Global Climate Change
Learn how climate change is impacting our environment and our lives, and how science is seeking to slow these effects and provide innovative solutions.
Published January 17, 2013
Internationally, the scientific opinion on climate change is unequivocal—the earth is warming and human activities are, in fact, contributing to this phenomenon. Explore how precious resources, infrastructures, and ecosystems are being impacted by climate change, as well as efforts to mitigate the impact through alternative energies and preventive measures, with the Academy resources below.
Event Series
The New York Academy of Sciences and Science at The Nature Conservancy renew their collaboration for a second year and present a series of public events on current conservation and conservation science issues. In this three-part series, speakers will explore the dynamics and critical issues involving people and nature. Register for all three events in this series and save!
 | EventAdapting Cities to Climate Change in a Post-Sandy WorldThe effects of climate change have the potential to dramatically alter urban life in ways we have yet to consider. What does the current state of science tell us about what cities should be doing to prepare for these effects (particularly if they are much more intense than previously assumed)? Photo Credit: That Hartford Guy |
 | EventFrom Where Will The Water of the Future Come?Billions globally lack access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. Water will be stressed to almost unimaginable levels as the global population continues to grow and the effects of climate change become more frequent and intense. Where will the solutions come from and can we implement them without destroying biodiversity? |
 | EventThe Limits of the Planet: A DebateHave human activities pushed Earth's resources and ecosystems close to the breaking point? Is massive environmental and social disruption just over the horizon? Can science provide us with innovations that will allow the planet to overcome its biophysical constraints and keep growing? |
Academy Publications
 | eBriefingThe True Cost of WaterThe availability of water for sustainable human development and healthy functioning of Earth's ecosystem has never been more pressing an issue than it is today. Explore the economic optimization of water usage to establish long-term sustainability of water resources. |
 | eBriefingWill Technology Let Us Avoid the Limits to Growth?Explore an updated view of the 1972 hit book, The Limits to Growth, with thoughts by an original author of the book and by a world-renowned industrial ecologist. |
 | eBriefingMarket Makers: Developing and Deploying Energy Efficiency Technology in NYCBy 2050, the global population will approach 9 billion, escalating the burden on our energy resources. Explore how New York City has been emerging as one of the leaders in clean technology solutions, with efforts to become a more energy-efficient city. |
 | eBriefingCreating the Next Conservation Movement — Or Do We Even Need One?How can we build a new U.S. conservation and environmental movement to meet the challenges of the new century ... or is the desire to mainstream environmentalism just a symptom of the problem? |
 | eBriefingEnergy for the Next 20 Years: Protecting the Environment and Meeting Our DemandsHow can Earth possibly meet its growing energy demands without destroying the environment? Experts on wind, nuclear, hydropower, and other energy forms debate the most promising paths forward in this eBriefing. |
 | AnnalsFlood-Resilient Waterfront Development in New York City: Bridging Flood Insurance, Building Codes, and Flood ZoningThis study seeks to provide guidance for advancing the goals of NYC Vision 2020 by assessing how flood insurance, flood zoning, and building code policies can contribute to waterfront development that is more resilient to climate change. |
About the New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With 25,000 members in 140 countries, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.