New Assessment of National, Regional Impacts of Climate Change
New Report Provides Authoritative Assessment of National, Regional Impacts of Global Climate Change Details Point to Potential Value of Early, Aggressive Action.
Climate change is already having visible impacts in the United States, and the choices we make now will determine the severity of its impacts in the future, according to a new and authoritative federal study assessing the current and anticipated domestic impacts of climate change.
The report, “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” compiles years of scientific research and takes into account new data not available during the preparation of previous large national and global assessments. It was produced by a consortium of experts from 13 U.S. government science agencies and from several major universities and research institutes. With its production and review spanning Republican and Democratic administrations, it offers a valuable, objective scientific consensus on how climate change is affecting—and may further affect—the United States.
“This new report integrates the most up-to-date scientific findings into a comprehensive picture of the ongoing as well as expected future impacts of heat-trapping pollution on the climate experienced by Americans, region by region and sector by sector,” said John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “It tells us why remedial action is needed sooner rather than later, as well as showing why that action must include both global emissions reductions to reduce the extent of climate change and local adaptation measures to reduce the damage from the changes that are no longer avoidable.”
Webcast:
Call for U.S. Nominations IPCC Special Report
Call
for Nominations of U.S. experts to serve as Authors and/or Review
Editors of the IPCC Special Report “Managing the Risks of Extreme
Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation” 16 June 2009
At
the IPCC’s most recent plenary meeting on 21-23 April, governments
approved the production of a “Special Report on Managing the Risks of
Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation."
Under IPCC procedures, member governments have an opportunity to
provide nominations for authors to be involved in the production of
each chapter in the report.
The
subject report will require the contributions of experts who can
integrate the findings of the climate change science; vulnerability,
impacts, and adaptation to extreme events; and disaster risk management
communities. Nominees should have extensive expertise pertinent to the
subject matter covered, and will generally be recognized in their field
of expertise.
FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Allen, U.S. Global Change Research
Program, Suite 250, 1717 Pennsylvania Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20006.
(Phone: 202–419–3486, Fax: 202–223–3065, Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
); or
visit the USGCRP Web site at http://www.globalchange.gov
Climate Literacy Framework
Climate Literacy: "The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences" is now available (posted 13 March 2009). The Climate Literacy presents information that is deemed important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches to adaptation or mitigation. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching
points for scientific inquiry. The guide can also serve educators who
teach climate science as part of their science curricula.Development of the guide began at a workshop sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS).
Multiple science agencies, non-governmental organizations, and numerous
individuals also contributed through extensive review and comment
periods. Discussion at the National Science Foundation(NSF)
and NOAA-sponsored Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Literacy workshop
contributed substantially to the refinement of the document.
Report on Sea-Level Rise
Final Report of Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.1 "Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region" is posted online (posted 16 Jan 2009). See also press release from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA web-page, and Regional Information.
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), collaborated on this report that discusses the
impacts of sea-level rise on the physical characteristics of the coast,
on coastal communities, and the habitats that depend on them. The
report, Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-level Rise: A Focus on the
Mid-Atlantic Region examines multiple opportunities for governments and
coastal communities to plan for and adapt to rising sea levels.
Lead Authors: James G.
Titus, Eric K. Anderson, Donald R. Cahoon,
Stephen Gill, Robert E.Thieler, Jeffress S.Williams
Climate Literacy: "The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences"
