California is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. In the last decade, Californians have endured severe droughts, floods, historic wildfires, rising seas, and record temperatures all driven by climate change. Building resilience to these impacts requires sustained investment in climate change research and science.
California Climate Change Assessments
Public Resources Code 71340 (Senate Bill 1320, Stern, 2020) calls on the State, through the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP), to advance action-based science by developing California Climate Change Assessments at least every five years. Previous Assessments (2006, 2009, 2012, 2018) contributed to a growing understanding about the impacts of climate change in California and offer communities and decision-makers the tools to take action.
Building on the strong foundation set by previous Assessments, the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LUCI) is leading implementation of California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment (Fifth Assessment) in partnership with the California Energy Commission, California Natural Resources Agency, and California Strategic Growth Council.
California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment
Leveraging diverse expertise throughout the state, the Fifth Assessment will contribute to the scientific foundation for understanding climate-related vulnerability throughout California. It will support on-the-ground implementation and decision-making at the local, regional, tribal, and state levels, focusing on the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Fifth Assessment Implementation Timeline
Learn About the Fifth Climate Change Assessment and its Partners!
Key Focus Areas
The Climate Assessment Regional Synthesis Reports compile the best available science on climate change and other informational resources at a local scale to help communities understand and develop informed responses to the impacts of climate change in their region.
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The California Climate Change Assessment Topical Synthesis Reports address issues of statewide significance, such as environmental justice considerations; impacts on built, natural, and social systems; welfare of vulnerable communities, potential fiscal and economic impacts of these effects in California, and the unique risks posed to, and research and monitoring approaches used by tribal communities.
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Join our Climate Assessment email list to receive updates and announcements.
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Upcoming Opportunities
8/21/2025
LCI has released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from potential partners at University of California (UC) and/or California State University (CSU), and Tribal Government and/or Tribal Serving Organization regarding engagement objectives.
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8/21/2025
The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) seeks Reviewers and Associate Editors to participate in the review process for the California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment research portfolio.
Reviewers and editors application
To update Californians on the progress being made with the Fifth Assessment, the inter-agency Fifth Assessment Team is releasing a set of climate research milestones to date.
View Progress Update
Resources
California’s hub site for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment and future assessment updates and publications.
Go to climateassessment.ca.gov
Throughout 2023, the Fifth Assessment team worked with a broad and diverse range of partners to inform the foundation of key Fifth Assessment deliverables.
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The Fifth Assessment’s interagency team is leading competitive research funding programs to address California-specific research gaps related to climate change impacts and adaptation.
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Read and download an overview of the Fifth Assessment’s products, timeline, and process.
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Read and download an overview of the Fifth Assessment’s products, timeline, and process.
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Cal-Adapt is the State’s open-source hub for accessing high quality, peer-reviewed downscaled climate data and projections from California’s Climate Change Assessment.
Learn more at cal-adapt.org
Learn more about the Round 1 awardees.
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Learn more about the Round 2 awardees.
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Learn more about the Core Climate Research awardees.
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