BEST U.S. SCIENCE AFFIRMS CLIMATE CHANGE, HUMAN CAUSE & URGENT ACTION

US National Research Council calls for urgent action to price carbon; Landmark congressional reports from top scientific agency concludes "climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks"
20 May 2010 (BusinessGreen)

"The premier scientific agency in the US, the National Research Council, yesterday released its most comprehensive study of climate change to date, warning that climate change is largely caused by human activity and that the US must act urgently to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impact of inevitable temperature rises.

"The research is summarised in five major new reports… produced by the Council in response to requests from Congressional Committees currently considering proposed climate change legislation…Each of the reports makes an unequivocal case for urgent action to tackle climate change and attempts to draw a line under recent criticism of climate scientists sparked by the so-called Climategate scandal."

From the National Research Council papers (click to enlarge)

[Advancing the Science of Climate Change:] "…climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for - and in many cases is already affecting - a broad range of human and natural systems...

"…Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change warns that a major departure from "business as usual" is required to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. It advises that the US adopt a greenhouse gas emissions "budget" to help it manage down emission levels, and dismisses suggestions it should wait for other countries to act, predicting that…US actions…will help encourage other countries…"

From the National Research Council papers (click to enlarge)

"The report stops short of recommending a specific target, but suggests a range of potential targets broadly in line with the 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 advocated by the Obama administration…In an intervention that could bolster the chances of the draft American Power Act passing through Congress, the report voices clear support for some form of carbon pricing system…[and] policies designed to enhance energy efficiency and accelerate the deployment of renewable, nuclear, and carbon capture technologies.

"…Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change warns climate change impacts are already being observed across the US and argues that policymakers need to act now to increase investment in climate adaptation measures…The reports were welcomed by Senator John Kerry, co-sponsor of the American Power Act…"