Invitation to Submit Comments on Draft Guidelines for Producing CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Products
Public Comment Period:
29 March 2004 - 7 May 2004

Please send your comments by e-mail, by 7 May 2004, to

To begin the review, download the draft Guidelines for Producing CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Deliverables
[PDF]

Please follow the Instructions for Submitting Comments.

Synthesis and Assessment Products

Washington DC
29 March 2004

CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE PROGRAM

DRAFT GUIDELINES
CCSP SYNTHESIS AND ASSESSMENT PRODUCTS

Public Comment Period:
29 March 2004 -- 7 May 2004

Dear Colleague -

You are invited to provide comments on the draft guidelines for the synthesis and assessment products [PDF] that are being prepared by the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). These guidelines have been prepared to ensure consistency and transparency in the process that will be used in preparing the products. Comments are sought on any aspects of the process set forth in the guidelines. Comments received by the deadline, 7 May 2004, will be used in revising and finalizing the guidelines.

The CCSP synthesis and assessment products are described in the Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, released in late July 2003. The products are intended to provide useful information for a variety of end users about key climate change topics. The products include reports, data sets, and evaluations of the uses and limits of climate information in decision support. See Chapter 2 of the Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program for a detailed description of the products.

The Climate Change Science Program is an interagency endeavor, with 13 participating Federal agencies and departments. One or more of the designated agencies that comprise CCSP will take the lead in preparing each product. The lead and supporting agencies are listed on the accompanying table. This table also provides information regarding which CCSP interagency working groups are collaborating in the production of each product. The national and international research community is anticipated to play a major role in preparation of many of the products.

To ensure consistency and transparency in the processes that will be used by the lead and supporting agencies in preparing the products, the guidelines currently under review describe the steps to be followed in each of four phases of the preparation process -- framing, drafting, review, and production. This broadly standardized methodology for product development will facilitate involvement of the research community and the public in ensuring that the products are focused in a useful fashion and meet the highest standards of scientific excellence. The guidelines also encourage transparency by ensuring that public information about the status of the products will be provided on the CCSP website.

Your comments are requested on the effectiveness of the proposed guidelines in ensuring scientific integrity and facilitating public engagement. Your comments should be submitted electronically to >. Please refer to the instructions for formatting and submitting comments to facilitate the collation of comments received into a master set for review by the CCSP. If you have any questions regarding the draft Guidelines review process, please contact Sandy MacCracken at 1-202-419-3483 (voice).

All comments submitted by 7 May 2004 will be given serious consideration in revising and finalizing the process for producing the reports. The comments received by this date will be posted on the CCSP website.

We appreciate your participation and constructive comments.

Sincerely,

James R. Mahoney, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Oceans and Atmosphere
& Director, U.S. Climate Change Science Program

Ari Patrinos, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Science for Biological and Environmental Research, Department of Energy
& Acting Director, U.S. Climate Change Science Program

Please send your comments by e-mail, by 7 May 2004, to .

To begin the review, download the draft Guidelines for Producing CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Deliverables [PDF]. Please follow the Instructions for Submitting Comments.

Synthesis and Assessment Products: Summary Information. Product-by-product information (participating agencies & working groups, etc). (updated 29 March 2004).