WWF Statement: New Research in Science Magazine Reinforces the Link between Human Activity and Climate Change 11/13/2003
From: Kathleen Sullivan of the World Wildlife Fund, 202-778-9576 or kathleen.sullivan@wwfus.org WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Statement by Dr. Lara Hansen Chief Scientist, Climate Change Program, World Wildlife Fund: "This week's paper by Dr. David Karoly and colleagues is further convincing evidence of the need to go beyond studying the problem of climate change to taking action. This report reinforces the link between human activity and climate change in North America over the second half of the 20th century. On top of the impacts we are beginning to see on species in North American and around the globe, this new evidence reinforces the urgent need to slow the rate and extent of climate change. "Our understanding of global warming is reinforced everyday, supported by nearly weekly releases of additional research, clarifying the issue in greater detail and highlighting the urgent need to take action. We know not only the basics but studies continue to demonstrate the undeniable link between human-caused CO2 emissions and global warming. "In the new issue of Science, Dr. Karoly and his co-authors present a careful analysis which further strengthens the link between human activity and the warming seen in North America over the past 50 years. In comparing observed warming with the patterns anticipate by model simulations, they find remarkable agreement, consistent with what would be expected from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The similarity is not just in the amount of warming that we have seen, but also in the geographic variation of this warming." ------ Note to editors: The article referred to in this statement is: Karoly, D. J., K. Braganza, P. A. Stott, J. M. Arblaster, G. A. Meehl, A. J. Broccoli and K.W. Dixon. 2003. Detection of a Human Influence on North American Climate. Science, 14 November. This news release and associated material can be found on http://www.worldwildlife.org |