Vilsack: Reaction to climate change depends on approach
February 07, 2013 | 09:11 PM
LAS VEGAS — Following the Agriculture Department’s release of two climate change reports and the agency’s own climate change strategy this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said here today that the way people react to the subject of climate change depends on how it is brought up.
Asked at the National Biodiesel Board conference whether climate change has become a “third rail” subject, Vilsack asked members if they would not react differently if someone said “the world is going to get hotter” and “you should change your light bulbs ... start bicycling to work” or whether someone said that “agriculture is a risky business” and that new markets should be created involving climate change.
“Let’s not scare people. Let’s talk about the opportunity side of this,” Vilsack said.
Earlier this week, the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist released a major report on climate change and agriculture. The report said that climate change effects over the next 25 years will be mixed, but that after 2050 the effects “are expected to have generally detrimental effects on most crops and livestock.”
The report emphasized that weed control costs will go up, that livestock production will be affected negatively by heat stress, and that there will be an increase in insects and disease under warmer and more humid conditions.
USDA also released a report on the effect of climate change on U.S. forests.
“By the end of the 21st century, forest ecosystems in the United States will differ from those of today as a result of changing climate,” the report states.
“Although increases in temperature, changes in precipitation, higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, and higher nitrogen deposition may change ecosystem structure and function, the most rapidly visible and most significant short-term effects on forest ecosystems will be caused by altered disturbance regimes,” the report says.
“For example, wildfires, insect infestations, pulses of erosion and flooding, and drought-induced tree mortality are all expected to increase during the 21st century.”
The report also said that “human communities” close to forests would need to prepare for future climatic stresses.
Today USDA also released a 2012 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan for the agency and a Climate Change Adaptation Plan that outlines how the department will address the impacts of climate change on its key mission areas such as agricultural production, food security, rural development, and forestry and natural resources conservation.
The USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan includes input from 11 USDA agencies and offices, and provides a vulnerability assessment, reviews the elements of USDA’s mission that are at risk from climate change, and provides specific actions and steps being taken to build resilience to climate change, the agency said.
The plan is open for a 60-day public comment period, through April 8.
In a news release USDA said that it has managed to purchase and generate enough green power to meet 19.5 percent of USDA’s electricity use, and that the Environmental Protection Agency has ranked it No. 7 among federal agencies in the use of green power.
Asked at the National Biodiesel Board conference whether climate change has become a “third rail” subject, Vilsack asked members if they would not react differently if someone said “the world is going to get hotter” and “you should change your light bulbs ... start bicycling to work” or whether someone said that “agriculture is a risky business” and that new markets should be created involving climate change.
“Let’s not scare people. Let’s talk about the opportunity side of this,” Vilsack said.
Earlier this week, the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist released a major report on climate change and agriculture. The report said that climate change effects over the next 25 years will be mixed, but that after 2050 the effects “are expected to have generally detrimental effects on most crops and livestock.”
The report emphasized that weed control costs will go up, that livestock production will be affected negatively by heat stress, and that there will be an increase in insects and disease under warmer and more humid conditions.
USDA also released a report on the effect of climate change on U.S. forests.
“By the end of the 21st century, forest ecosystems in the United States will differ from those of today as a result of changing climate,” the report states.
“Although increases in temperature, changes in precipitation, higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, and higher nitrogen deposition may change ecosystem structure and function, the most rapidly visible and most significant short-term effects on forest ecosystems will be caused by altered disturbance regimes,” the report says.
“For example, wildfires, insect infestations, pulses of erosion and flooding, and drought-induced tree mortality are all expected to increase during the 21st century.”
The report also said that “human communities” close to forests would need to prepare for future climatic stresses.
Today USDA also released a 2012 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan for the agency and a Climate Change Adaptation Plan that outlines how the department will address the impacts of climate change on its key mission areas such as agricultural production, food security, rural development, and forestry and natural resources conservation.
The USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan includes input from 11 USDA agencies and offices, and provides a vulnerability assessment, reviews the elements of USDA’s mission that are at risk from climate change, and provides specific actions and steps being taken to build resilience to climate change, the agency said.
The plan is open for a 60-day public comment period, through April 8.
In a news release USDA said that it has managed to purchase and generate enough green power to meet 19.5 percent of USDA’s electricity use, and that the Environmental Protection Agency has ranked it No. 7 among federal agencies in the use of green power.
