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Health & Fitness

Scientists Reinforce Threat From Climate Change

The premier international scientific body addressing climate change has issued a draft report concluding with near-certainty that human activity has caused most of the worldwide temperature rise in recent decades -- an issue that will be a top priority for me in the U.S. Congress.

Regarding the warming trend, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says “There is high confidence that this has warmed the ocean, melted snow and ice, raised global mean sea level and changed some climate extremes in the second half of the 20th century.”

The IPCC finds that if carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to rise and reach double current levels, the global temperature will rise at least 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and could rise by 5 degrees or more with potentially dangerous changes in sea level, agriculture patterns and weather.

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The draft report was leaked to the media, and could change when the final report is released. But with the draft having been circulated widely for comment it is unlikely that any of the major findings will be dropped.

The IPCC report adds one more piece of evidence to what is widely accepted in the scientific community, if not among leaders in Congress – that we must take forceful action to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases.

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The IPCC report also reinforces the sad conclusion that we are already well on our way to substantial warming.  We need to start moving now to adapt to the changes that we can clearly see ahead -- notably sea level rise and storm surge.


I was a leader in passing the Global Warming Solutions Act in 2008, which constitutes a major effort by the State of Massachusetts to cut our emissions. I am also the sponsor or co-sponsor of several bills currently pending in the State Senate to extend these efforts.  Finally, I am sponsoring legislation to jump start planning for sea level rise along the Massachusetts coast.


If elected to Congress, I will continue to work hard on these critical issues. Please visit wb4congress.com to learn more about my candidacy and don't hesitate to reach out to me personally -- my email is willbrownsberger@gmail.com and my cell phone is 617-771-8274.
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