Climate Change: The Science, Why We Should Care, and What We All Can Do

New observations and new research have increased our understanding of past, current, and future climate change. The 4th National Climate Assessment (NCA4), completed in November 2018, is the latest of the special assessment of the science and the potential impacts of climate change on the American people as required by Congress through the 1990 Global Change Act. NCA4 confirms prior assessments in concluding that the climate on our planet, including the United States, is changing, and changing rapidly. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. Changes in the characteristics of extreme events are particularly important for human safety, infrastructure, agriculture, water quality and quantity, and natural ecosystems. Some extremes have already become more frequent, intense, or of longer duration, and many extremes are expected to continue to increase or worsen, presenting substantial challenges. The Earth’s climate is projected to continue to change over this century and beyond. This presentation provides an overview of the science of climate change, the resulting impacts on the Midwest, and what we all can do to contribute to resolving this important societal issue.

About the speaker: Professor Donald Wuebbles

Donald J. Wuebbles is an expert in atmospheric physics and chemistry and the Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Illinois.  He was Head of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences many years, and led the development of the School of Earth, Society, and Environment, serving as its first director. From 2015 to 2017, Dr. Wuebbles was Assistant Director with the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President in Washington DC, where he was an advisor on climate science for President Obama.  He has co-authored a number of international and national scientific assessments, including several international climate assessments led by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for which IPCC was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was a major participant in the 4th U.S. National Climate Assessment completed in 2018 that assesses the science of climate change.  He recently led a special assessment of the impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes.