America's Climate Choices: Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change

This volume in the America's Climate Choices series describes activities, strategies, and tools for informing decision makers about climate change and helping them plan and execute effective responses.  The report describes the different types of climate change-related decisions and actions being taken at various levels and in different sectors and regions; and it develops a framework, tools, and practical advice for ensuring that the best available technical knowledge about climate change is used to inform these decisions and actions.

The report examines information needs and recommends ways the federal government can better inform responses by enhancing climate change and greenhouse gas information and reporting systems and by improving climate communication and education. These information systems and services could be used to support adaptation decisions and actions.

Decision frameworks for effective climate responses are detailed, including the fundamental elements of a risk management framework and alternative decision making processes. The report describes a range of decision support tools. An array of these tools commonly used to aid climate-related decisions and actions - such as such as life cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and consumer and market surveys - are included in a table. 

 

Prepared by the National Research Council's Panel on Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, this report is one in a series of five studies requested by Congress, known as "America’s Climate Choices." Other reports in this series include Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, Limiting the Magnitude of Climate Change, and A Conversation on America’s Climate Choices. These reports can be viewed online, through a free PDF download, or through a paperback order. 

 

 

 

 

 

Publication Date: 2010

Related Organizations:

  • The National Academies

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Resource Types:

  • Planning guides
  • Policy analysis/recommendations

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