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Climate Change in our Backyard:
What Are the Implications?
Thursday, July 29,
2004
2:00 – 3:30 p.m., 253 Russell Senate Office Building
The Environmental and Energy Study
Institute (EESI) invites you to a Congressional briefing
addressing the implications of climate change for the United
States. This event provides an overview of the main findings that
emerged from the U.S. National Assessment on climate change, and
what climate change is likely to mean for the United States and
its regions. This event initiates a series of briefings on climate
change that EESI is planning for this fall. The latest scientific
data confirm that average global surface air temperature increased
by about 1 °F over the 20th century. The most advanced climate
models project that unless global warming emissions are reduced,
average U.S. temperatures could rise another 3 to 9 °F by the end
of the century. Such large increases and associated changes in
climactic patterns are expected to have very significant effects
on agriculture, water resources, coastal regions, human health,
and forest and other ecosystems. A number of outcomes are likely
to include increased frequency of drought, wildfires, and heat
waves; increased rainstorm intensity, hurricane intensity, and
flooding; melting glaciers and sea-level rise; and shifts in and
even loss of species-specific habitats.
Briefing Panel:
Dr. Anthony C. Janetos,
Vice President, The H. John Heinz III Center for Science,
Economics, and the Environment (Presentation)
Dr. Lynne M. Carter,
Former Regional Liaison for the U.S. National Assessment
(Presentation)
Numerous individuals
from a variety of sectors have been speaking out on climate
change. For instance, the world’s second-largest reinsurer,
Swiss Re, warned in early 2004 that, "There is a danger that
human intervention will accelerate and intensify natural climate
changes to such a point that it will become impossible to adapt
our socio-economic systems in time." They released a report
revealing how climate change is rising on the corporate agenda,
with the economic costs of such disasters threatening to double to
$150 billion a year in 10 years, hitting insurers with $30-40
billion in claims. Bill Pielsticker, President of Wisconsin Trout
Unlimited, stated that, "Despite the beliefs of some
politicians, the evidence for global warming is increasingly
clear. If current trends continue, native brook trout populations
are expected to be eliminated before the end of this century
according to studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and other researchers."
In addition, the
Weather Channel recently ran a five-part series exploring the
effect of global warming on Alaska and its residents, headed by
Dr. Heidi Cullen. She reported that the average winter temperature
in Alaska has increased more than 6 °F since 1948. Most of Alaska’s
permafrost is now just barely frozen, potentially affecting the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Climate change induced erosion is
threatening, among other areas, Shishmaref, a hunter-gather
village that has existed for centuries; and large tracts of
Alaskan forests are becoming more vulnerable to attack by normally
cold-sensitive beetles. Legislation to curb carbon dioxide
emissions has been introduced in both the House and Senate,
including the Climate Stewardship Act (S.139 and HR. 4067). There
have been many actions taken by states to address climate change.
Most recently, eight states and the City of New York filed a
lawsuit in Manhattan’s federal district court on July 21, 2004
against five of the nation’s largest electric-power companies to
force them to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions.
The briefing is open to
the public and no reservations are required.
For more information, or to discontinue receiving EESI
announcements, please contact Fred Beck at 202/662-1892 or fbeck@eesi.org
or Alexandra Morel at 202/662-1885 or amorel@eesi.org.
click
here for a PDF version of this announcement
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