White House Report Says Climate Change Is Here And Now

Transcript MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block. ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: Climate change is not a future problem for faraway places; it's affecting Americans now. This comes from a U.S. government report out today. NPR's Elizabeth Shogren says it also shows that choices people make now will have big ramifications for future generations. ELIZABETH SHOGREN, BYLINE: The National Climate Assessment is the government's take on the latest science about climate change. This is the third one and its message is clear. JOHN HOLDREN: Climate change is not a distant threat. It is already affecting every region in the country and key sectors of the economy. SHOGREN: John Holdren advises President Obama on science. He says it's the loudest alarm yet that climate change is upon us. One of the biggest consequences is rising sea levels. Low-lying coastal communities, such as Miami, Norfolk and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, are most vulnerable. Ecologist Jerry