Washington, D.C. — Today, a new report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change spells out the costs and consequences of climate change that are already having a dramatic impact on our planet, causing widespread damage to nature and people. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This report underscores what Americans have already realized: Dealing with climate change isn’t something we can postpone. It’s already disrupting our lives and costing us billions to deal with the growing destruction caused by wildfires, floods, and other extreme weather. It shows us how important it is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The consequences get far worse with every fraction of a degree we add. We’ve already warmed one degree, so we have no room for error.
It’s also critically important that today’s report recognized the disparate impacts of climate and how vulnerable communities are already suffering more due to the world’s inaction. The impact of climate change will take an increasingly heavy toll—triggering displacement, increasing food and water insecurity, and affecting the health and safety of those already suffering. We can’t afford to put off action any longer.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].