In July, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the fifth edition of its periodic Climate Change Indicators report, focusing on Indicators related to the human health and societal impacts of climate change. While this 96-page report provides broad policy discussions, it applies data which calibrate ongoing changes that organizations can use to support evaluations of the possible impacts of these changes on their ongoing activities and future prospects. The remainder of this note summarizes EPA’s latest indicators, and how they can be relevant to organizational planning and decision-making.
Which Climate change Indicators is EPA highlighting?
As described in the report, “An indicator represents the state or trend of certain environmental or societal conditions in a given place and time period. EPA’s indicators are designed to help readers understand observed long-term trends related to the causes and effects of climate change.” The report organizes these indicators into eight “themes”:
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Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
EPA notes that high GHG emissions are major causes of climate change, and notes that US emissions have decreased slightly since 1990. The report also summarizes EPA’s regulatory and information activities regarding GHGs.
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Heat on the Rise
The report summarizing rising global temperatures, generally associated with climate change. It also notes that higher temperatures increasingly occur in more intense heat waves. These trends are increasing the importance of public and occupational protections against heat illness, including air conditioning and cooling (which increases electricity demand).
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Extreme Events
The report notes that climate change is associated with more frequent and intense “extreme events,” including heavy rainstorms, hurricanes and cyclones, floods, droughts, and wildfires. Governments, organizations and the public must enhance their preparations to respond to such events.
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Water Resources at Risk
The report addresses quantities (U.S. and global precipitation, snowpacks and streamflows) as well as qualities of water resources. It also provides a more detailed review of exacerbating drought conditions in the US Southwest.
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Changing Seasons
The report notes that “climate change is driving longer-term changes in seasonality and fundamentally altering the ways in which humans and natural systems experience and interact with seasonal events.” The nature and extent of these changes vary, including warmer winters (including higher proportions of rain relative to snow), earlier thaws, longer growing seasons, and worsening allergies.
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Ocean Impacts
The report discusses rising temperatures and acidification.
Heat-trapping greenhouse gases that humans have added to the atmosphere are making the Earth’s oceans warmer and more acidic. Changes in the oceans affect the Earth’s climate and weather patterns and threaten marine ecosystems and biodiversity and the people whose livelihoods depend on them.
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Rising Seas
The report notes that higher temperatures are melting ice sheets and glaciers, and that water from those on land ultimately flows into the ocean. Also, the report notes that water expands slightly as it warms, increasing the volume of water in the ocean. Sea level rise increases coastal flooding and other coastal risks. The report states that sea levels rose 6 inches during the twentieth century, and that rates have accelerated in recent years.
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Alaska’s Warming Climate
The report notes that the Arctic is warming more quickly than the rest of the world. Within the US. Alaska is uniquely vulnerable to climate change; permafrost underlies 80 percent of its land, and it has extensive land and sea ice. The report cautions that entire ecosystems, communities, and Indigenous ways of life could vanish as these frozen features shrink or disappear.
What’s next?
The report is designed to provide updated information and motivations. As many of my blogs discuss, EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other US agencies, other agencies and non-governmental organizations around the world are attempting to address climate change.
Self-assessment checklist
Has the organization assessed potential impacts of climate change on its activities and investments?
Has the organization identified which of these activities and investments are presently insured for climate-related impacts?
Has the organization identified which of these activities and investments are potentially insurable for climate-related impacts in existing insurance markets?
Has the organization identified how changes in insurance markets could affect its access to insurance for climate-related impacts?
Is the organization preparing comments in response to FIO’s request for information?
Where Do I Go For More Information?
- EPA
- “Climate Change Indicators in the United States” webpage
- “Climate Change in the United States Indicators, Fifth Edition (July 2024)
About the Author
Jon Elliott is President of Touchstone Environmental and has been a major contributor to STP’s product range for over 30 years.
Mr. Elliott has a diverse educational background. In addition to his Juris Doctor (University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1981), he holds a Master of Public Policy (Goldman School of Public Policy [GSPP], UC Berkeley, 1980), and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Princeton University, 1977).
Mr. Elliott is active in professional and community organizations. In addition, he is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the GSPP Alumni Association, and past member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California's Environmental Law Section (including past chair of its Legislative Committee).
You may contact Mr. Elliott directly at: tei@ix.netcom.com