Society derives many benefits from biodiversity and ecosystems, including clean air and water, as well as a host of recreational and culturally valued services. Climate change and nitrogen pollution—or excess nitrogen in the air and water, usually caused by human activities—are two major stressors affecting ecosystems nationwide, leading to shifts in habitat ranges, loss of species, and increased soil acidity. A partnership of researchers from EPA, USDA-FS, USGS, and academia are collaborating to assess the interacting impacts of nitrogen and climate change
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Highlights
Since 1989, the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has submitted annual reports to Congress called Our Changing Planet. The reports describe the status of USGCRP research activities, provide progress updates, and document recent accomplishments
In particular, Our Changing Planet highlights progress and accomplishments in interagency activities. These highlights represent the broad spectrum of USGCRP activities that extend from Earth system observations, modeling, and fundamental research through synthesis and assessment, decision support, education, and public engagement.
“Indicators” are variables that can be used to measure the status or trend of a system. Indicators of climate-related global change—whether ecological, physical, or societal—can be used to track and communicate key aspects of the changing environment, point out vulnerabilities, and inform decision making at local, state, and national levels.
A pilot set of climate indicators is being developed collaboratively by USGCRP agencies including NASA, NOAA, EPA, USDA, DOE, DOD’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), CDC, and DOI. The
Drought is a significant hazard for the United States, with potentially severe and long-lasting impacts on the Nation’s economy and food and water supplies. USGCRP agencies are advancing our understanding of the causes and consequences of drought, an FY 2015 interagency research priority (see Section 4). They are also collaborating in efforts to support drought preparedness and recovery, such as the National Drought Resilience Partnership (a deliverable of the President’s Climate Action Plan) and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).
GSA owns or leases 9,624 assets, maintains workspace for 1.1 million Federal employees, preserves more than 481 historic properties, and procures more than $60 billion in products and services for the Federal Government. Climate change has the potential to impact the ability of GSA and other Federal agencies to fulfill their missions, operate their facilities, and maintain their services. With its region-by-region breakdown of climate data and projections, the Third National Climate Assessment (see related Highlight 9) and its supporting regional climate
Overview
Indicators are measurements or calculations that represent the status, trend, or performance of a system (e.g., the economy, agriculture, air quality). USGCRP, with the participation of 9 of its 13 member agencies—NOAA, NASA, EPA, USDA, DOE, DOD’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), HHS’s