Remember the Sixth National Climate Assessment (#NCA6)? In April 2025, all of its authors were released, and the report was halted. I was a Southwest chapter author.
Many of us former NCA6 authors just published what we could in its place. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EF007336
What it is: a research priorities roadmap in AGU's Earth's Future. It identifies where the science has advanced since the 2023 NCA5 and where research is still needed. Some examples include compound extremes and cascading risks that overwhelm systems built for one hazard at a time, and the need to keep evaluating whether our climate responses work, including their health, economic, and environmental effects.
We also call for a network of national, regional, local, and sectoral assessments to keep synthesizing actionable science as impacts accelerate.
What it's not: a replacement for the National Climate Assessment. It doesn't include all vetted authors, has no public or National Academies review, and provides no findings for every region and sector.
Planners, public health officials, Tribes, and local governments relied on the NCA for decision-making, and right now nothing is filling that role.
I'm proud of what we salvaged. Please read and share, and keep asking for a real National Climate Assessment.
#NCA #nationalclimateassessment #climatechange #climatepolicy #extremeheat #Climate
