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Consensus Study Report

VIEW LARGER COVER

Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for—and in many cases is already affecting—a broad range of human and natural systems. The compelling case for these conclusions is provided in Advancing the Science of Climate Change, part of a congressionally requested suite of studies known as America's Climate Choices. While noting that there is always more to learn and that the scientific process is never closed, the book shows that hypotheses about climate change are supported by multiple lines of evidence and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations.

As decision makers respond to these risks, the nation's scientific enterprise can contribute through research that improves understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change and also is useful to decision makers at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The book identifies decisions being made in 12 sectors, ranging from agriculture to transportation, to identify decisions being made in response to climate change.

Advancing the Science of Climate Change calls for a single federal entity or program to coordinate a national, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. Seven cross-cutting research themes are identified to support this scientific enterprise. In addition, leaders of federal climate research should redouble efforts to deploy a comprehensive climate observing system, improve climate models and other analytical tools, invest in human capital, and improve linkages between research and decisions by forming partnerships with action-oriented programs.

This title is part of the America's Climate Change project, the National Research Council's most comprehensive study of climate change to date.

  • Follow the links below for related titles from the America's Climate Choices study.
  • Save when you purchase an America's Climate Choices Set.
  • Watch the America's Climate Choices videos.

RESOURCES AT A GLANCE

Video(s):

Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change
Advancing The Science of Climate Change

Suggested Citation

National Research Council. 2010. Advancing the Science of Climate Change. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12782.

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Publication Info

526 pages |  7 x 10 | 

ISBNs: 
  • Paperback:  978-0-309-14588-6
  • Ebook:  978-0-309-15592-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/12782

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Links

Videos

Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change

Advancing The Science of Climate Change

Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change

Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change

Climate Change: Lines of Evidence

This video follows Part 1 of the booklet, Climate Change: Evidence, Impacts, and Choices. It explains the current scientific consensus about the causes of climate change.

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