New climate report underscores need for strong emissions reductions

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) released a new report today on the impact of global climate change. The report's release coincides with the potential vote next week on the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) bill.

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States is the combined effort of 13 federal agencies and underscores the need for a comprehensive climate and energy policy.

A coalition of 16 science, wildlife, conservation and environmental groups -- including 1Sky -- released the following statement in response to the study:

Scientists are telling us that our climate future is in our hands. We're seeing the effects of climate change now and we have the power to prevent it from getting much worse.... This report underscores the urgent need to act. Congress must pass strong, effective climate and energy legislation this year and the United States must sign on to an effective international climate agreement at this year's United Nations climate conference."

The White House, who helped launch the report, states:

Responses to climate change impacts in the United States will almost certainly evolve over time as we learn through experience. Determining and refining the responses will involve partnerships between scientists, policymakers, the public, private industry, communities, and decision-makers at all levels. Implementing these response strategies will require careful planning and continual feedback on the impacts of policies for government, industry, and society."

You can download the full report on the U.S. Global Change Research Program website. And, for national, regional, and state-specific fact sheets summarizing the main findings from the report, visit the Union of Concerned Scientists website.