2017 Montana Climate Assessment: Stakeholder driven, science informed
Date
2017-09
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Montana Institute on Ecosystems
Abstract
The Montana Climate Assessment (MCA) is an effort to synthesize, evaluate, and share credible and relevant scientific information about climate change in Montana with the citizens of the State. The motivation for the MCA arose from citizens and organizations in Montana who have expressed interest in receiving timely and pertinent information about climate change, including information about historical variability, past trends, and projections of future impacts as they relate to topics of economic concern.This first assessment reports on climate trends and their consequences for three of Montana’s vital sectors: water, forests, and agriculture. We consider the MCA to be a sustained effort. We plan to regularly incorporate new scientific information, cover other topics important to the people of Montana, and address the needs of the state.
Description
The process to develop the first MCA was driven by stakeholder input and informed by the best-available science. Insights regarding topics to cover were developed from questionnaires, conversations, and listening sessions held across the state. A team of researchers, educators, and stakeholders used that feedback to select the topics covered.
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Citation
Whitlock C, Cross W, Maxwell B, Silverman N, Wade AA. 2017. The 2017 Montana climate assessment. Bozeman and Missoula MT: Montana State University and University of Montana, Montana Institute on Ecosystems