The American Geophysical Union has released an update to their 2003 statement, “Human Impacts on Climate.” The revisions state that the Earth’s climate is now clearly out of balance and is warming due to human impact. The statement warns that if we continue our current course, we face disruptive consequences, including: “reducing global agricultural productivity, causing widespread loss of biodiversity, and–if sustained over centuries–melting much of the Greenland ice sheet with ensuing rise in sea level of several meters.”

The statement further affirms that the 50,000 scientist members of AGU have special responsibility to pursue research to understand this change and communicate ways that policies can change to alter the future of our climate. This call to action urges that net annual emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced by 50% this century to avoid disruptive warming.

Most Commented Posts