Climate Change Requires Immediate Action
28 March 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.—This statement is attributable to Christine McEntee, Executive Director and CEO of the American Geophysical Union:
“The scientific consensus is clear; the climate is changing, humanity is the major influence, and some of the resulting impacts on society are likely to be severe. That’s why AGU’s climate science position statement, which doesn’t reference any specific climate policies, is nevertheless titled “Human‐Induced Climate Change Requires Urgent Action.” The scientific community has the information needed to formulate effective policies and actions to address the implications of climate change, and we encourage the Administration to take advantage of that resource.
We are already seeing the negative effects of climate change in local communities and around the world. Extreme weather events and sea level rise impact critical infrastructure in coastal communities, while increasing periods of drought and rainfall are affecting water availability in regions such as the Great Plains or Southwest. Financially, severe weather disasters cost the U.S. more than $100 billion in 2012.
Addressing these and many other challenges requires collaboration from all stakeholders, including businesses, the energy industry, and local and federal governments around the world. Earth and space scientists play a critical role in this collaboration, as they not only help us to understand how the climate is changing and the influence of human-caused emissions on the climate but also how to mitigate its effects, and what the opportunities are to build a more sustainable future. AGU and our members are committed to providing the scientific information that is critical to sound decision-making about climate change.”
About American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity through its scholarly publications, conferences, and outreach programs. AGU is a not-for-profit, professional, scientific organization representing 60,000 members in 137 countries. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our other social media channels.