reu-2018-11-23 climate change report US-gov
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-usa/clashing-with-trump-u-s-government-report-says-climate-change-will-batter-economy-idUSKCN1NS19D
Clashing with Trump, U.S. government report says climate change will batter economy
(Reuters) - Climate change will cost the U.S. economy hundreds of
billions of dollars by the end of the century, hitting everything from
health to infrastructure, according to a government report issued on
Friday that the White House called inaccurate.
The congressionally mandated report, written with the help of more than a
dozen U.S. government agencies and departments, outlined the projected
impact of global warming on every corner of American society in a dire
warning that is at odds with the Trump administration's pro-fossil-fuels
agenda.
"With continued growth in emissions at historic rates, annual losses in
some economic sectors are projected to reach hundreds of billions of
dollars by the end of the century - more than the current gross domestic
product (GDP) of many U.S. states," the report, the Fourth National
Climate Assessment Volume II, said.
Global warming would disproportionately hurt the poor, broadly undermine
human health, damage infrastructure, limit the availability of water,
alter coastlines, and boost costs in industries from farming, to
fisheries and energy production, the report said.
But it added that projections of further damage could change if
greenhouse gas emissions are sharply curbed, even though many of the
impacts of climate change - including more frequent and more powerful
storms, droughts and flooding - are already under way. "Future risks from
climate change depend primarily on decisions made today," it said.
The report supplements a study issued last year that concluded humans are
the main driver of global warming and warned of catastrophic effects to
the planet.
The studies clash with policy under President Donald Trump, who has been
rolling back Obama-era environmental and climate protections to maximize
production of domestic fossil fuels, including crude oil, already the
highest in the world, above Saudi Arabia and Russia.
White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said the new report was "largely
based on the most extreme scenario, which contradicts long-established
trends by assuming that...there would be limited technology and
innovation, and a rapidly expanding population."
The government's next update of the National Climate Assessment, she
said, "gives us the opportunity to provide for a more transparent and
data-driven process that includes fuller information on the range of
potential scenarios and outcomes."
Trump last year announced his intention to withdraw the United States
from the 2015 Paris Deal agreed by nearly 200 nations to combat climate
change, arguing the accord would hurt the U.S. economy and provide little
tangible environmental benefit. Trump and several members of his cabinet
have also repeatedly cast doubt on the science of climate change, arguing
that the causes and impacts are not yet settled.
Environmental groups said the report reinforced their calls for the
United States to take action on climate change.
"While President Trump continues to ignore the threat of climate change,
his own administration is sounding the alarm," said Abigail Dillen,
president of environmental group Earthjustice. "This report underscores
what we are already seeing firsthand: climate change is real, it's
happening here, and it's happening now."
Previous research, including from U.S. government scientists, has also
concluded that climate change could have severe economic consequences,
including damage to infrastructure, water supplies and agriculture. U.S.
President Donald Trump takes questions from the media after speaking via
teleconference with troops from Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida,
U.S., November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
Severe weather and other impacts also increase the risk of disease
transmission, decrease air quality, and can increase mental health
problems, among other effects.
Thirteen government departments and agencies, from the Agriculture
Department to NASA, were part of the committee that compiled the new
report.
The entire report can be viewed at
https://www.globalchange.gov
Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Rosalba O'Brien and Leslie Adler