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Contributors

About this guide

Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change presents information that is important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth’s climate, the impacts of climate change, and solutions. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for learning about the climate crisis and what’s being done to address it across the world.

The guide aims to promote greater climate literacy by providing this educational and communication framework of principles and concepts.

Download the Climate Literacy Guide in PDF

U.S. Global Change Research Program

Leadership

  • Maria Uhle - Chair, Subcommittee on Global Change Research
  • Gretchen Goldman - Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Global Change Research
  • Emily Sylak-Glassman - Chair, Subcommittee on Climate Services
  • Samantha Medlock - Chair, Subcommittee on Climate Services
  • Mike Kuperberg - Executive Director, U.S. Global Change Research Program
  • Stacy Aguilera-Peterson - Deputy Director for Research, U.S. Global Change Research Program
  • Heidi Roop - Deputy Director for Services, U.S. Global Change Research Program
  • Ariela Zycherman - Director, National Climate Assessment
  • Phil Levin - Director, National Nature Assessment

Subcommittee on Global Change Research

  • John Balbus - Department of Health and Human Services
  • David Bascom - Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Lisa Clough - National Science Foundation
  • Benjamin DeAngelo - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Rebecca Dodder - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Gerald Geernaert - Department of Energy
  • Gretchen Goldman - Department of Transportation
  • Pete Epanchin - U.S. Agency for International Development
  • William Hohenstein - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Kirk Johnson - Smithsonian Institution
  • Jack Kaye - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Stephanie Bruce (Acting) - Department of Defense
  • Geoffrey Plumlee - Department of the Interior
  • Todd Richardson - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Trigg Talley - Department of State

Climate Engagement and Capacity-Building Interagency Group 

  • Stacy Aguilera-Peterson - U.S. Global Change Research Program
  • Maggie Allen - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Susan Aragon-Long - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Tatiana Ausema - National Endowment for the Humanities
  • John Balbus - Department of Health and Human Services
  • Ben Ballerstein - AmeriCorps
  • Michael Band - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Brandon Barlow - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Ta Misha Bascombe - Department of Health and Human Services
  • Sean Bath - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Thea Becton - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Sarah Beebout - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
  • Daniel Berkman - Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Lea-Ann Bigelow - Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection
  • Mariah Blackbird - Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Cedar Blazek - Department of Energy
  • Brock Blevins - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Whitney Boone - Department of the Interior
  • Victoria Bortfeld - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Joshua Brown - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Celeste Carter - National Science Foundation
  • Chris Castro - Department of Energy
  • Amanda Catron - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Alison Cawood - Smithsonian Institution
  • Amy Chen - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Todd Christenson - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Jazmine Cofer - Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • John Dos Passos Coggin - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Groundswell
  • Jennifer Collins - Smithsonian Institution
  • Pierre Comizzoli - Smithsonian Institution
  • Ted Coopwood - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Kristen Cordell - White House Council on Environmental Quality
  • Haley Crim - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Groundswell
  • Allison Crimmins - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Stacy Cummings - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Genevieve de Messieres - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Katie Dickinson - Department of the Treasury
  • Rebecca Dodder - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Matthew Dowiatt - White House Council on Environmental Quality
  • Carla Easter - Smithsonian Institution
  • Andrea Falken - Department of Education
  • Dylan Fernholz-Hartman - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Melanie Follette-Cook - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Amy Frady - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Ned Gardiner - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Kelsey Gerber - AmeriCorps
  • Alexandra Giese - U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Katerina Gonzales - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Leo Gumapas - Department of Health and Human Services
  • Linsey Haram - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Jenna Hartley - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Cat Hawkins Hoffman - Department of the Interior, National Park Service
  • Joey Heavner - Department of Labor
  • Jennifer Helgeson - Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Isabelle Heilman - Department of Energy
  • Joseph Heller - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • David Herring - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Bonnie Herriott - Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection
  • Diana Hirshfeld - Department of Health and Human Services
  • Sharon Homer-Drummond - National Science Foundation
  • Laurie Howell - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Laura Huerta Migus - Institute of Museum and Library Services
  • Kristin Isabelli - Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection
  • Brandon Jones - National Science Foundation
  • Marcie Kim - Department of State
  • Rebecca King - Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Bekkah Lampe - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Lindsey Larsen - U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Dave Lemarie - Department of the Interior, National Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Amber Liggett - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Groundswell
  • Alfonso Macias Tapia - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Carlos Martinez - National Science Foundation
  • Heidi Mcallister - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
  • Carrie McDougall - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Bart Merrick - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Chris Miller - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Stephanie Morris - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Julie Morris - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Bonnie Murray - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Molly Nation - Millenium Challenge Corporation
  • Sydney Neugebauer - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Amelia Nguyen - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Frank Niepold - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Kim Noble - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Eric Norland - U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • Carol O'Donnell - Smithsonian Institution
  • Alexis Pelosi - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Larry Perez - Department of the Interior, National Park Service
  • Henry Perillo - Department of the Treasury
  • Peter Persall - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Chanelle Pickens - Smithsonian Institution
  • Teresa Pohlman - Department of Homeland Security
  • Ginger Potter - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Holly Prendeville - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
  • Johnathan Randall - U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Julian Reyes - U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
  • Justice Rhodes - Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Lisa Rom - National Science Foundation
  • Ken Salter - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Kristin Schmitt - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
  • Sarah Schoedinger - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Leah Schrodt - Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Nancy Searby - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Edil Sepúlveda Carlo - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Yasmeen Shaheen-McConnell - AmeriCorps
  • Jade Silver - Department of Energy
  • Kathryn Simpson - Department of Labor
  • Julie Snow - Department of Commerce
  • Rebecca Soulen - Department of Homeland Security
  • Carissa Spencer - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Chad Stachowiak - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Jennifer Starr - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Siobhan Starrs - Smithsonian Institution
  • Caiti Steele - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Naomi Stern - Department of Education
  • Mike Strobel - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Marissa Strong - AmeriCorps
  • Ariana Sutton-Grier - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Melissa Taggart - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
  • Hiram Tanner - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Audrey Taylor - Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 
  • Reggie Taylor - Department of Health and Human Services
  • Kaushlendra Tingi - U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • Noah Van Gilder - Department of the Interior
  • Paul Wagner - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Sarah Waldo - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Alison Wallace - Department of State
  • Margaret Walsh - U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Floris Weston - Department of Energy
  • Robert White - Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Adam Wilke - U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • Sunita Yadav-Pauletti - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Angelica Zamora-Duran - Department of Energy

