Science Confirms We Must Cut Carbon Pollution Now Because Climate Damage Already Is Underway

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2014) – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released an alarming report today in Japan showing that climate change is already affecting every continent and all of the oceans, underscoring the need to reduce carbon pollution in order to protect millions of people from major health and economic damages.

Following is a statement from Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, on the IPCC report:

“This is an S.O.S. to the world: We can’t wait any longer to sharply curb carbon pollution—the primary driver of climate change. If we don’t, punishing rainfall, heat waves, scorching drought and fierce storm surges will worsen, and the toll on our health and economy will skyrocket.

“The good news is that we still can avoid the most destructive impacts of climate change. The centerpiece of President Obama’s climate action plan will set the first limits on carbon pollution from power plants, and that will help in a big way. We must take that step forward, and now, to protect future generations from climate catastrophe.”

Also, a blog by Jake Schmidt, NRDC’s international climate policy director, about the IPCC report can be found here: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jschmidt/climate_change_damages_are_hap.html