Category Archives: Climate Change Preparedness

Dangerously Unprepared: Congressional Budget Cuts are Leaving Americans Vulnerable to Climate Extremes

In 2011, the U.S. has been hammered by climate extremes, with economic damages by mid-June approaching a record $32 billion. Yet determined Congressional opponents of federal climate change efforts are doggedly impeding Federal activities to inform and engage the public … Continue reading

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Bypassing Congressional deniers: Western Governors agreement with NOAA to provide climate services

A new agreement between the Western Governors’ Association and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for improving the development and delivery of climate science and services will boost efforts to ensure Western states and the U.S. Pacific islands are better able … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change Preparedness, Climate Science Watch, Obama Administration | 2 Comments

Preparing for the Impact of a Changing Climate on US Humanitarian and Disaster Response

Climate-related disasters will exacerbate conflict and stresses in vulnerable countries, with implications for global and US security, says a new report by Oxfam America and the Center for Naval Analysis. In order to make developing nations more resilient, US aid … Continue reading

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NOAA Climate Service blocked in 2011 budget – Will Obama and Democrats let this happen again in 2012?

In the 2011 federal budget deal, Congress has blocked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from reorganizing to establish the prospective new NOAA Climate Service. “It’s terrible to see the White House and Democrats going along with this,” we told … Continue reading

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U.S. National Research Council: Climate Change Impacts "Call for Action by U.S. Naval Leadership"

The U.S. National Research Council warned in a new report released March 10, National Security Implications of Climate Change for U.S. Naval Forces, that “even the most moderate predicted trends in climate change will present new national security challenges for … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change Preparedness, National Security, Science-Policy Interaction | 2 Comments

Straight talk from Kevin Trenberth on denialists, climate science communication, and climate change policy

In a paper presented at the American Meteorological Society meeting in January, leading climate scientist and IPCC lead author Kevin Trenberth talks about climate change deniers, ‘climategate’, the IPCC assessments, the media, and politicians. He challenges the climate science community to … Continue reading

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Hot: Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth

Mark Hertsgaard’s powerful new book Hot examines what the rapidly warming planet means for humankind over the next fifty years. His focus is on what he terms “Generation Hot” – those who will live their adult lives during the coming … Continue reading

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Northern Update - Canada's own year of extreme weather

2010 was a year of wild weather all over the world. Who doesn't remember the torrential monsoon rains that devastated Pakistan, Russia's raging wildfires that wiped out grain crops and burnt forests to a crisp, and the record breaking hot … Continue reading

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The state of politics and climate change – A Northern update

Canada's conservative government, led by Stephen Harper, seems to be working hard to build up a reputation for irresponsibility in the international community. And they are succeeding: In October Canada failed to win a seat on UN's security council. Critics … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change Preparedness | Leave a comment

U.S. federal task force calls for domestic and international climate change adaptation strategy

The U.S. government should move toward a coordinated national climate change adaptation strategy, says a federal interagency task force in a recent report to the President. Obama should take ownership of this issue with a strong statement of recognition and … Continue reading

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