Scientists have been releasing an almost continuous stream of studies that show that global warming is real  The United States has been steadily ignoring those reports for the past eight years.  This leaves the U.S. with no mechanisms in place to plan for problems that are coming.

The National Research Council released a report that outlines a series of steps that the United States needs to take in order to plan for the future.  The programs are primarily recommended for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP).

The list is rather extensive and quite broad in its approach as you can see:

…it should establish a U.S. climate observing system; develop new modeling capabilities for regional- and decadal-scale forecasts; strengthen research on adaptation, mitigation, and vulnerability; initiate a periodic national assessment of climate impacts and responses; and routinely provide policymakers with crucial scientific information, tools, and forecasts.

Several of these recommendations will require more funding for and research in the social sciences.  Research needs to be conducted the role that people can play individually and as a group to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate conditions. 

The object would be to integrate the social sciences with the natural sciences so that a complete picture of the future can be modeled.  For all of the research that the CCSP has done on the causes and processes of climate change, little if any, research has been done on how we are to adapt to the changes.

The National Research Council isn’t talking about getting more people to recycle or drive cleaner cars.  The issue is much broader and in some ways more urgent.  As the predicted effects of climate change happen, how will individuals need to adapt and how will cities and states need to adapt.

Although some of the effects of climate change can be seen today, the significant impacts of climate change won’t happen for decades.  Now is the time to look at how agriculture, and commerce will be affected and what that means for people.  Shifts are going to be happening within all societies worldwide.  Some of that shifting can cause a great deal of harm or the government can begin preparing for those changes to keep the chances of violence and famine at bay.

The United States needs to get out of its short sighted dismissive attitude and start planning long term for changes that are definitely coming.  The rest of the world is planning.  Why aren’t we?

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Entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 3:08 pm under Science and technology.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
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