Socioeconomic impacts of climate change on rural communities in the United States

Abstract

Climate change refers to any distinct change in measures of climate such as temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer (USEPA 2009). In the last decade, there has been a clear consensus among scientists that the world is experiencing a rapid global climate change, much of it attributable to anthropogenic activities. The extent of climate change effects (e.g., future temperature increase) is difficult to project with certainty, as scientific knowledge of the processes is incomplete and the socioeconomic factors that will influence the magnitude of such increases are difficult to predict (IPCC 2001). However, even if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reduced significantly over the coming years, significant increases in temperature and sea level rise may still occur.

Citation

Lal, Pankaj; Alavalapati, Janaki; Mercer, D Evan. 2011. Socioeconomic impacts of climate change on rural communities in the United States. In: Alig, Ralph J., tech. coord. 2011. Effects of climate change on natural resources and communities: a compendium of briefing papers. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNWGTR-837. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 73-118.