Eight organizations representing hundreds of U.S. scientists held a
teleconference this week, urging the next U.S. president to help
protect the nation’s economy from $2 trillion in climate change-related
damages, by doubling the budget for climate science, according to a
Reuters report.
The groups said a $9 billion investment through 2014 in satellite- and
ground-based weather prediction systems can help to alleviate the
damages caused by storms, floods and droughts that are expected to
increase as a result of global climate change.
The groups, which included the American Geophysical Union, the
American Meteorological Society and a consortium of 71 universities,
said more than a quarter of the nation’s economic output is vulnerable
to these extreme weather events.
"We don’t think we have the right kind of tools to help decision
makers plan for the future," Jack Fellows, the vice president for
corporate affairs of the University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research, said.
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