Goals of this report:
Understand Nebraska's climate variability.
Provide evidence-based science to support decision-making.
Inform policies, plans, and programs that promote action and build resilience to climate impacts.
This is the second report of climate change at the state-level in Nebraska (the first one being in 2014), and among the first in the central United States. The purpose of this report is to help state and local policymakers, government agency leaders, private industry, and citizens of the state of Nebraska. It includes explanations on causes of climate change, how scientists separate natural and human influences on climate, projecting future climate with global climate models, and achieving scientific consensus.
Collaborative Team
A dedicated, multidisciplinary team from various organizations helped build the state climate report.
Organizations like:
the University of Nebraska – Lincoln
the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Creighton University
Nebraska Indian Community College
USGS Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Extensive collaboration allows the analyzation of past and future trends and how it will impact numerous sectors in Nebraska. Reputable climate scientists worldwide continue to be in near unanimous agreement (greater than 99%) that human influences have warmed the atmosphere, oceans, and land. Furthermore, the speed of the changing climate has accelerated and has passed normal, natural variability.
The risk of intensifying extreme weather and harmful climate impacts will continue to grow and lead to more negative impacts to the state and its residents. By implementing changes today, future climate trends can be altered. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), for example, promotes statewide mitigation plans to counteract the consequences of climate change.
Using two steps:
Building resilience.
Reducing vulnerability.
The state of Nebraska will prepare for future impacts through adaptation. This report is for a broad audience of people, especially for those who are decision-makers across the state, increasing awareness and prompting action to people at the local, state, federal, and tribal levels of government. No longer just a threat to future generations in a distant future, climate change will impact the current generations as well since the planet is warming faster than what was predicted a decade ago.
