Climate Attribution Science Advances, Sparks Political Backlash

The science of attributing extreme weather events to climate change has advanced significantly, according to an updated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The 254-page document details how researchers now combine observational data, weather models, and statistical models to more precisely link climate change to events like heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts.

“

in the last decade, huge progress has been made in it, thanks to the development of the tool.

This field, known as Extreme Event Attribution (EEA), has seen rapid progress, allowing for analyses within days of an event. The report also introduces Extreme Event Impact Attribution (EEIA), which goes beyond identifying the climate link to assessing the consequences for health, the economy, infrastructure, and society. Scientists warn that the increasing frequency of extreme climate events raises the probability of simultaneous or closely occurring events.

“

as the frequency of many types of extreme climate events increases, the probability of their simultaneous or close occurrence in the same place or in different regions has increased.

However, these scientific findings are drawing criticism from some U.S. Republican politicians. Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have proposed legislation, such as the "Stop Climate Shakedowns" bill, aimed at shielding fossil fuel companies from accountability for damages attributed to their operations. A spokesperson for one representative called climate lawsuits "left-wing legal crusades punishing legal activity."

“

climate lawsuits are 'left-wing legal crusades punishing legal activity.'