[Vision2020] U.S. Global Change Research: "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States"

[Ted Moffett]

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090616_climatereport.html
 New Report Provides Authoritative Assessment of National, Regional Impacts
of Global Climate Change Details Point to Potential Value of Early,
Aggressive Action

June 16, 2009
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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.
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“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.”

The report, which confirms previous evidence that global temperature
increases in recent decades have been primarily human-induced, incorporates
the latest information on rising temperatures and sea levels; increases in
extreme weather events; and other climate-related phenomena.
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Among the main findings are:

 Heat waves will become more frequent and intense, increasing threats to
human health and quality of life. Extreme heat will also affect
transportation and energy systems, and crop and livestock production.
Increased heavy downpours will lead to more flooding, waterborne diseases,
negative effects on agriculture, and disruptions to energy, water, and
transportation systems.
Reduced summer runoff and increasing water demands will create greater
competition for water supplies in some regions, especially in the West.
Rising water temperatures and ocean acidification threaten coral reefs and
the rich ecosystems they support. These and other climate-related impacts on
coastal and marine ecosystems will have major implications for tourism and
fisheries.
Insect infestations and wildfires are already increasing and are projected
to increase further in a warming climate.
Local sea-level rise of over three feet on top of storm surges will
increasingly threaten homes and other coastal infrastructure. Coastal
flooding will become more frequent and severe, and coastal land will
increasingly be lost to the rising seas

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“By comparing impacts that are projected to result from higher versus lower
emissions of heat-trapping gasses, our report underscores the importance and
real economic value of reducing those emissions,” said Tom Karl, director of
NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center
<http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html>in Asheville, N.C. and one of
the co-chairs of the report. “It shows that
the choices made now will have far-reaching consequences.”

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The report is available for download
online<http://www.globalchange.gov/usimpacts>
.

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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
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