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Entering the Period of Consequences: The Explosive US Awakening to the Need for Adaptation

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Climate Change Adaptation in Developed Nations

Part of the book series: Advances in Global Change Research ((AGLO,volume 42))

Abstract

Since the early years of the twenty-first century, the United States has been awakening rapidly to the fact that climate change is underway and that adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate change is needed and must be begun now. This chapter provides an historical overview of the public, political, and scientific concern with adaptation in America. It begins by describing the shift from the early concerns with climate change and adaptation to the more recent awakening to the need for a comprehensive approach to managing the risks from climate change, as reflected in the news media. This shift is evident from the recent debates and drafting of adaptation-related bills in Congress; to the rapidly expanding activities at the state and local government levels; to the increasing engagement of nongovernmental organizations, professional associations, scientists, and consultants. This policy rush is not underlain, however, by widespread public engagement and mobilization, nor does it rest on a solid research foundation. To help the United States prepare adequately for the impacts of climate change, funding for vulnerability and adaptation research must be significantly increased. This will facilitate establishing adequate decision support mechanisms; effective communication and public involvement; and building the necessary capacity in science, the consulting world, and in government agencies.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter was prepared in part with support from the California Energy Commission (CEC). An adapted, more detailed version was published – with Springer Verlag’s consent – by CEC and NOAA’s Coastal Services Center. Vicki Arroyo, Terri Cruce, Josh Foster, Gregg Garfin, Patty Glick, Peter LaFontaine, an anonymous reviewer, and the editors provided helpful comments on an earlier draft of this chapter. The findings and opinions expressed do not reflect the views of any of CEC or those of the reviewers, and any remaining omissions, mistakes, and interpretations are mine alone.

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  1. University of California-Santa Cruz and Susanne Moser Research & Consulting, 134 Shelter Lagoon Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA

    Susanne C. Moser

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Correspondence to Susanne C. Moser .

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  1. , Department of Geography, McGill University, Sherbrooke Street West 805, Montreal, H3A 2R6, Québec, Canada

    James D. Ford

  2. , Department of Geography, McGill University, Sherbrooke Street West 805, Montreal, H3A 2R6, Québec, Canada

    Lea Berrang-Ford

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Moser, S.C. (2011). Entering the Period of Consequences: The Explosive US Awakening to the Need for Adaptation. In: Ford, J., Berrang-Ford, L. (eds) Climate Change Adaptation in Developed Nations. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 42. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0567-8_3

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