1.3: Mitigation & Adaptation
Mitigation and adaptation choices supported by sustained, reliable, and timely climate services Other Information:
Human-induced changes in Earth's climate, as well as natural climate variability, complicate the ability to effectively plan
for the future, manage resources, support national and food security, meet international and other intergovernmental agreements,
and sustainably develop the economy. Resource managers, Governments, public and private businesses and organizations recognize
that a changing climate complicates their ability to achieve their goals. Existing information is not readily available to
those who need it or formatted in a way that makes it easy to use. The Nation needs a comprehensive, authoritative, and coordinated
source of climate science and information to support adaptation and mitigation strategies and to incorporate into risk and
vulnerability assessments and related decision-making processes. To achieve this objective, NOAA will build upon its strong
scientific foundation and internal and external partnerships to develop and deliver climate services. These services will
include up-to-date descriptions of the state of the climate; regional information derived from global climate models; useful
predictions of likely climate impacts; and the timely delivery of climate information, short-term and long-term forecasts,
and early warnings. These products will be accompanied by services that help decision makers use climate information, research
and model outcomes, and understand the associated uncertainties. NOAA's initial service development efforts will focus on
producing climate predictions, information, and ecosystem impact assessments for the water, coastal, and living marine resources
sectors, including improved sea level rise and ocean acidification monitoring, predictions, and information on related ecosystem
and infrastructure impacts. Over time, NOAA will also develop and improve similar services for other sectors, such as health,
traditional and renewable energy, agriculture, transportation, terrestrial resources, tourism, and national security. Developing
services that meet these diverse needs will require increased coordination and collaboration across NOAA and with other Federal
Agencies, governments, academia, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. To ensure that a diverse community
of customers can access and use NOAA's research data products and information services, NOAA will produce new and improved
data management and access systems—including the NOAA Climate Services (NCS) Portal—that enhance the communication and dissemination
of climate information and products. Over the next five years, evidence of progress toward this objective will include: *
National, State, local, and tribal governments and water resource managers are better able to prepare for, adapt, and respond
to drought and flooding, and can more confidently manage water resources; * Coastal resource managers incorporate a greater
understanding of the risks of sea level rise, changes in Great Lakes hydrology and water levels, and other climate impacts
to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities and ecosystem resources; * Living marine resource managers prepare for
and respond to the impacts of a changing climate, ocean acidification, and other climate impacts, and develop management strategies
for marine ecosystem conditions; * Decision makers prepare for and adapt to climate extremes, including deviations in temperatures
and precipitation patterns; and * Policy makers have the information and understanding they need to implement and manage options
that mitigate climate change.
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