Red is hotter! Courtesy of the National Climatic Data Center

If there is one statement to remember from the just-released National Climate Assessment, it is this: “Evidence of climate change appears in every region [of the US] and impacts are visible in every state.” All the climate deniers and billionaires with Washington lobbyists cannot make the facts disappear.  With this report, you can see how climate is already affecting and will continue to affect your region – and use it as a tool to influence local and state officials and policymakers to make better choices and decisions. Read the report

Mid-level winds associated with the displaced polar vortex early on Jan. 7, 2014. (earth.nullschool.net)

The National Climate Assessment – conducted every four years — summarizes the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. A team of more than 300 experts guided by a 60-member Federal Advisory Committee produced the report, which was extensively reviewed by the public and experts, including federal agencies and a panel of the National Academy of Sciences. Read the New York Times article

Black carbon (soot) shrouds the globe Credit NOAA

Highlights from the report focus on 12 areas:

•  Climate changes
• Extreme weather
• Future climate changes
• Widespread impacts
• Human health
• Infrastructure
• Water supply
• Agriculture
• Indigenous people
• Ecosystems and biodiversity
• Oceans
• Responses

Also available at Green News Update, read and download:

World Water Development Report 2014: Looks at challenges to come and how to meet growing demands for freshwater, with a focus on water and energy.  “ The fact is that nearly all forms of energy production require a certain amount of water – in some cases a very large amount – which has critical implications for water resources, and by extension to other uses.”

 Climate Change 2014 Report,  the IPCC Working Group II Contribution to AR5: “The world has to adapt – and to mitigate,” says Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Most of us have already witnessed and experienced the impacts – on a regular basis –severe weather events, local flooding, hotter summers, colder winters, water shortages. Get off your duff! Use the National Climate Assessment to influence change now.