PARENT SESSION
Session #2: Local ecosystem effects of climate change: The interaction between climate, societal decisions, and ecosystems. Organized by: J.S. Baron, D.S. Ojima, N.T. Hobbs, and A.C. Covich.
Monday, August 6, 2001. Madison Ballroom A
Climate change and our nation - Report of the US National Assessment.
Melillo, Jerry1, 1
ABSTRACT- The National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change is a landmark in the major ongoing effort to understand what climate change means for the US. The Assessment's purpose is to synthesize, evaluate, and report on what we presently know about the potential consequences of climate variability and change for the US in the 21st century. It has sought to identify key climatic vulnerabilities of particular regions and sectors in the context of other changes in the nation's environment, resources, and economy. It has also sought to identify potential measures to adapt to climate variability and change. Finally, because present knowledge is limited, the Assessment has sought to identify the highest priority uncertainties about which we must know more to understand climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and our ability to adapt. This first National Assessment has involved both stakeholders and scientific experts. Stakeholders included, for example, public and private decision-makers, resource and environmental managers, and the general public. The stakeholders from different regions and sectors began the Assessment by articulating their concerns in a series of workshops about climate change impacts in the context of the other major issues they face. In the workshops and subsequent consultations, stakeholders identified priority regional and sector concerns, mobilized specialized expertise, identified potential adaptation options, and provided useful information for decision-makers. The Assessment also involved many scientific experts using advanced methods, models and results. Further, it has stimulated new scientific research in many areas. The Overview Report of the Assessment contains ten key findings including several that consider the vulnerabilities of natural and managed ecosystems. These will be reviewed to set the context for the papers in this symposium.
KEY WORDS: Assessment, Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability