On January 1, 2014, the Department of State submitted the 2014 U.S. Climate Action Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This report, which includes the First U.S. Biennial Report and Sixth U.S. National Communication to the UNFCCC, details actions the United States is taking domestically and internationally to mitigate, adapt to, and assist others in addressing climate change. The U.S. Climate Action Report contains two documents, the first-ever U.S. Biennial Report and the sixth quadrennial National Communication. This report reflects the input of 21 federal agencies. The U.S. Government also provided an opportunity for public comment through a notice in the Federal Register posted on September 26th, and the final document reflects many suggestions provided by members of the public. Together these documents: Explain how U.S. social and economic circumstances affect U.S. greenhouse gas emission levels; Summarize U.S. greenhouse gas emission trends from 1990 through 2011; Identify existing and planned U.S. policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; Show future trends for U.S. greenhouse gas emissions under both existing and planned climate policies and measures; Outline the potential impacts of climate change on the United States and the preparedness and resilience measures the Nation is taking to address those impacts; Provide information on climate-related financial resources and technology diffusion; and Detail U.S. research and systematic observation efforts and describe U.S. climate education, training, and outreach initiatives. The 2014 U.S. Climate Action Report fulfills requirements under the UNFCCC for all Parties to report periodically on actions and progress in combating climate change. The last U.S. Climate Action Report submitted was in 2010. The 2014 U.S. Climate Action Report fulfills a commitment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to publish every four years a National Communication that provides a comprehensive report on actions taken to combat climate change and thereby meet the objectives and provisions of the UNFCCC. In addition, for the first time, the Climate Action Report includes a Biennial Report that outlines progress that Parties are making in meeting targets and actions they have pledged to fulfill in the period leading up to 2020.
