Editing the Fifth National Climate Assessment

Throughout the planning and development of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), NOAA’s NCA Technical Support Unit (TSU) provided a broad range of scientific and technical support. The TSU editorial team developed and executed a variety of processes to maximize clarity, accessibility, and usability for both written and graphical elements of this complex scientific assessment. Science communication goals included providing comprehensive author guidance and editorial support; ensuring accessibility, clarity, accuracy, and consistency across chapters; and developing clear and effective figures and infographics. This presentation outlines lessons learned and best practices for developing a scientific assessment that is usable and useful for both decision-makers and the general public. NCA5, the preeminent source of climate information for the United States, is developed by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and is scheduled for release in late 2023.