SCIPP Co-PIs Darrian Bertrand and Sascha Petersen are authors for the Southern Great Plains chapter (Ch. 26) of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), led by Renee McPherson, a SCIPP Investigator. The National Climate Assessment is a Congressionally mandated quadrennial report led by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The report assesses the science of climate change, its impacts in the U.S., and mitigation and adaptation options we have for reducing our risk.
We are pleased to announce that a draft version of NCA5 is now available for a 12-week public review and comment period. The SCIPP region is covered in two chapters. Arkansas and Louisiana are included in Chapter 22 (Southeast) and Oklahoma and Texas are included in Chapter 26 (Southern Great Plains). Additional information on this request can be found in the Federal Register Notice and in this USGCRP Open Notice. The last public comment period gave everyone a glance at the outline for each chapter, but this is the first full draft accessible to the public.
Reviews are a vital part of the NCA5 development process. In addition to this public comment period, NCA5 is being reviewed by a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. All of the feedback received through these processes will be considered by the chapter authors for future drafts of the assessment. The final version of NCA5 is expected to be released in late 2023.
This review is free and open to everyone. People who wish to review and comment on the draft report can do so via the USGCRP Review and Comment System (registration required). Instructions for comment submission are available on that site and in this brief recording. Please note that this is a draft document and it should not be cited, quoted, or distributed for purposes beyond this review.
All comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on January 27, 2023 via the USGCRP Review and Comment System. We look forward to your feedback!
Informational Webinars
USGCRP is hosting two free webinars for people interested in learning more about NCA5, the importance of public participation, and how to submit comments on the draft report. No registration is required.
November 29, 2022 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
To join online:
https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/wtqggbzd
To join by phone:
Call-in number: +1 (415) 466-7000 (US)
Participant PIN: 3022421 followed by #
December 1, 2022 | 5:00–6:00 PM ET
To join online:
https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/aaxbpfdj
To join by phone:
Call-in number: +1 (415) 466-7000 (US)
Participant PIN: 8533482 followed by #
Helpful links:
USGCRP Review & Comment System
How to Provide Comment (video)