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AGU's Stand
Tue Oct 14, 2003
Listen in RealAudio 
Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton with the Weather Notebook's weekly segment on Global Climate Change. The
American Geophysical Union, or AGU, is a society comprised of 40,000 members. As an
organization, the AGU has jumped into the climate change fray with a position paper.
I asked Dr. Peter Folger, Public Affairs Manager, why it was important the AGU to come out
with such a statement.
FOLGER: We know we're having some impact on climate. You can't just say: "Look, it's too
uncertain. We don't know if we're having an influence so let's sit back and do nothing."
We're saying there's enough certainty in that we're having some impact that we should be doing
something, and what we're saying is we don't prescribe any particular strategy other than, you
know, it could be emissions reduction, it could be carbon sequestration, could even be
adaptation, mitigation of - or results. That's kind of up to the policymakers, but they
shouldn't be using scientific uncertainty as an excuse for doing nothing.
BRYAN: Do you think people will accuse you of sitting on the fence?
FOLGER: A scientific society like ours - we kind of have to bop up against the fence when it
comes to making some specific proposals that involve more than what we know as scientists and,
uh, when it comes to things that involve economics and social disruption.
We actually have - really an obligation to not only advance the science but, also, to make
those results available to the public and where - especially where the results and that
information can - is - is key or critical to an important policy debate. Certainly this is
that kind of case.
Folger also said the position is being re-examined, and that a new statement may be issued
soon. Our Climate Change series is supported in part by the New England Science Center
Collaborative.
Today's Links
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases- Adopted by Council December, 1998. Reaffirmed December,
200
http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/policy/climate_change_position.html
The American Geophysical Union
http://www.agu.org/
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