Federal Climate Report Warns Of ‘Multibillion-Dollar Price For Man-Made Climate Change’

Scientists working with the Obama administration will release a federal climate report today that just may make even the most passive people take action to help the planet.

According to Donald Wuebbles, who co-authored the federal climate report, we can no longer assume that climate change will only affect future generations. In an article published by the Associated Press, he warned that the report, officially titled the National Climate Assessment, will shed light on how “the United States is already paying the multi-billion dollar price for climate change.”

Wuebbles pointed out how extreme weather patterns are already being seen in the Western and Southern parts of the country, specifically through intensive heat waves. A draft version of this federal report came out in January, just as meteorologists had concluded 2012 was the hottest year the United States had ever seen. Lead author Gary Yohe echoed the concern of his colleague by saying evidence of climate fluctuation is even stronger now.

Although the federal climate change report was first released as a draft at the start of this year, don’t be under the impression it’ll have outdated information. The final version was rewritten and shortened, but also features a greater number of scientific references and reviews from the likes of experts and members of the public alike. The federal climate data was also given the go-ahead by the National Academy of Sciences.

Even by reading the introduction of the federal report, it should be clear the document is not filled with good news. The opening pages refer to climate change as a “major challenge for society.” However, instead of just spreading a doomsday message, the climate report also includes recommendations of how to slow the progression, specifically in terms of using political policies to do so.

In a piece from MSNBC, Vicki Arroyo, from the Georgetown Climate Center says that the ground-level effects of climate change are more easily noticed now than they were five years ago, and cautions how they are being seen across the country, with no state immune to the effects of climate change.

A briefing about the federal climate change report took place at the White House yesterday, and the 840-page report was positioned as something backed by “actionable science.” Hopefully once it is released and taken note of by the public, a growing number of America’s citizens will realize it’s not sufficient if federal officials are the only ones who do something about climate change. Protecting the planet is everyone’s responsibility.