Climate Literacy Guide Writing Team

  • Stacy Aguilera-Peterson - U.S. Global Change Research Program
  • Susan Aragon-Long - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Jacklynn Beck, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Intern
  • Heather Bell - Department of Defense
  • Mariah Blackbird - Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Alison Cawood - Smithsonian Institution
  • John Dos Passos Coggin - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Groundswell
  • Haley Crim - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Groundswell
  • Sophia Dahodwala - U.S. Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Rebecca Dodder - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Ben Everett-Lane - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Intern
  • Alexandra Giese - U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Katerina Gonzales - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Jenna Hartley - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Jennifer Hegelson - Department of Commerce, National Institute for Standards and Technology
  • Alexa Jay - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Janet Li - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Rebecca Lindsay - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Jean Lynch-Stieglitz - Department of State
  • Carlos Martinez - National Science Foundation
  • Frank Niepold - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Claudia Nierenberg - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Carol O'Donnell - Smithsonian Institution
  • Jagruti Rekhi - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Justice Rhodes - Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Julia Rotondo - Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Viccy Salazar - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Ken Salter - U.S. Global Change Research Program/ICF
  • Sarah Schoedinger - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Julie Snow - Department of Defense and Department of Commerce
  • Suzanna Soileau - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Paul Wagner - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Tamara Wilson - Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

Design and Web Team

  • Tom Bowman, Bowman Change, Inc. (technical contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Program Office)
  • John Dos Passos Coggin, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Anna Eshelman, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Richard Glupker, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Mike Meyers, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Rosie Nagele, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Intern
  • Cordelia Norris, Luna Creative (technical contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Program Office)
  • Katy Perrault, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Intern
  • Emma Polinsky, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Intern