ADDRESSING THE GRAND CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLIMATE SYSTEM, MITIGATION STRATEGIES, IMPACTS, RISK AND ADAPTATION

Global climate change is impacting the health, prosperity and welfare of people and communities across the world. To effectively minimize the impacts of future change, communities will need to adopt strategies for adaptation and mitigation that are informed by a robust understanding of the climate system and the potential impacts and risks imposed by anthropogenic change. Foundational research on the climate system is needed to address significant uncertainties in our understanding of the compounding and cascading effects of climate change forcings, tipping-points, and thresholds. Resolving these uncertainties will lay the foundation for effective design and implementation of climate change mitigation solutions that reduce the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While global scale research on the climate system and mitigation strategies is needed to minimize future change, the impacts of global warming are already being felt around the world. As a result, research is also needed to characterize the frequency, severity, causes and risks of extreme events induced by climate change at scales relevant for decision-making. Evaluating these impacts and risks will inform approaches to climate adaptation, which may include nature-based and engineered approaches at all scales. This presentation will include information on programs at the National Science Foundation that support research on the climate system, mitigation strategies, impacts, risk and adaptation to global change.