Climate Change
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Human activities -- most notably the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas -- have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of heat-trapping greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea level, and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climates could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems.
Climate Change Information from EPA
New Jersey and Climate Change
- Fact Sheet: Climate Change and New Jersey (PDF) (4 pp, 58 K, PDF)
- Greenhouse Effect, Sea Level Rise, and Coastal Wetlands: New Jersey Case Study (PDF) (25 pp, 450 K, PDF)
- Saving New Jersey's Vanishing Shores (PDF) (2 pp, 1 MB, PDF)
- Greenhouse Effect, Sea Level Rise, and Barrier Islands: Case Study of Long Beach Island, New Jersey
New York and Climate Change
- Fact Sheet: Climate Change and New York (PDF) (4 pp, 68 K, PDF)
- Global Warming: What does it mean for upstate New York and the Great Lakes? (PDF) (8 pp, 419 K, PDF)
- Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands: Case study of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest (PDF) (11 pp, 2.2 MB, PDF)
Climate Change Information from State and Local Governments
New Jersey
New York
- PlaNYC - Climate Change
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Recommendations to Governor Pataki for Reducing New York State Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PDF) (239 pp, 4.6 MB, About PDF)
Additional Climate Change Information
The following Web sites provide information on EPA-sponsored climate change research projects. EPA Region 2 continues to coordinate with the university and federal science research communities in the greater New York Metro area.
- Climate Change and a Global City: An Assessment of the Metropolitan East Coast Region
Part of the U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, this study focuses on the potential impacts in the 31-county New York Metro area.
- Climate Change: Solutions For Sustainable Development
Climate Change Web page of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
- New York City Regional Heat Island Initiative
The objective of this study was to model New York City's urban heat island during heat wave events and assess the effectiveness and economies of three potential heat island mitigation strategies: urban forestation, light surfaces, and living (green) roofs.
- Stony Brook Storm Surge Research Group
The State University of New York at Stony Brook has formed a storm surge research group to analyze and predict extreme high tides, and their impacts, associated with strong Atlantic storms.
- Consortium for Atlantic Regional Assessment (CARA)
EPA, four universities, and public and private stakeholders are collaborating through CARA to provide resources that decision makers in the mid- and upper-Atlantic region can use to understand current and future vulnerability to changes in land use and climate, and develop and evaluate adaptation options.
- Climate Change Information Resources -- New York Metropolitan Region
The Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University provides a comprehensive set of links to reports, articles, and data on climate change relevant to the New York Metro area.