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Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment Guidance Committee

By Climate Adaptation Science Centers

The Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment Guidance Committee is an independent multi-disciplinary stakeholder body of diverse representatives from government entities (Federal, Tribal, State), academia, industry, Indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations, and other entities. 

Guidance Committee Overview

The Guidance Committee (GC) is tasked with providing non-consensus guidance, opinions, and feedback on the United States Geological Survey (USGS)-led Continental Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment Report. Throughout the Assessment cycle (2023-2025), climate- and biodiversity-governance decision-makers, technical experts, and knowledge-holders selected for the GC will engage with Assessment authors to help align the report structure, content, and messaging with the needs and interests of decision-makers, end users, and other key audiences. The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation’s National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center) will independently convene, manage, and facilitate the GC.

The GC has policy experts, practitioners, scientists, and knowledge-holders from across the Assessment scope. They have worked in Federal, State, Provincial, Territory, Local, and Tribal governments throughout the US, US territories and freely associated states, Canada, and Mexico; nonprofit organizations; academia & research institutions; private industry; and international & global assessments. Please note this graphic is intended to represent GC expertise and is not made to geographic scale. Click the image to view a fully accessible version.


Guidance Committee Objectives

GC members will contribute meaningfully to the Assessment through the following activities:

  • Provide feedback and input to author teams regarding Assessment Report structure and content, including on issues and topics related to: 
    • Key emerging findings to highlight in chapter executive summaries and the resulting summaries for policymakers
    • Climate and biodiversity governance, legal and policy impacts, institutional development and support, resource management practices, and stakeholder engagement
    • Critical gaps in available scientific and traditional knowledge to support policy and management decision-making. This includes:
      • Identifying gaps in analysis, delivery, and application of existing knowledge
      • Determining what approaches may help ensure effective use of available science and knowledge
      • Identifying what new scientific research or analysis is needed
  • Suggestions to ensure the Assessment Report is relevant to decision and other end-users. 
  • Provide input on messaging targeted to policymakers, resource managers, industry and civil society leaders, members of the public and other key audiences. 
  • Build and connect existing stakeholder networks and expand assessment outreach by identifying and engaging key stakeholders and audiences.

For more information on the GC, please contact GC@udall.gov

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