In response to Public Law 110-161, the National Academies will conduct a series of coordinated activities to study the serious and sweeping issues associated with global climate change, including the science and technology challenges involved, and provide advice on the most effective steps and most promising strategies that can be taken to respond. This work will be led by a Committee on America's Climate Choices responsible for coordinating the work of four panels, convening a Summit, convening additional workshops or informal working groups to gather information and address cross-cutting issues, and writing a final report. Collectively, the activities will produce a broad, action-oriented, and authoritative set of analyses to inform and guide responses to climate change across the nation. To provide detailed analysis of important technical issues, focused panels will be convened to address each of the following four questions: 1. What can be done to limit the magnitude of future climate change? 2. What can be done to adapt to the impacts of climate change? 3. What can be done to better understand climate change and its interactions with human and ecological systems? 4. What can be done to inform effective decisions and actions related to climate change?The Panel on Informing Effective Decisions and Actions Related to Climate Change will write a report on question 4. The panel will describe and assess different activities, products, strategies, and tools for informing decision makers about climate change and helping them plan and execute effective, integrated responses. It will describe the different types of climate change-related decisions and actions being made at various levels and in different sectors and regions, develop a framework for analyzing and informing these actions and decisions, and evaluate the activities, products, and tools that could help ensure these actions and decisions are informed by the best available technical knowledge. The tools, products, and activities considered by the panel will include, but are not necessarily limited to, observing systems, climate models, monitoring and early warning systems, assessments, integrated assessment models, outreach activities, and communication networks between information providers and users. The panel will also recommend steps to better educate and train future generations of scientists, decision makers, and citizens to meet the challenges associated with climate change.The panel should also provide input to the Committee on America's Climate Choices on the following integrating questions:* What short-term actions can be taken to better inform decisions and actions related to climate change?* What promising long-term strategies, investments, and opportunities could be pursued to better inform decisions and actions related to climate change?* What are the major scientific and technological advances (e.g., new observations, improved models, research programs, etc.) needed to better inform decisions and actions related to climate change?* What are the major impediments (e.g., practical, institutional, economic, ethical, intergenerational, etc.) to effectively informing decisions and actions related to climate change, and what can be done to overcome these impediments?* What can be done to more effectively inform decisions and actions related to climate change at different levels (e.g., local, state, regional, national, and in collaboration with the international community) and in different sectors (e.g., nongovernmental organizations, the business community, the research and academic communities, individuals and households, etc.)?This project is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).The approximate start date is October 1, 2008.A final report will be issued at the end of the project.