Fifth National Climate Assessment: Quotes from Authors

“It is now a peoples’ report. We have so much more emphasis on vulnerable communities. We have the ability to actually do things on a human scale that we didn’t necessarily have before, and so it’s a nice progression in terms of people being able to see themselves in this report. So it’s not only science and technology and engineering and math, but there’s also this tremendous focus on art, and the way in which all of this comes together to think about and learn about and work through trying to find solutions to our changing climate. ” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video)

Lesley-Ann L. Dupigny-Giroux, Ph.D.
Professor - geography & geosciences, University of Vermont & the Vermont State Climatologist; NCA5 chapter author on "Water" Grab This Quote

“I’d like Americans reading the National Climate Assessment to understand that social systems (that is, institutions, communities, economies and governance systems) are where climate change is created – and the only places where we can stop climate change and adapt to changes that are already happening.

The increased focus on the social sciences in this report demonstrates that climate change solutions can be found in the science of human behavior, documenting historical trends in justice, and taking seriously multi-cultural futures and solutions. Social science is the new climate science.

Another important take away is that individuals and communities are not creating or experiencing climate impacts in the same way.

A third is that our cultural differences are an asset in stopping, and adapting to, climate change.” (Posted November 14, 2023)

Elizabeth Marino, Ph.D.
Associate professor of anthropology and sustainability, Oregon State University – Cascades, and NCA5 chapter lead on “Social Systems and Justice” Grab This Quote

“I have three most important take-home points for this. The first is that all of the U.S. is increasing the number of actions to address climate change and this is occurring in all regions where we’re both mitigating and adapting. The second is that even with these actions we must continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through replacing fossil fuels with low-carbon energies and we need to keep this going until we are net zero, which means that for every unit of greenhouse gases we are putting into the atmosphere, we take out an equal amount. And finally, the third is that even with reaching net zero, we must continue to advance our knowledge and action on intelligent adaptation to reduce the impacts of climate change and lower our harms. And these actions can include things like implementing things along our shorelines like coastal wetlands or oyster reefs that reduce our shoreline erosion from major storms and things like upgrading stormwater infrastructure to account for heavier rainfalls that we’re going to see.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video)

Rachael Shwom, Ph.D.
Professor and chair of human ecology at Rutgers University and NCA5 chapter author on “Social Systems and Justice” Grab This Quote

“At this point, we have very clear evidence that human activities are warming the planet, and that global warming is affecting us here in the U.S. today. Nearly every region in the U.S. is being impacted by changing climate conditions, even though it might vary depending on where you live. For example, if you’re in one of the western states, you might be seeing warmer and drier conditions more often, but if you live somewhere along the east coast, you might see more wetter conditions. But every state and every community in the U.S. is being impacted by the effects of a changing climate. Climate change is affecting every resource that we depend on, from food, energy, and water resources to ecosystems that we rely on, as well as our health.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video) 

Deepti Singh, Ph.D.
Assistant professor in the School of the Environment, Washington State University Vancouver and NCA5 chapter author on “Climate Trends” and chapter lead on “Focus on Compound Events” Grab This Quote

“We’re seeing an increase in many different types of extremes affecting the U.S. In particular, we’re seeing an increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves across the western U.S. We’re also seeing unprecedented drought in the Southwest. And the combination of extreme heat and drought [is] increasing the risk of severe wildfires in the western U.S. In the eastern U.S., we’re seeing the opposite, where we’re seeing more extreme precipitation events and heavier rainfall associated with tropical cyclones and thunderstorms that bring most of the rainfall to the region.

Now, in addition to this, we’re seeing events—because they’re becoming more frequent—we’re seeing these events affect communities without much time given for communities to recover, which means they have compounding effects. And we’re also seeing these events happen simultaneously. For example, in 2020, we had simultaneous large wildfires burning across the western U.S. while we had a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season in the East, which really stretched emergency management resources and our ability to respond to all these simultaneous disasters that were happening.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video) 

Deepti Singh, Ph.D.
Assistant professor in the School of the Environment, Washington State University Vancouver and NCA5 chapter author on “Climate Trends” and chapter lead on “Focus on Compound Events” Grab This Quote

“Some of the groups that will be particularly affected by all of the changes that we’re seeing as climate continues to change—including extreme weather events, and flooding, droughts, wildfires, tornadoes, all those pieces—are communities that are at the front line of all of those various hazards as they increase in intensity and frequency. Communities who may not have the same level of access to resources. And then all of the various challenges that come along with what we call compounds hazards, which are hazards that take place either one after the other, sequentially, or similarly, at the same time. And so if you don’t have access to either information or resources or materials, then it poses that additional constraint on how you can either adapt to, mitigate against, or even just do day-to-day living with some of these natural hazards that we’re seeing.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video) 

Lesley-Ann L. Dupigny-Giroux, Ph.D.
Professor - geography & geosciences, University of Vermont & the Vermont State Climatologist; NCA5 chapter author on "Water" Grab This Quote

