US Climate Study Finds Global Warming Could Bake The Big Apple

Environmental Defense scientists said today that an assessment of national climate change impacts released by the US government finds serious consequences in store for the New York region, including flooding or droughts, increased air pollution and heat-related mortalities. The findings will be released Monday, June 12, for public comment. The report examines possible effects on every region of the US and on sectors particularly affected by climate changes, including coastal areas and marine resources, forests, public health, water, and agriculture.

The detailed analysis of these findings will be released at Columbia University on Monday, June 19th. More information can be found at http://metroeast_climate.ciesin.columbia.edu on the web.

“The New York region of the future could be in hot water if the US doesn’t take action to cut greenhouse gas emissions now,” said Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Environmental Defense chief scientist. “Climate change can lead to wider variations in rain and snowfall, along with warmer temperatures year round, and droughts that could affect New York’s water supply. Furthermore, climate induced sea-level rise increases the risk of flooding that destroys property and submerges beaches.”

“Hotter temperatures can lead to more heat-related mortality, higher levels of ground-level ozone that causes acute respiratory distress and chronic damage to the lungs, and an increased risk from mosquito-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria,” said Dr. Janine Bloomfield, an Environmental Defense senior scientist.

“The infrastructure that keeps the New York region going, Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Airports, the train, subway and automobile tunnels are all at serious flood risk in a greenhouse future,” said Bloomfield.