Fact Check: The National Climate Assessment is published every four years by the federal government.

Fact Check: "The National Climate Assessment is published every four years by the federal government."

What We Know

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a comprehensive report produced by the U.S. government that evaluates the impacts of climate change on various sectors and regions across the United States. The most recent iteration, the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), was released on November 14, 2023. This assessment is mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which requires that the assessment be conducted at least every four years. The NCA is a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, involving contributions from nearly 500 authors and 250 contributors from across the nation, including territories like Guam and Puerto Rico (source-2).

Analysis

The claim that the National Climate Assessment is published every four years is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Fifth National Climate Assessment explicitly states that it meets the requirements of the Global Change Research Act, which mandates an assessment at least every four years. This legislative framework ensures that the assessment is not only periodic but also reflects the most current scientific understanding of climate change and its impacts.

Additionally, the USDA's description of the NCA confirms that it is produced approximately every four years, reinforcing the reliability of the claim. The consistency in the timing of these assessments is crucial for policymakers and researchers who rely on up-to-date information to make informed decisions regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The sources utilized in this analysis are reputable, including government publications and official reports, which lend significant credibility to the information presented. The NCA is recognized as the U.S. government's preeminent report on climate change, further establishing its authority and reliability (source-2).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "The National Climate Assessment is published every four years by the federal government" is accurate. The requirement for these assessments to be conducted at least every four years is enshrined in the Global Change Research Act of 1990, and this has been consistently upheld in practice, as evidenced by the release of the Fifth National Climate Assessment in 2023.

Sources

1. Fifth National Climate Assessment released
2. Fifth National Climate Assessment
3. Fourth National Climate Assessment - U.S. Global Change Research Program
4. The Fifth National Climate Assessment | Home - USDA
5. Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume I
6. Frequently Asked Questions - Fourth National Climate Assessment
7. Federal Agencies Deliver Blunt Report on Human-Caused Climate Change
8. PDF Fifth National Climate Assessment