ACIA RELEASES ANTICIPATED REPORT ON GLOBAL WARMING, SEN COLLINS RELEASES STATEMENT

WASHINGTON, DC— The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), a multinational organization comprised of scientists from several countries, including the United States, has released its report, titled "Impacts of a Warming Arctic," which warns of serious, long-term effects if global climate change is not addressed. In its report, the Council wrote, "Earth's climate is changing, with the global temperature now rising at a rate unprecedented in the experience of modern human society. While some historical changes in climate have resulted from natural causes and variations, the strength and trends and the pattern of change that have emerged in recent decades indicate that human influences, resulting primarily from increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, have now become the dominant factor."

Senator Collins, who has been a proponent in the U.S. Senate of increased funding for research related to climate science and who traveled to Norway to meet with Arctic scientists, released the following statement responding to today's report:

"After years of work with climate scientists at the University of Maine, traveling to the northern-most community in the world to observe first-hand the dramatic impact of Arctic climate change, and reviewing this report, it is clear that the Arctic is warming at an unprecedented rate. Much of this warming is a result of human-induced climate change, and this warming is likely to have a profound effect on people and ecosystems throughout the world.

"This report serves as another wake-up call that the United States must improve its energy efficiency, further develop its renewable energy resources, and enact strong legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emission nationwide."

In August, Senator Collins joined Senator McCain in traveling to Ny-Alesund on the Arctic Norwegian island of Spitsbergan to meet with scientists leading the ACIA research. "I learned first-hand the alarming findings of these scientists and saw the dramatic loss of sea ice and the unprecedented thawing of permafrost," Senator Collins said. "The impact of global warming on the Arctic is like the canary in the mine—a dire warning that we must take action to reduce our global greenhouse gases."

Key findings of the Arctic Council report are as follows:

· Arctic climate is now warming rapidly and much larger changes are projected.

· Arctic warming and its consequences have worldwide implications.

· Arctic vegetation zones are very likely to shift, causing wide-ranging impacts.

· Animal species' diversity, ranges, and distribution will change.

· Many coastal communities and facilities face increasing exposure to storms.

· Reduced sea ice is very likely to increase marine transport and access to resources.

· Thawing ground will disrupt transportation, buildings and other infrastructure.

· Indigenous communities are facing major economic and cultural impacts.

· Elevated ultraviolet radiation levels will affect people, plants and animals.

· Multiple influences interact to cause impacts to people and ecosystems.

The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) is comprised of climate science experts from the United States, Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden.

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