The fourth National Climate Assessment, released in November 2018, predicted effects of climate change could cut up to 10% of the country’s gross domestic product by 2100.
But according to reporting this week by the New York Times, the Trump administration has ordered future projections to stop at 2040, instead of 2100. This would reduce the projected impacts of climate change in a move many see as an effort to stifle work to combat climate change.
While the decision has a direct effect on climate scientists within the government, it could also affect broader work to publicize the effects of climate change and prepare for the impacts.
“People will start questioning the projections up to 2100 and/or think that action doesn’t need to be taken,” said Gabriel Filippelli, an IU-Purdue University Indianapolis professor and member of IU's Environmental Resilience Institute.
