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Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Introduction
In contrast to naturally occurring environmental effects, there are those effects that are caused by human activities. These are called anthropogenic effects. They include emissions (especially carbon dioxide) that may lead to increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, believed to be a primary cause of climate change.
With industrial activity and population expected to increase, large increases in greenhouse gas emissions are projected as well. Fossil fuel combustion is by far the largest source of carbon dioxide, responsible for at least 80 percent of projected warming. EPA’s Office of Research and Development has been working closely with its federal partners to generate a set of 21 synthesis and assessment reports to better inform decision makers about climate change.
In support of these reports, the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) has been conducting research to assess how climate change will affect future air and water quality, and to determine actions that can be taken to adapt to anticipated climate change.
Air Research. NRMRL is evaluating how potential technology scenarios for key sectors of the economy may influence emissions. The results will be used to develop regional-scale air quality simulations that describe how these changes in technology, coupled with climate changes, could affect air quality. The research also generates decision-support tools that can be used by air quality officials to make adaptation decisions.
Water Research. NRMRL’s research is enhancing our understanding of how major climatic factors, such as sea-level rise and changes in precipitation patterns, influence water supply, water availability, and watershed management. For example, research results are used to determine a watershed’s Total Maximum Daily Load. NRMRL’s water resources adaptation research concentrates on water resources and water infrastructure adaptation to anticipated hydro-climatic changes in the next 30 to 50 years. Using a holistic approach, NRMRL is conducting a nationwide hydro-climatic change assessment and a coordinated multi-scale infrastructure adaptability assessment. The results of these efforts will help decision makers understand how future climate and technology change scenarios could influence U.S. efforts to meet current and future National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate matter. The results will also help stakeholders understand how climate change could affect the ability of EPA, states, and communities to achieve water quality and water availability management objectives. The results will help ensure water program compliance with drinking water, stormwater, surface water, and wastewater standards promulgated under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Ecosystems Restoration Research. <need info here note to RF on 1/19/2010>
Environmental Issue or Problem
Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, and wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Our researchers are working to better understand climate change and how the effects will vary by region and over time, and how societies and the earth's environment will adapt to or cope with climate change.
In the United States, scientists believe that most areas will continue to warm, although some will likely warm more than others. It remains difficult to predict which parts of the country will become wetter or drier, but scientists generally expect increased precipitation and evaporation, and drier soil in the middle parts of the country. Northern regions, such as Alaska, are expected to experience the most warming.
Some degree of climate change will occur regardless of greenhouse gas emissions. Adapting to or coping with climate change will become necessary in certain regions and for certain socioeconomic and environmental systems. The need for adaptation may be increased by growing populations in areas vulnerable to extreme events. All climate-sensitive systems of society and the natural environment (including agriculture, forestry, water resources, human health, coastal settlements, and natural ecosystems) will need to adapt to a changing climate or possibly face diminished productivity or declining health.
Today, there are increased efforts to develop new technologies and to carefully manage others in an attempt to mitigate global warming. Mitigation refers to any action taken to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change to human life and the environment. Most mitigation techniques seem to be effective at preventing, but not reversing, warming. Several ways of mitigating climate change have been identified: reducing demand for emissions-intensive goods and services, increasing efficiency gains, increasing use and development of low-carbon technologies, and reducing non-fossil fuel emissions.
Long-Term Goal and Annual Performance Goals Addressed
Multi-Year Plan (MYP) for Global Climate Change research is under development.
Contact
Douglas McKinney
Assistant Laboratory Director, Global | Sustainability | Mercury