Government report heralds action on climate change

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Every region of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, is experiencing significant, adverse impacts from climate change including droughts, floods, heat waves and wildfires, according to a major new report issued by the White House.   The report Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, says that climate change is already having a direct and negative effect on the American people, impacting "water, energy, transportation, agriculture, ecosystems, and health" all across the nation, and concludes that these widespread impacts will grow during the course of the century.   The report was issued by the US Global Change Research Program (GCRP) as the result of research initiated during the Bush Administration.   Officials from the World Wildlife Fund agreed that the report accurately reflects the climate-related impacts that its scientists are witnessing in the field, and provides compelling evidence that the nation is already paying a significant price for failing to take action in the past.   "This is the clearest of wake up calls; climate change is here and the time for action is now," said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts.   "As Congress debates landmark legislation to solve our energy and climate crisis, this report provides conclusive evidence that our planet is already changing before our very eyes, with enormous implications for our nation's economic future and way of life.ÔÇØ   Observed changes are detailed in the report, broken down by nine regions: Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Great Plains, Southwest, Northwest, Alaska, Islands, and Coasts.   The report finds that nearly every region of the country has experienced water-related impacts in the form of floods and water quality issues, while noting that some areas, namely the Southeast and West, are also suffering from droughts of increasing severity and frequency.   Weather extremes, pests, diseases and warmer temperatures also pose challenges for agriculture.   US coastal communities face erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels and greater storm surges. The report notes that the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Hawaii and Alaska are particularly at risk, as is critical transportation and energy infrastructure.   While the report focuses exclusively on US territory, WWF experts say they are observing climate change impacts in other parts of the world that could also pose huge security and economic risks to Americans.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *