The latest National Climate Assessment (NCA), a 1,656-page report, was issued by the trump administration on Black Friday, in the hopes of burying its findings away from the collective conscience of the nation. The NCA’s assessment is quite clear and bleak — we are in trouble, unless drastic measures are taken, starting yesterday.
Diary Reactions to the 4th US National Climate Assessment, intentionally released on Black Friday has a summary of the report and links to reporting on the subject by major media outlets.
Here is a selection of comments by various experts and pundits on the subject -
National Geographic —
In clear, unwavering terms, the new report states that without "substantial and sustained reductions" in greenhouse gas emissions, climate change will hurt people, economies, and resources across the U.S.
But the report also highlights how its worst impacts can be avoided, by adapting to our warmer world and by working to lessen future changes in Earth's climate.
NYT —
... predicting that if significant steps are not taken to rein in global warming, the damage will knock as much as 10 percent off the size of the American economy by century’s end.
National Resource Defense Council —
Today, the Trump admin. released the 4th National Climate Assessment, which concluded that man-made climate change is a clear and present danger to the American people.
Adrienne LaFrance, editor The Atlantic -
Most significantly, the report—which is endorsed by NASA, NOAA, the Department of Defense, and 10 other federal scientific agencies — contradicts nearly every position taken on the issue by President Donald Trump.
Adam Rogers, Wired —
A massive new federal report describes human-caused climate change resulting in ecological collapse and infrastructural ruin by 2100. And they released it on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Paul Krugman -
When you read reports like this, think about the deep immorality and corruption of climate skeptics. I guess it would be OK to disbelieve the overwhelming consensus of scientists in good faith -- but that almost never happens
Climate change denial is, in practice, almost entirely driven by motivated reasoning, not hard thinking; it's people who don't want to believe in an existential threat because responding to it would hurt their bottom line and/or cause trouble for their ideology
So what kind of person demands that others ignore what could well be a civilization-ending problem because his profits, or his paychecks from fossil fuel interests, or his laissez-faire ideology are on the line? A really terrible -- I'm tempted to say evil -- person
John Dean —
It is noteworthy that Trump voters are going to suffer the most from his denial of climate change, for the Midwest will be hit hardest. Sad. Their orange savior is worse than a false idol, he’s a con man who has suckered them. The great MAGA con!
Jeffrey Sachs writing at cnn —
President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and others who oppose action to address human-induced climate change should be held accountable for climate crimes against humanity. They are the authors and agents of systematic policies that deny basic human rights to their own citizens and people around the world, including the rights to life, health, and property. These politicians have blood on their hands, and the death toll continues to rise.
Richard Haas —
More than the rise of China or terrorism or proliferation, climate change could well prove to be the major threat to American economic and physical well-being this century. Those denying the science are unilaterally disarming in the face of this threat.
Jon Favreau —
Devastation within our lifetimes, and certainly the lifetimes of children born today. A Green New Deal shouldn’t be viewed as some lefty fantasy - it’s a national imperative that’s necessary for our survival.
Nancy Pelosi -
The climate crisis threatens both our communities & our economy. While @realDonaldTrump ignores his own admin’s report, House Dems are pushing for action w/ select committee on #ClimateChange. We can create millions of good-paying jobs w/ bold, green infrastructure investments!
Adam Schiff -
Try as the Trump Administration might to bury this study on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the effects of climate change can’t be hidden. It will devastate both our planet and our economy.The U.S. needs to listen to its scientists and lead the effort to reduce global emissions.
Chris Van Hollen —
If you're angry about the Trump Administration’s attempts to bury a new report about the consequences of climate change, act now. RT to ask Congress to pass S.2352. Our bill would make big carbon polluters pay for clean-up and return the proceeds directly to the American people.
Al Gore —
Unbelievably deadly and tragic wildfires rage in the west, hurricanes batter our coasts — and the Trump administration chooses the Friday after Thanksgiving to try and bury this critical U.S. assessment of the climate crisis. The President may try to hide the truth, but his own scientists and experts have made it as stark and clear as possible.
The rest of us are listening to the scientists — and to Mother Nature.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -
People are going to die if we don’t start addressing climate change ASAP. It’s not enough to think it’s “important.” We must make it urgent. That’s why we need a Select Committee on a Green New Deal, & why fossil fuel-funded officials shouldn’t be writing climate change policy.
Bernie Sanders —
On Monday Dec. 3 we’re holding a national town hall on addressing the crisis of climate change and creating tens of millions of jobs in the process. I hope you’ll join us.
Bill Nye —
Just a little climate change. Nothing to worry about here… (a snark)
Marshall Shepard, Atmospheric Sciences Professor —
By trying to bury the #NCA4 national climate assessment report by releasing it on Friday after Thanksgiving, they probably made it a bigger story.
Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton quoted in the nyt article —
“This report will weaken the Trump administration’s legal case for undoing climate change regulations, and it strengthens the hands of those who go to court to fight them.”
Gary Yohe, a professor of economics and environmental studies at Wesleyan University in article at the Verge —
I would hope [readers] would use it as a resource, to look for themselves in the sector where they are employed, in the region where they live, in the region where their grandchildren live, in watching the news of horrific extreme weather events or climatically related events — and use this as a resource to figure out why and how this might be part of the signature of a warming planet.
Let’s share the news and tweets with everyone we know. We need to shout from rooftops about global warming, write about climate science, and make sure every individual understands the truth and the stakes for humanity. Let’s keep exposing the criminal negligence, incompetence and greed of trump and the entire republican establishment. And let us support our scientists and Democratic leaders as they tackle these issues in spite of billions of dollars worth of smear campaigns that will be coming soon.