In its most comprehensive study so far, the nation’s leading scientific body declared on Wednesday that climate change is a reality and is driven mostly by human activity, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
The group, the National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, issued three reports describing the case for a harmful human influence on the global climate as overwhelming and arguing for strong immediate action to limit emissions of climate-altering gases in the United States and around the world — including the creation of a carbon pricing system.
Predictably, advocates of climate and energy legislation embraced the reports.
“These studies clearly demonstrate the urgency for Senate action,” said Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts and a sponsor of a climate bill introduced in the Senate this month.
Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists said: “This report should light a fire under Congress. Lawmakers should stop dragging their feet, pay attention to the science and pass a bill this session.”
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