IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/climat/v178y2025i4d10.1007_s10584-025-03899-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analysis of nature-related themes and terminology in U.S. climate assessments

Author

Listed:
  • Emerson Conrad-Rooney

    (Boston University)

  • Christopher Avery

    (ICF)

  • Gillian Bowser

    (Colorado State University)

  • Allison Crimmins

    (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • Aaron Grade

    (ICF)

  • Pamela McElwee

    (Rutgers University)

  • Pamela Templer

    (Boston University)

Abstract

“Nature” is a broad term with neither a standard definition nor consistent use, even across federal reports like the National Climate Assessment (NCA). The process of defining complex topics like “nature” is difficult given the broad range in people’s understandings of and relationships with the natural world. To support the development of future nature assessments and NCAs, we analyzed use of nature-related words and themes over time in all five published NCAs and one preliminary draft of NCA5. Overall, despite the prevalence of nature-related topics, we found the term “nature” was not used as much as others like “ecosystems,” though “nature-based solutions” appeared more in the latest NCA (NCA5) compared to earlier NCAs. Additionally, the scope of nature-related chapters in NCAs has evolved from initially focusing on impacts of climate change on ecosystems and ecosystem services towards highlighting solutions that nature can provide and implications for human well-being and environmental justice. We suggest improving the consistency of nature-related terms and topics within future climate and nature assessments to help promote dialogues across disciplines, reports, and assessment chapters, allowing researchers to better tackle multifaceted issues of global change. However, broad standardization of nature-related language may unnecessarily constrict the diverse understandings of nature. Definitions of nature-related terms should be revisited and adapted based on changing views and realities as global changes evolve.

Suggested Citation

  • Emerson Conrad-Rooney & Christopher Avery & Gillian Bowser & Allison Crimmins & Aaron Grade & Pamela McElwee & Pamela Templer, 2025. "Analysis of nature-related themes and terminology in U.S. climate assessments," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(4), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:178:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-025-03899-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-03899-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10584-025-03899-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10584-025-03899-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Willi Bauer, 2023. "Reframing Urban Nature-Based Solutions Through Perspectives of Environmental Justice and Privilege," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 334-345.
    2. Unai Pascual & Patricia Balvanera & Christopher B. Anderson & Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer & Michael Christie & David González-Jiménez & Adrian Martin & Christopher M. Raymond & Mette Termansen & Arild Vatn, 2023. "Diverse values of nature for sustainability," Nature, Nature, vol. 620(7975), pages 813-823, August.
    3. Willi Bauer, 2023. "Reframing Urban Nature-Based Solutions Through Perspectives of Environmental Justice and Privilege," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 334-345.
    4. Tadaki, Marc & Allen, Will & Sinner, Jim, 2015. "Revealing ecological processes or imposing social rationalities? The politics of bounding and measuring ecosystem services," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 168-176.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Roberta Cucca & Thomas Thaler, 2023. "Social Justice in the Green City," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 279-282.
    2. Louis Lategan & Brian Fisher-Holloway & Juanee Cilliers & Sarel Cilliers, 2025. "Moving on to Greener Pastures? A Review of South Africa’s Housing Megaproject Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Azadgar, Anahita & Luciani, Giulia & Nyka, Lucyna, 2025. "Spatial allocation of nature-based solutions in the form of public green infrastructure in relation to the socio-economic district profile–a GIS-based comparative study of Gdańsk and Rome," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. Chapman, Mollie & Satterfield, Terre & Chan, Kai M.A., 2019. "When value conflicts are barriers: Can relational values help explain farmer participation in conservation incentive programs?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 464-475.
    5. Burdon, D. & Barnard, S. & Strong, J.A. & Atkins, J.P., 2024. "Linking marine habitats and economic values: A spatial scaling methodology for valuing societal benefits," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    6. Osberg, Gustav & Schulz, Felix & Bretter, Christian, 2024. "Navigating sustainable futures: The role of terminal and instrumental values," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    7. Cooper, Nigel & Brady, Emily & Steen, Helen & Bryce, Rosalind, 2016. "Aesthetic and spiritual values of ecosystems: Recognising the ontological and axiological plurality of cultural ecosystem ‘services’," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(PB), pages 218-229.
    8. Hartmann, Johanna Zoe & Pearson, Jasmine, 2024. "Indigenous and local values of nature through a gender lens: A literature review," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Lelli, Chiara & Parisi, Laura & Heemskerk, Irene & Boldrini, Simone & Ceglar, Andrej, 2023. "Living in a world of disappearing nature: physical risk and the implications for financial stability," Occasional Paper Series 333, European Central Bank.
    10. Emma McKinley & Erika Hughes & Stephenie Georgia & Cressida Bowyer & Kathryn Fradera & Alison Fairbrass & Jonathan Potts, 2024. "Bringing the Ocean to the Stage: Performing Coastal Values and Marine Management," Ocean and Society, Cogitatio Press, vol. 1.
    11. Cord Drögemüller & Roman Seidl & Clemens Walther, 2025. "Social Values, Individual Judgments and Acceptance: The Case of High-Level Radioactive Waste in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-16, June.
    12. Panaro, Simona & Delabre, Izabela & Marshall, Fiona, 2025. "Cultural ecosystem services and opportunities for inclusive and effective nature-based solutions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    13. Huiting Yu & Jiupai Ni, 2023. "The Comprehensive Management Zoning of Mountains, Rivers, Forests, and Farmlands Based on Element Recognition," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-25, November.
    14. Yijun Liu & AJiang Chen & Zhuxiang Liu, 2024. "Social Exclusion in the Development of Photovoltaics: The Perspective of Fishers in the HU Township," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.
    15. Lliso, Bosco & Pascual, Unai & Engel, Stefanie, 2021. "On the role of social equity in payments for ecosystem services in Latin America: A practitioner perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    16. Hausknost, Daniel & Grima, Nelson & Singh, Simron Jit, 2017. "The political dimensions of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES): Cascade or stairway?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 109-118.
    17. Chi Cheng & Yanqiang Wang, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Changes and the Drivers of Ecological Environmental Quality Based on the Remote Sensing Ecological Index: A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, April.
    18. Ralf C. Buckley & Sonya Underdahl, 2023. "Tourism and Environment: Ecology, Management, Economics, Climate, Health, and Politics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-11, October.
    19. Pierre D. Glynn & Kristan Cockerill & Jennifer F. Helgeson & Gregory J. Newman & Simone A. Glynn & Paul A. White, 2025. "Biocultural evolution, narratives, and emerging cultures of sustainability," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 1-49, February.
    20. Tsion Berie & Sean A. Kidd & Gregor Wolbring, 2024. "Poverty (Number 1 Goal of the SDG) of Disabled People through Disability Studies and Ability Studies Lenses: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-52, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:178:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-025-03899-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.