See also press release (dated and posted 10 November 2005) from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.

Also available:

PDF version of the full report

The hardcopy version of this report is available free of charge from the GCRIO Online Catalog

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Letter of Transmittal

October 2005

Members of Congress:

We are pleased to transmit a copy of Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2006.   The report describes the activities and plans of the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), which incorporates the U.S. Global Change Research Program, established under the Global Change Research Act of 1990, and the Climate Change Research Initiative, established by the President in 2001.   CCSP coordinates and integrates scientific research on climate and global change supported by 13 participating departments and agencies of the U.S. Government.

This Fiscal Year 2006 edition of Our Changing Planet highlights recent advances supported by CCSP participating agencies in each of the program’s research and observational elements, as called for in the Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program released in July 2003.   It describes a wide range of new and emerging observational capabilities which, combined with the program’s other analytical work, are leading to remarkable advances in understanding the underlying processes responsible for climate variability and change. 

The document illustrates advances in U.S. modeling capabilities to represent past, present, and potential future changes in the physical and biological dimensions of the Earth system. The report also highlights progress being made to explore the uses and limitations of evolving knowledge to manage risks and opportunities related to climate variability and change. The final chapter documents the program’s numerous current activities to promote cooperation between the U.S. scientific community and its worldwide counterparts.

The document also outlines how CCSP plans to continue implementation of the Strategic Plan during FY 2006. A significant emphasis in 2006 will be continued work on the production of 21 scientific synthesis and assessment reports on a wide range of topics to support informed discussion of climate change by decision makers and the public.

CCSP is committed to its mission to facilitate the creation and application of knowledge of the Earth’s global environment through research, observations, decision support, and communication. We thank the CCSP participating agencies for their close cooperation, and we look forward to working with Congress in the continued development of this important program.

Carlos M. Gutierrez Secretary of Commerce Chair, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration

Samuel W. Bodman Secretary of Energy Vice Chair, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration

John H. Marburger III, Ph.D. Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy Executive Director, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration