Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Understanding sea level rise as a long-term, multi-generational problem is essential to comprehending the scale of climate change and the need for bold action now. While this knowledge may be sobering, it underscores the importance of reducing emissions, holding major polluters accountable, and adapting to a changing world.

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Sea Level Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Ocean 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2025

Climate models are the main tool scientists use to assess how much the Earths temperature will change given an increase in fossil fuel pollutants in the atmosphere. As a climate scientist, Ive used them in all my research projects, including one predicting a change in Southwestern US precipitation patterns.

Atmosphere 230

Atmosphere Climate Scientist Ocean Fossil Fuels 230

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 11, 2021

According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report published Monday, Southeast Asia coastal zones are among the world’s most climate vulnerable regions. There are a handful of high-impact “tipping points” that could drastically change global or regional water cycles.

Climate Change 361

Climate Change Atmosphere Deforestation Rainforest 361

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 18, 2025

The worlds largest fossil fuel and cement producers have known for decades that their products cause climate change, yet they spread disinformation to misinform the public and have profited as people around the world have suffered from ever-worsening climate impacts.

Sea Level 246

Sea Level Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2020 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 17, 2025

The IPCC compiles scientific insights on climate change, informing policymakers and the public about risks and possible actions. In essence, combined with climate models, they provide a way to envision the consequences of different actions or inactions. What Are Future Climate Scenarios?

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Radiation Sea Level Climate Change Fossil Fuels 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Since the last time the UN commissioned such a report—its 1988 Study on the Climatic and Other Global Effects of Nuclear War —the world population has grown and changed in distribution, economies have become more interdependent, and the environment more fragile. What role should scientists play in nuclear weapons policy?

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Radiation Atmosphere Climate Change 2023 359

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

With extreme winter weather breaking out across the United States this week, a question in many people’s minds is—how is climate change affecting winter storms? Can you start with how climate change is generally affecting winter weather in the US? And this also connects to climate change.

Climate Change 359

Climate Change Ocean Atmosphere 359

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Last month, 44 climate scientists from 15 countries wrote an open letter to the Nordic Council of Ministers highlighting the risk of a potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a critical ocean current system in the Atlantic Ocean. The Earth’s climate system does not like imbalances in heat!

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Climate Scientist Ocean Sea Level Climate Change 306

Real Climate

NOVEMBER 23, 2024

It’s 20 years since we started blogging on climate here on RealClimate (December 10, 2004). We wanted to counter disinformation about climate change that was spreading through various campaigns. The Keeling curve, highlighted with the release of important climate reports and climate summits.

2004 245

2004 Climate Change Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 5, 2023

Continued flooding in California caused by severe storms called atmospheric rivers continues to shock the country. Human-caused climate change is expected to increase the number and intensity of extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts that are already ravaging communities across the United States.

Climate Change 357

Climate Change Atmosphere 2023 Government 357

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 29, 2024

My colleague Dr. Kristy Dahl and I arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria, last week for the 61st session of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These documents offer an internationally accepted summary of the state of climate science, and form the backbone of many legal briefs I prepare.

Climate Change 312

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Paris Agreement 312

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 3, 2024

The grief of yet another climate-changed event is overwhelming. Photo provided by the author The aftermath of Helene is proving the worst of what we imagine in the face of climate change. I asked my colleague, Dr. Marc Alessi , an atmospheric scientist, about the hurricane. My heart is heavy.

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Climate Change Fossil Fuels Ocean Climate Scientist 347

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Wetlands help mitigate climate change by trapping and storing carbon. While development, forestry, and climate change all contribute to wetland loss, draining for agriculture has been the single biggest cause since the 1800s. But wetland loss doesnt just increase flood riskit also drives climate change.

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Clean Water Act Climate Change Conservation Environmental Protection 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

Last year, I met Dave Schneider, a climate scientist who studies ice sheets and climate systems, work very similar to my own. that’s specifically about climate change and fossil fuel accountability. I checked out the science books, and there were some interesting titles but literally nothing about climate change.

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Climate Change Fossil Fuels Climate Scientist Atmosphere 317

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 3, 2022

is a serious blow to the EPA’s ability to fight climate change—and could have dangerous repercussions beyond this case. The timing of the decision feels especially harsh, as the nation is in the throes of the “ Danger Season ” for hazards such as heat waves, drought, wildfires and hurricanes, all worsened by climate change.

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Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Nitrogen Oxides 334

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2024

Fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change and the terrifying effects of it that we see happening across the world. That makes this dataset a powerful tool for understanding how each of these entity’s heat-trapping emissions have contributed to climate change. The fossil fuel industry knew that too.

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Fossil Fuels Climate Change Paris Agreement Carbon Dioxide 328

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 12, 2022

Extreme heat and heatwaves are growing more frequent and more severe because of climate change. While climate change is making our days hotter, the fingerprints of climate change are even clearer for nighttime temperatures than for daytime temperatures.

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Climate Change Cooling Radiation Electricity 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 11, 2024

For the first time, the Arctic Report Card assessed that the Arctic is faltering as a reliable area for storing carbon away from the atmosphere ( Natalie et al., It was its first failing grade after thousands of years holding onto more carbon than released to the atmosphere. in Arc2024 ). Methane releases were sustained as well.

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2024 Carbon Dioxide Sea Level Atmosphere 263

Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 6, 2021

For months, international’s organizations have blamed the calamity on climate change. International organizations had blamed the calamity on climate change, but a new study rejects that assumption. And so [climate change] will only make things more difficult for these regions in the world.”.

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Climate Change Climate Scientist Atmosphere Greenhouse 278

Legal Planet

JUNE 3, 2024

Rather than rehearse familiar arguments, I want to focus specifically on climate change. In my view, holding out for ideal climate policies makes no sense. Because of the nature of climate change, delay is just too costly. Climate change is a unique problem in many ways.

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Climate Change Atmosphere Carbon Emissions Politics 246

Legal Planet

APRIL 9, 2025

Graphic: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego Teaching the climate change unit last week in my International Environmental Law and Policy class, I found myself so moved that I started crying at the board. My poor students thought I was in distress.I

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Carbon Dioxide Climate Change Atmosphere Law 195

Circle of Blue

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Climate Change Grips Trout Streams Across the Nation: How Anglers Are Responding Across the country, anglers have watched as droughts, floods, and high temperatures batter the rivers they depend on. The issue has begun changing minds about climate change among recreational fishermen, a demographic that leans politically conservative.

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Climate Change Conservation Politics Natural Resources 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 10, 2023

Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its annual report on billion-dollar weather and climate-related disasters in the United States, which tells a grimly familiar story. Many of these disasters—including floods, storms, wildfires and droughts—were worsened by climate change. .

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Climate Change 2022 Fossil Fuels Sea Level 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 31, 2024

Now, what’s desperately needed are new funding commitments from countries to help meet the significant and growing needs as the climate crisis worsens. Climate vulnerable countries need funding to start flowing quickly. C above pre-industrial levels, and underscoring how world leaders are failing their people. to 2.8 °C

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Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Renewable Energy Climate Change 290

Circle of Blue

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

The rains were the result of a weather phenomenon known as an “atmospheric river,” a narrow column that transports water vapor from the tropics to the poles. Atmospheric rivers are projected to intensify as the climate continues to warm. Atmospheric rivers are not uncommon in the region.

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Atmosphere Climate Scientist Environmental Science Climate Change 246

Real Climate

APRIL 6, 2023

The summary for policymakers of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth synthesis report was released on March 20th (available online as a PDF ). There is a recording of the IPCC Press Conference – Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report for those who are interested in watching an awkward release of the report.

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Climate Change Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 2012 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 6, 2023

Human-caused climate change is redistributing species across the globe, re-ordering ecological communities, and even driving genetic changes in some populations. We need to better understand these changes, and to adapt biodiversity conservation strategies to take them into consideration. Photo: UNESCO/David G.

Climate Change 279

Climate Change Sea Level Conservation Deforestation 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 17, 2022

As human activities continue to spew heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, temperatures rise and cause the air to become “thirstier.” Those questions need to be answered for our climate change present and future. Source: US Drought Monitor ([link]. Achieving an equitable energy transition.

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Climate Change Technology Technology Fossil Fuels 306

Law and Environment

AUGUST 9, 2021

The IPCC has released its Sixth Assessment Report on the physical science basis of climate change. Here are a number of the lowlights: It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.

Climate Change 190

Climate Change Sea Level Ocean Atmosphere 190

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 8, 2025

Floods can come from rain-on-snow events and from high spring temperatures that melt the snow faster, and climate change is triggering earlier and faster snowmelt. In the Midwest, Lake Erie has the LEOFS (Lake Erie Operational Forecast System) to better manage water levels affected by seasonal variations and climate change.

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Climate Change 2017 Atmosphere 2012 147

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 7, 2023

Attribution science , which is about understanding the role of climate change versus natural weather patterns and climate variability, can help us better understand the connections between extreme weather and climate change, provide new insight into what specific emissions are driving the worst impacts, and help shape climate solutions.

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Climate Change Sea Level Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide 331

Inside Climate News

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

By Georgina Gustin At its annual conference on climate change this week, the United Nations released a major report saying the world has little hope of reaching global climate targets without quickly lowering emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that’s nearly 300 times more powerful at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

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Ozone Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere Greenhouse 124

Circle of Blue

JULY 1, 2021

The Detroit cloudburst was the result of a nasty weather combination—a cold front sweeping across the Midwest, plus a mass of humidity hanging over the city—which promises to be all the more powerful as the climate continues to warm. The post Detroit Flooding Previews Risks from a Warming Climate appeared first on Circle of Blue.

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Atmosphere Ocean Climate Change 2013 350

HumanNature

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Student in the Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology at Colorado State University Seeing is Believing What do you picture when you think of climate change? Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. climate change is set to impact everyone.

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Climate Change 2025 2024 Atmosphere 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Even now, with fall in the air, we are reminded of the harsh reality that fossil-fueled climate change is causing fall to be warmer across the contiguous US, particularly in the southwest. California too experienced a late-season October heatwave , made worse by climate change.

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Climate Change Fossil Fuels 2024 2016 246

Yale E360

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Recent studies reveal that tiny pieces of plastic are constantly lofted into the atmosphere. These particles can travel thousands of miles and affect the formation of clouds, which means they have the potential to impact temperature, rainfall, and even climate change. Read more on E360 →

Atmosphere 296

Atmosphere Climate Change 296

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

Climate change is shifting so much about our world, from earlier blooms on Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms to rapid loss es of glaciers and ice sheets. Climate change is drying out our forests, priming them to burn. In turn, the dryness of forests affects how readily they burn. So…what is VPD?

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Climate Change Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide 2015 299