Assessment is a decisive judgment on the effects of climate change within U.S. borders

WASHINGTON, DC (May 6, 2014) – Today, the Congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment (NCA) was released, detailing the looming threats associated with the worsening effects of climate change. BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster released the following statement:

“The National Climate Assessment is more proof that the consequences of climate change know no boundaries—in fact climate change is affecting communities more and more every day. Worsening effects on human health, increasingly catastrophic damages due to extreme weather, and rising economic costs are just the tip of the iceberg.

“Better managing our vulnerability to climate change means we have to make sure that our key infrastructure systems—from hospitals to transit systems to the electric grid—are better built to withstand more extreme weather. In addition, first responders must be prepared for the growing health risks associated with climate change. After the hottest decade in the U.S. on record, we must act. These efforts must be inclusive and collaborative and continue to carry forward the work of the President’s Climate Action Plan. All of this is also an opportunity to create quality, family-sustaining jobs.

“In order to avert the increasing severity of extreme weather events, everyone from federal, state and local officials to community leaders and health advocates will have to roll up their sleeves and get to work on these solutions. If we work together, we can make every community a safer and more resilient community.”