Article
Climate Change Risks in the Context of Scientific Uncertainty
This article appeared in The Global Politics of Energy, 2008.
Publication
Regional Impacts of Climate Change: Four Case Studies in the United States
In 2007, the science of climate change achieved an unfortunate milestone: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reached a consensus position that human-induced global warming is already causing physical and biological impacts worldwide. The most recent scientific work demonstrates that …
Publication
Observed Impacts of Climate Change in the United States
For over a century, scientists have documented the important role that that the climate plays in the geographic distribution of the world’s ecosystems and the wildlife they support. Yet, it is now quite evident that the climate these species depend …
Publication
A Synthesis of Potential Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.
Greenhouse gas emissions—primarily from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels— are causing changes in the global climate. Global temperatures increased approximately 1°F over the 20th century, and additional warming of 2.5-10.5°F is projected over the next century. …
Publication
Coral Reefs & Global Climate Change: Potential Contributions of Climate Change to Stresses on Coral Reef Ecosystems
Coral reefs represent some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, providing critical habitat to approximately 25 percent of marine species. In addition, these ecosystems provide economic benefits through tourism and fisheries. One recent estimate valued the annual net …
Publication
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems & Global Climate Change: Potential Effects on U.S. Resources
Eileen Claussen, President, Pew Center on Global Climate Change The world’s oceans cover approximately 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, indicating their importance to the global environment. In addition to having a large influence on global heat transport and precipitation, …
Publication
Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Climate Change
Aquatic ecosystems are critical components of the global environment. In addition to being essential contributors to biodiversity and ecological productivity, they also provide a variety of services for human populations, including water for drinking and irrigation, recreational opportunities, and habitat …
Publication
Human Health & Global Climate Change: A Review of Potential Impacts In the United States
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the population of the United States as a whole is one of the healthiest in the world. The socioeconomic development of the last century and a half both allowed for a vast improvement …
Publication
Sea-Level Rise & Global Climate Change: A Review of Impacts to U.S. Coasts
Coastal regions play an integral role in the United States, serving as home to over half of the U.S. population, providing recreational opportunities to many, and supplying numerous valuable ecological services. At the same time, these areas are constantly evolving …
Publication
Water and Global Climate Change: Potential Impacts on U.S. Water Resources
Availability of an adequate, safe water supply is critical to the health, economy, and environment of any nation and its people. The United States, on average, is well-endowed with water. However, this year’s spring floods and summer droughts illlustrate the …