“America’s Climate Choices”, a report requested by the United States Congress, is a series of studies that elaborates on the nation’s options for responding to the risks posed by climate change.
“The goal of the America’s Climate Choices studies is to ensure that climate decisions are informed by the best possible scientific knowledge, analysis, and advice, both now and in the future,” said N.R.C. committee chair Albert Carnesale.
The report contains scientific evidence that suggests human activities are the probable cause for most of the global warming that has occurred in the last several decades. The report also projects that the impacts of climate change on human and natural systems will intensify along with warming.
There are specific recommendations suggested in the report as to how America should go about in addressing climate change.
The committee suggested that one of the most efficient ways to accelerate emissions reductions is through a nationally uniform price on greenhouse gas emissions. They said that having such a policy would be crucial to guide investments in energy infrastructure.
The nation must also adopt several actions to deal with climate change. A priority should be to reduce their G.H.G. emissions while improving climate change research.
National initiatives must be taken to advance adaption to climate change and a national adaptations strategy should be developed and implemented. Public engagement processes should also be incorporated into scientific analyses and the policymaking process.
The country should also actively engage in international climate change efforts and facilitate coordination across climate change response activities.
“America’s response to climate change is ultimately about making choices in the face of risk. Risk management strategies must be durable enough to promote sustained progress yet sufficiently flexible to take advantage of new knowledge and technologies,” said committee vice chair William L. Chameides.
According to the committee, current state and local efforts to reduce G.H.G. emissions are significant but unlikely to have significant outcomes when compared to what could be done when there is federal backing.
Back in February 2009, the United States congress requested a two-day summit regarding America’s Climate Choices, which focused on how to limit the magnitude of climate change and how to adapt to its impact.
Climate change experts met with members of the congress and the Obama administration, along with business leaders and nongovernment organization representatives. In the meeting, they focused on improving climate change science to increase understanding of how human actions are related to climate change.
America’s Climate Choices is the result of the committee’s 23 members’ integration of the findings from four panel reports. In total, the four panels had help from 90 volunteers who are experts from universities, nongovernment organizations, national laboratories, corporations, federal, and state government agencies in creating the report.
