The First Virginia Climate Assessment

Abstract

The Virginia Climate Assessment (VCA) is the first ever statewide, science-based assessment of Virginia’s past, current, and future climate to evaluate the impacts on the 8.7 million Virginians, vital ecosystems, and major economic sectors within the Commonwealth. The VCA is the first iteration of a series of reports that will establish a baseline against which future weather and climate changes can be measured, and effectiveness of adaptation efforts can be gauged.

The Virginia Climate Center led the VCA in collaboration with authors and reviewers from several Virginia institutions with expertise specific to topics of concern such as extreme heat risk, sea level rise, flood risk, and economic impacts within the state’s six defined climate regions. The report contains key findings regarding the Commonwealth’s shifting weather and climate patterns and will highlight areas of exposure, providing Virginians with insights that inform climate resilience and preparedness strategies.