Call for change on climate change.

I guess I missed the point where the right wing radio bloviators and such started accepting climate change as reality--it seems not long ago this was still debated, at least by politicians and the ill (Fox News) informed. We still have the debate as to cause, of course, and a hell of lot of people are still confused, because confusion means no change in Washington.

Now we have consortia of scientific groups calling for action from our soon to be new (thank heavens) President.

I spotted this in EOS, but this is from the horse's mouth.



Weather and Climate Leaders Call on Washington to Better Protect the Nation from Climate Change and Severe Weather

August 20, 2008

BOULDER—Eight leading professional organizations in the field of weather and climate today called on the next administration and Congress to better protect the United States from severe weather and climate change. They issued five recommendations to reverse declining budgets and provide needed tools, information, and leadership to decision makers. The recommendations and supporting information have been provided to the presidential campaigns of John McCain and Barack Obama.

The United States sustains billions of dollars in losses every year from disasters related to weather and climate, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires, floods, droughts, and snow storms, the transition document states. This year alone, the country has experienced a record-setting pace of tornadoes, as well as many severe floods and wildfires.

"With more than a quarter of the U.S. gross national product (over $2 trillion) sensitive to weather and climate, these events substantially impact our national health, safety, economy, environment, transportation systems, and military readiness," the document states. "All 50 states are impacted by these events, and many of these events will be exacerbated by climate change."
Full release here.


Photo credit: This tornado was one of several that struck near Hebron, Nebraska, on May 22, 2004. Tornadoes are forming at a record-setting pace this year, with nearly 1,000 twisters confirmed by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center for the period January through May 2008.
[ENLARGE] (Photo by Bob Henson, ©UCAR.) News media terms of use*

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