Knowledge Base

Terms You May Have Heard

Climate Change: Climate change refers to the changes in average weather conditions that persist over multiple decades or longer. Climate change encompasses both increases and decreases in temperature, along with shifts in precipitation, changing risk of certain types of severe weather events, and changes to other features of the climate system. 

IPCC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

CCSP: The Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is a US collaborative interagency research program that manages government study into climate change. The CCSP oversees and integrates the research activities of thirteen federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation, and the Smithsonian Institution.