Dot Earth Blog: Draft Federal Report Sees Big U.S. Impacts from Global Warming

Justin Gillis has filed a post on the Green Blog summarizing the main points in a new and voluminous draft federal report on current and anticipated impacts from greenhouse-driven global warming on the United States. (Yes, the Green Blog, thankfully, is still up and running despite the end of the environment news desk?at The Times.)

Here?s an excerpt from his post and link to the rest:?

The natural conservatism of science has often led climatologists to be cautious in their pronouncements about global warming. Indeed, more than once they have drawn?criticism?for burying their fundamental message ? that society is running some huge risks ? in caveats and cavils.

To judge from the?draft of a new report?issued by a federal advisory committee, that hesitation may soon fall by the wayside. The draft, just unveiled for public comment before it becomes final, is the latest iteration of a major series of reports requested by Congress on the effects of climate change in the United States.

I caution that it is a draft, so we don?t know what final language will make it into the report. I am always hesitant to give too much credence to drafts that could change substantially, but in its current form, the document minces no words.

?Climate change is already affecting the American people,? declares the opening paragraph of the report, issued under the auspices of the?Global Change Research Program, which coordinates federally sponsored climate research. ?Certain types of weather events have become more frequent and/or intense, including heat waves, heavy downpours, and, in some regions, floods and droughts.

?Sea level is rising, oceans are becoming more acidic, and glaciers and Arctic sea ice are melting. These changes are part of the pattern of global climate change, which is primarily driven by human activity.?

When it is final, this report will be an official document of the United States government. Let it be noted that this aggressive language about climate change comes two months after the end of a presidential campaign in which the subject was?barely mentioned, to the frustration of a great many voters. That?climate silence?occurred partly because the television reporters moderating the presidential debates did not pose a single question on the topic. [Read the rest.]

Over the weekend I posted a list of links to all the report sections on my Tumblr site. Here are links to two sections ? agriculture and health impacts ? with the ?key messages? for each (it?s a report to Congress):

Agriculture

1.?Climate disruptions to agricultural production have increased in the recent past and are projected to increase further over the next 25 years. By mid-century and beyond, these impacts will be increasingly negative on most crops and livestock.

2. Many agricultural regions will experience declines in crop and livestock production from increased stress due to weeds, diseases, insect pests, and other climate change-induced stresses.

3. Current loss and degradation of critical agricultural soil and water assets increasing extremes in precipitation will continue to challenge both rain-fed and irrigated agriculture unless innovative conservation methods are implemented.

4.?The rising incidence of weather extremes will have increasingly negative impacts on crop and livestock productivity because critical thresholds are already being exceeded.

5. Agriculture has been able to adapt to recent changes in climate; however, increased innovation will be needed to ensure the rate of adaptation of agriculture and the associated socioeconomic system can keep pace with future climate change.

6. Climate change effects on agriculture will have consequences for food security both in the U.S. and globally, not only through changes in crop yields, but also changes in the ways climate affects food processing, storage, transportation, and retailing.

Human Health

1. Climate change threatens human health and well-being in many ways, including impacts from increased extreme weather events, wildfire, decreased air quality, diseases transmitted by insects, food and water, and threats to mental health. Some of these health impacts are already underway in the U.S.

2. Climate change will, absent other changes, amplify some of the existing health threats the nation now faces. Certain people and communities are especially vulnerable, including children, the elderly, the sick, the poor, and some communities of color.

3. Public health actions, especially preparedness and prevention, can do much to protect people from some of the impacts of climate change. Early action provides the largest health benefits. As threats increase, our ability to adapt to future changes may be limited.

4. Responding to climate change provides opportunities to improve human health and well-being across many sectors, including energy, agriculture, and transportation. Many of these strategies offer a variety of benefits, protecting people while combating climate change and providing other societal benefits.

There?s much more coverage. Dig in.

Source: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/draft-federal-report-sees-big-u-s-impacts-from-global-warming/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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