To be policy-relevant, future climate research must include the noncontiguous United States.

This article highlights the significance of including noncontiguous regions of the United States in climate research. It argues that excluding these areas leads to inaccurate national climate risk assessments and hampers policy decisions. The article acknowledges the challenges of data collection in these regions but suggests that advancements in modeling and regional climate models can help address this issue. Collaboration between the research community, funders, project managers, and local experts is emphasized as crucial. The article also discusses the need to improve climate data coverage in areas outside of the continental United States to ensure equitable access to climate information and address historical exclusion and social injustices. Incorporating local and traditional climate knowledge, improving monitoring and observations, and building partnerships with underrepresented communities are suggested as ways to supplement limited datasets. The article underscores the importance of including all states and territories in research efforts to better serve communities and make informed choices. [Extracted from the article]