Climate Literacy Guide Available

The U.S. Global Change Research Program/U.S. Climate Change Science Program in March 2009 released the 17-page report, "Climate Literacy -- The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences," with the subheadings "A Climate-Oriented Approach for Learners of All Ages" and "A Guide for Individuals and Communities."




"The Essential Principles of Climate Science presents information that is deemed important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches to adaptation or mitigation. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for scientific inquiry. The guide aims to promote greater climate science literacy by providing this educational framework of principles and concepts. The guide can also serve educators who teach climate science as a way to meet content standards in their science curricula."

"Development of the guide began at a workshop sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Multiple science agencies, non-governmental organizations, and numerous individuals also contributed through extensive review and comment periods. Discussion at the National Science Foundation (NSF)- and NOAA-sponsored Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Literacy workshop contributed substantially to the refinement of the document."



Earth photographed by Astronaut Ron Evans, USA Apollo 17 Mission, December 7, 1972. In this image, now known as "The Blue Marble," Antarctica is at the top. Other prominent features include the eastern coastline of Africa, the Island of Madagascar, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Peninsula.