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."
- Third National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Impacts in the United States, United States Global Change Research Program (2014). This comprehensive report summarizes in plain language the science of climate change and describes its impacts across the U.S., now and throughout this century. It discusses impacts on key sectors -- e.g., water, energy, transportation, agriculture, ecosystems, health, and society -- and examines observed and projected impacts on the different regions of the country. Available in an interactive, web-based version, the report and its various sections may also be downloaded, including a 148-page Highlights report.
- 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.
- Glossary of Climate Change Terms, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This site provides definitions of over 100 terms related to climate change -- plus links to a variety of other glossaries focusing on such topics as energy, energy efficiency, and clean energy.
Last updated: 1/7/2015