The US Carbon Program Office and the CCIWG organized the historically first joint meeting of the CCSSG and the NACP SSG on April 23, 2013. Both SSGs reflected upon their existing strengths and missions and brainstormed paths for the future, including scientific questions, issues and possible new initiatives to address them. The individual 26th CCSSG meeting and the NACP SSG meeting were organized respectively before and after this meeting. The outcomes of all 3 meetings will aid the CCIWG in its strategic planning for future prioritization activities for the benefit of the carbon cycle science community.