II. THE BASICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
The following resources present fundamental principles of climate science, discuss current scientific evidence for climate change, and explain its causes and projected impacts.
- Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science, U.S. Global Change Research Program (2009). This brochure, now available in both English and Spanish, presents key concepts about Earth's climate system and the impacts of climate change. The guiding principle is that "humans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts."
- Fourth National Climate Assessment — Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States, United States Global Change Research Program (2018). This quadrennial report mandated by Congress in 1990 was authored by scientists from 13 federal agencies. It focuses on climate change impacts, risks, and adaptations occuring in the U.S. and examines how climate change is affecting different sectors of the economy. It includes an Overview plus 16 National Topic Chapters (on such topics as Water, Energy, Agricutlure, Human Health, and Climate Effects on U.S. International Interests) and 10 Regional Chapters, all of which may be downloaded separately.
- Climate Change: Evidence and Causes, U.S. National Academy of Sciences and The Royal Society (2014). This very readable and authoritative resource on climate change causes and impacts is presented in the form of questions with direct and easy-to-understand answers from two prominent academies of science.
- What We Know: The Reality, Risks, and Response to Climate Change, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2014). This report assesses current climate science and impacts and emphasizes the need for the public to understand and recognize possible high-risk scenarios.
- Climate Change 101: Understanding and Responding to Global Climate Change, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (updated 2011). This series of brief reports covers climate science and impacts, adaptation, technological solutions, business solutions, international action, federal action, state action, local action, and cap-and-trade.
Last updated: 12/7/2018