Climate change in the us
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Climate Change in the United States: Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts
Economic Impacts of Climate Change in the US
Economic Damage and GDP Impact
Climate change is projected to have significant economic impacts across various sectors in the United States. Research indicates that the combined value of market and nonmarket damages, including agriculture, crime, coastal storms, energy, human mortality, and labor, increases quadratically with global mean temperature. This could cost roughly 1.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) per +1°C on average. The southern United States is expected to experience negative economic impacts, while some parts of the Pacific Northwest and New England might see positive effects. The poorest third of counties could face damages between 2% and 20% of county income by the late 21st century under high emissions scenarios.
Sectoral Impacts and Adaptation
The impacts of climate change are diverse and affect multiple sectors, including human health, infrastructure, and agriculture. Damages in sectors such as labor, extreme temperature mortality, and coastal property could reach hundreds of billions of dollars annually by the end of the century under high emissions scenarios. Adaptation and mitigation actions are crucial to reducing these risks and achieving substantial economic benefits.
Environmental Impacts of Climate Change
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Climate change poses a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystems in the United States. Species are responding through changes in morphology, behavior, phenology, and geographic range shifts, mediated by plastic and evolutionary responses. These changes, combined with direct effects of climate change on ecosystems, result in widespread alterations in productivity, species interactions, and vulnerability to biological invasions. These impacts significantly alter the benefits and services that natural ecosystems provide to society, necessitating proactive and flexible adaptation strategies in natural resource management.
Extreme Weather Events
The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as extreme hot temperatures and precipitation, are projected to increase over most of the US, while extreme cold temperatures are expected to decrease, especially in the northern regions. The choice of policy plays a significant role in the magnitude of these changes, with stabilization scenarios drastically reducing the changes in extremes even for high climate sensitivity.
Social and Public Perception of Climate Change
Public Opinion and Policy Support
Public attitudes toward climate change have evolved over the past decade, with increased importance placed on global warming and perceived harm in every state. However, policy support has increased primarily in more liberal states like California and New York, while remaining stable elsewhere. Local climate change significantly affects perceptions, but partisanship and political ideology remain the strongest influences on climate change views and support for pro-climate policies.
Communication and Local Action
Cities in the US are actively engaging in climate change communication and action, even as federal policies lag. Many large cities address climate change in their public communications, focusing on weather-related concerns and collaborative efforts to address global warming. Local factors, such as climate vulnerability, significantly influence the level and timing of these communications.
Conclusion
Climate change presents multifaceted challenges to the United States, impacting the economy, environment, and public perception. The economic costs are substantial, with significant regional disparities. Environmental impacts threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services, while extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intense. Public opinion is increasingly recognizing the importance of climate change, though political ideology continues to shape policy support. Local actions and communications by cities play a crucial role in addressing climate change at the grassroots level. Proactive adaptation and mitigation strategies are essential to minimize the long-term costs and impacts of climate change.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic