6th May 2014

The third National Climate Assessment is released

The U.S. government has today unveiled the third National Climate Assessment — the most comprehensive scientific review ever published of climate change and its impacts across the United States.

The findings in this National Climate Assessment underscore the need for urgent action to combat the threats from climate change, protect citizens and communities today, and build a sustainable future for tomorrow. It was developed over four years by hundreds of the nation’s top climate scientists and technical experts – with input from the public and outside organisations gathered through town hall meetings, public-comment opportunities and technical workshops across the country. The third National Climate Assessment is the most authoritative and comprehensive knowledge base about how climate change is affecting America now, and what’s likely to come over the next century.

To ensure that people, communities, businesses and decision makers have easy access to information about climate change, the report has been made available on a new website at www.globalchange.gov. Today’s announcement delivers on a major commitment of the Climate Action Plan launched by President Obama last June – which lays out concrete steps to cut greenhouse gases, prepare America for climate change impacts, and lead international efforts to address what is arguably the 21st century's greatest challenge.

Among the key points in the National Climate Assessment:

• Temperatures are rising across the entire U.S.
Temperatures from 2001 to 2012 were hotter than any previous decade in every region of the United States. For the country as a whole, 2012 was the hottest individual year on record. One-third of the population experienced 100° temperatures for ten or more days.

• In 2012 alone, climate and weather disasters cost the American economy more than $100 billion.
Droughts, wildfires and floods are becoming more frequent and intense. Sea levels and storm surges are harming coastal areas. Public health threats associated with heat stress, air pollution and diseases carried by food, water and insects are increasing. The most vulnerable are children, the elderly and the poor.

• Global temperatures and CO2 levels continue to rise.
The global average temperature increased by over 0.8°C (1.5°F) between 1880 and 2012. On a geological timescale, this is spectacularly rapid. It is now believed that we need to avert an additional 2°C (3.6°F) temperature rise to avoid the most catastrophic impacts. Carbon is the biggest component of greenhouse gas pollution (82%), followed by methane (9%), nitrous oxide (6%) and fluorinated gases (3%). Power plants are the largest major source of emissions in the U.S., together accounting for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas pollution.

• Ocean acidification is worsening.
The oceans are currently absorbing about a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere annually and are becoming more acidic as a result, impacting marine ecosystems.

• We're making progress...
... thanks to stronger fuel economy standards (set to double the efficiency of cars and trucks by 2025); exponential growth of clean energy (including a ten-fold increase in solar generation and tripling of wind power since Obama took office); decreased carbon pollution (in 2012, greenhouse gas pollution in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in nearly 20 years); and targets for renewable energy and efficiency (35 states have renewable energy targets in place, and over 25 have set energy efficiency targets). The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed carbon pollution standards for new power plants.

• There is still much work to do.
While progress is now being made, resolving climate change will require long-term commitments and global cooperation between nations.

For more information, visit the official website at GlobalChange.gov

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