The National Academies Testimony before Congress

Public Laws Containing Studies for the National Academies

Briefings to Congress

Congressionally Mandated Reports

Policy Statements and Historical Documents

The OCGA staff

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

National Research Council
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate

*****

Congressional Briefings
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
2318 Rayburn House Office Bldg. – 2:00 p.m.
and
366 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. – 4:00 p.m.

and

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
1214 Longworth House Office Bldg. – 4:00 p.m.

*****

on

Advancing the Science of Climate Change

Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change

and

Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change

by

Pamela A. Matson, Stanford University, California; and Chair, Panel on Advancing the Science of Climate Change, Committee on America’s Climate Choices, National Research Council, The National Academies

Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University, East Lansing; and Vice Chair, Panel on Advancing the Science of Climate Change, Committee on America’s Climate Choices, National Research Council, The National Academies

Robert W. Fri, Resources for the Future, Washington D.C.; and Chair, Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change, Committee on America’s Climate Choices, National Research Council, The National Academies

Marilyn A. Brown, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; and Vice Chair, Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change, Committee on America’s Climate Choices, National Research Council, The National Academies

Thomas J. Wilbanks, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee; and Chair, Panel on Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, Committee on America’s Climate Choices, National Research Council, The National Academies

Gary W. Yohe, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut; and Member, Panel on Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, Committee on America’s Climate Choices, National Research Council, The National Academies

As part of a comprehensive package of climate-related studies requested by Congress in P.L. 110-161, the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, is about to release three reports. 

The report Advancing the Science of Climate Change presents the most current evidence and analysis to explain how and why climate is changing.  It then looks to the future and talks about how to strengthen and coordinate a national research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. 

The report Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change explores strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  It analyzes possible U.S. approaches, including national policy options to ensure that all levels of government, the private sector, and public can contribute to shared national goals, while noting the importance of the international context. 

The report Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change discusses the impacts of climate change and how we as a nation can begin adapting to them in beneficial ways, exploring activities underway at the state and local levels, adaptation options, and how the nation can become better prepared to make adaptation choices.

The America’s Climate Choices suite of studies will include two additional reports that will be released later this year: Informing Effective Decisions and Actions Related to Climate Change will examine how to best provide decision makers information on climate change, and an overarching report will build on each of the previous reports to offer a scientific framework for shaping the policy choices underlying the nation’s efforts to confront climate change. 

These briefings were for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The three reports were released to the public on May 19, 2010 and can be found, in their entireties, on the Web site of the National Academies Press via the above links.