“We’re not all experiencing the impacts of changing climate conditions equally. Communities of color, low-income communities, and indigenous people are some of the most disproportionately affected by climate change and extreme events. And I’ll give you an example from where I’m located in the Pacific Northwest. Here, indigenous communities, their livelihoods, their food sources, as well as their lands that they have close attachments to, are being threatened by climate risks. We’re seeing shifts in huckleberries. We’re seeing salmon populations being severely affected by heat and drought. And these are really important. They have important cultural value, as well as are important sources of food for these communities.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video) 

Deepti Singh, Ph.D.
Assistant professor in the School of the Environment, Washington State University Vancouver and NCA5 chapter author on “Climate Trends” and chapter lead on “Focus on Compound Events” Grab This Quote

“Climate change is often experienced by humans as a storm, drought, increased erosion, or flooding—in other words, a disaster. Many empirical studies from the social sciences show that the outcomes of disaster and risk are inequitably distributed.

Here are a couple of examples: Low-income and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities are more likely to be permanently displaced following a disaster. This can be linked to historical redlining or other discriminatory real estate practices that move low-income families into sub-par housing, which is more likely to suffer damage in a storm. Additionally, rental housing is rebuilt more slowly than other types of housing after a disaster. So, if your roof gets damaged in a storm, it means some people have to file an insurance claim, others are permanently displaced from their communities, and some people become homeless. These are differentiated outcomes of the same event.

Another example: Hurricanes Maria and Harvey had disproportionate impacts on minoritized households, renters, and low-income households. Sometimes this was because it’s hard to navigate disaster aid; sometimes it was because property ownership was difficult to prove, so families were not able to access aid to repair homes. Disasters can reentrench things like racism and classism. We can predict climate change outcomes will mimic this pattern without an effort to reverse those trends.” (Posted November 14, 2023) 

Elizabeth Marino, Ph.D.
Associate professor of anthropology and sustainability, Oregon State University – Cascades, and NCA5 chapter lead on “Social Systems and Justice” Grab This Quote

“Climate change is absolutely impacting different groups of people in different ways, and we know many communities in the U.S. are already shouldering high levels of environmental pollution, they struggle economically, they have high levels of social hardships as well. And these communities will often feel the impacts of climate change more severely. Climate change will worsen the living conditions of these communities and increase inequality between communities.

So one example, you can imagine, lower-income communities, communities of color have overall less investment in infrastructure. And so for example, stormwater management is less invested in, there are less green spaces, and these are both important in managing heavy rains, because it gives the water someplace to go. And with less of these mechanisms there to absorb the rains, the flooding is worse. Add to this less availability, less access to safe housing, or less access to transportation to leave flooding areas, and you’re going to experience a lot more human suffering in those communities than others with better water infrastructure and access to housing and transportation.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video) 

Rachael Shwom, Ph.D.
Professor and chair of human ecology at Rutgers University and NCA5 chapter author on “Social Systems and Justice” Grab This Quote

“A just transition has two parts. First, it requires recognizing low-income and BIPOC communities have been historically overburdened with environmental injustice. The second is recognizing it is possible to equitably share in the benefits and burdens of our collective shift towards a low-carbon future. Our third key message is that climate justice, including a just transition, is possible.” (Posted November 14, 2023) 

Elizabeth Marino, Ph.D.
Associate professor of anthropology and sustainability, Oregon State University – Cascades, and NCA5 chapter lead on “Social Systems and Justice” Grab This Quote

“So a just transition is responding to climate change while taking into account why some people are suffering more than others, and trying to make sure that the costs of adaptation and mitigation aren’t just born on the backs of those who are already suffering—you know, the working poor who can’t afford more costs to be laid upon them. It means ensuring that these people get equitable job access in the new clean energy economy. It means making sure that low-carbon energy is affordable and accessible to all, and that we’re not just putting increasing energy costs on top of people. And it means addressing—climate change, you know, unfortunately, is not free. It’s going to be costly to transition our energy system, and so a just transition is one where the distribution of costs and benefits can really be addressing current inequalities. ” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video) 

Rachael Shwom, Ph.D.
Professor and chair of human ecology at Rutgers University and NCA5 chapter author on “Social Systems and Justice” Grab This Quote

“I’ve been fortunate to have been involved with the National Climate Assessment for each of the five cycles, and I cannot tell you what a tremendous privilege it is to see it grow and evolve and come into its own and continue to be such a highly influential scientific assessment. And each cycle just keeps getting better. And we had art introduced for the first time this cycle, and it was a tremendous privilege and honor to be in the same room as Ada Limón, who is the poet laureate, and it just speaks to the volume with which science touches everyone in their humanity. And it’s a way of reaching everybody wherever they happen to be, so I really do appreciate that privilege of being able to be in the fifth National Climate Assessment.” (Posted November 14, 2023 | Download video)

Lesley-Ann L. Dupigny-Giroux, Ph.D.
Professor - geography & geosciences, University of Vermont & the Vermont State Climatologist; NCA5 chapter author on "Water" Grab This Quote