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Global climate change research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Citation:
BEEDLOW, P. A. Global climate change research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Presented at National Air Filtration Association annual meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 17 - 19, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
The science surrounding global climate change is complex and has been interpreted in many ways.
Description:
The science surrounding global climate change is complex and has been interpreted in many ways. The concept of the Greenhouse Effect—viewed as the cause of global climate change—is quite simple, but the Earth’s response is not. After more than two decades of intensive research, scientists around the world agree that climate change is unequivocal, and that humans are largely responsible. The rates and magnitudes of future changes, along with the resulting effects on human welfare and the environment, are less clear. More challenging is what we can and will do about climate change. State and local governments are formulating initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Congress is considering legislation to deal with the problem on a national scale. Internationally, the successor to the Kyoto Protocol is being negotiated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a long history of research addressing climate change from assessing the future risks to weighing adaptation options. Future research will address the environmental consequences of greenhouse gas mitigation options.