NOAA Chief: Climate Change Belief Increases in U.S

Record-breaking, extreme weather is making Americans uncomfortable, and it’s not just the effect of high temperatures, wildfires or floods. Many openly question whether it was a mistake to reject scientific findings suggesting that fossil fuels are behind climate change, procrastinating on developing policies to meet the challenge. Many wonder how new climate trends might affect entire industries and communities. “People's perceptions in the United States at least are in many cases beginning to change as they experience something first-hand that they at least think is directly attributable to climate change,” said Jane Lubchenco, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator, speaking in Canberra, Australia, as quoted by the Associated Press. NOAA is a scientific agency, part of the US Department of Commerce, with duties that include weather forecasts, climate monitoring, fisheries management and coastal restoration. The Associated Press also reported that US public demand for government climate data and projections is “skyrocketing.” – YaleGlobal