Overview of the Adaptation and Mitigation Chapters of the Fifth National Climate Assessment

This presentation will give an overview of the key messages and findings of the adaptation and mitigation chapters of the U.S. Fifth National Climate Assessment. The adaptation chapter covers the current landscape of adaptation actions being taken across the United States and assesses current and future needs for adaptation to climate impacts. The chapter reviews different aspects of what can make adaptation more or less effective, including equity concerns, governance structures, climate services, and financing. The mitigation chapter covers what mitigation is, the value of mitigation to the United States, and the complicated nature of using mitigation technologies as a tool to avoid or reduce the effects of climate change. The chapter discusses the nature of mitigation as a response effort, modeling and how modeling can be used to predict future impacts, and the complicated nature of determining the appropriate mix of mitigation-related technologies to produce a desired outcome. The Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) is the preeminent source of climate information for the United States. The National Climate Assessment is developed by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and is scheduled for release in late 2023. Authors of the NCA5 Adaptation chapter include: Emily Wasley, Travis Dahl, Caitlin Simpson, Laura West Fischer, Jennifer F. Helgeson, Melissa A. Kenney, Adam Parris, A.R. Siders, Eric Tate, Nicola Ulibarri, and Reid Sherman. Authors of the NCA5 Mitigation chapter include: Steven J. Davis, Rebecca Dodder, David D. Turner, Ines Azevedo, Morgan Bazilian, John Bistline, Sanya Carley, Christopher T.M. Clack, Joseph E. Fargione, Emily Grubert, Jason Hill, Adrienne L. Hollis, Alan Jenn, Ryan A. Jones, Eric Masanet, Erin N. Mayfield, Matteo Muratori, Wei Peng, Brittany C. Sellers, and Chris Avery.