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue.

The regional workshop and assessment reports—listed below where available—ultimately coalesced into input for the First National Climate Assessment, which was released in 2000. 

All the archived material from the first National Climate Assessment is available in The Collected Works of the 2000 National Assessment – Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change

Available Regional Workshop and Assessment Reports

Alaska

• Workshop Report 1 (June 1997) 
• Workshop Report 2 (October 1998)
• Assessment Report

California

• Workshop Report

Great Lakes

• Climate Change Workshop Report (1998) breakout groups | invited talks
• Water Levels (March 20, 2001)
• Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems (June 15, 2001)
• Winter Recreation (November 8, 2002)
• Assessment Report

Great Plains (Central)

• Assessment Report

Gulf Coast

• Summary Assessment
• Full Assessment Report

Metro East Coast

• Assessment Synthesis
• Full Assessment Report
• Assessment Website

Mid-Atlantic

• Assessment Report (Foundation)

Native Peoples/Homeland

• Workshop Report

New England

• Workshop Report 1
• Workshop Report 2
• Assessment Report

Pacific Islands

• Workshop - Chair's Presentation
• Assessment Report
• Brochure

Pacific Northwest

• Assessment Report
• Summary

Rocky Mountain/Great Basin

• Workshop Report

Southwest

• Workshop Report