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National Science Authority Recommends Urgent Action on Climate Change |
June 2010
In May, the National Research Council, the nonpartisan research arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, released three reports urging the U.S. government to act now to reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions and develop a strategy to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The studies were conducted at the request of Congress. The first report, Advancing the Science of Climate Change, emphasizes that there is a strong, credible body of evidence that makes the case that climate change is occurring and is in large part caused by human activities. The report recommends that a single federal entity or program be given the authority to coordinate a national effort aimed at improved understanding and responses to climate change.
The second report, Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change, suggests strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, warning that the nation must act sooner rather than later or it will be harder and more expensive to reach any given emissions goal. Finally, the third report, Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, discusses the importance of reducing vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change that have already become unavoidable. The report notes that adaptation can be used to manage and minimize risk, and it argues for a leading role for the federal government to coordinate efforts across and among all agencies and levels of government, the private sector, and community organizations. A press release with links to each report can be found here
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