Climatastrophe
Information on climate change to help create a greener world
Climatastrophe
Information on climate change to help create a greener world
First Address-Based Climate Reporting Service One-Year Anniversary - Mission & Initiatives Review
Easton, Conn., (PRWEB) November 30, 2007 -- The nation?s first online, address-based climate and environmental-risk-reporting service celebrates its one year anniversary this month, with notable first year results and a number of high-profile initiatives undertaken during that timeframe to further its climate change communication mission to the public. ?We are very pleased to reach the one-year mark with such a critical address-based climate change communication mission. In that time, we have had tens of thousands of visitors to our site from all over the U.S., and thousands of report requests, many with mission inspiring feedback. As importantly, we have pursued a number of climate change communication initiatives that should help tip awareness into action to mitigate climate change? said David H. Purcell, founder and Chief Executive Officer, Climate Appraisal Services, LLC.
Since Climate Appraisal was launched in November 2006, there have been an almost constant stream of serious environmental events in which climate change may or may not have left its fingerprints, including 1) the first two Atlantic hurricanes this season reaching Category 5, the first time since record-keeping began, 2) an ?exceptional? drought in the southeast threatening water supplies, and a long-term drought in the west fueling wildfires 3) a set of wildfires in southern California displacing over 500,000 and causing major property loss, 4) extreme summer heat-waves in the south linked to over 50 deaths, 5) a record outbreak of tornadoes in October, 6) extreme weather and record rainfall in the Midwest and Texas causing loss of life, and 7) average September water levels in Lake Superior dipping below the previous 1926 low. ?We are extremely concerned about these events, and encourage people to assess their potentially increasing environmental risk as it could impact property value and quality of life,? said Purcell.
To date, Climate Appraisal web traffic statistics have recorded almost one hundred federal, state and local governmental agencies visiting the site, including traffic from domain network addresses at the White House, State Department, Senate, House, Department of Justice, Securities & Exchange Commission, and the Treasury. Climate Appraisal has also been visited by a number of science dedicated agencies who have enabled its communication mission by systematically and actionably creating environmental risk data over many decades, including NASA, NOAA, EPA, USGS, USDA, DOE & FEMA ? ?we would sincerely like to thank all those agencies for the incredible work they do to provide information to the public?, said Purcell.
In addition, Climate Appraisal has recorded significant interest from international visitors from over 90 countries, including frequent traffic from domain network addresses in Canada, Argentina, Australia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, India, Mexico, Germany, and France. ?We would like to thank all our international visitors to the Climate Appraisal site, we are extremely proud that they would find our U.S. based mission of such interest,? said Purcell.
In keeping with the educational aspects of its mission, Climate Appraisal has recorded visitors from over 700 educational networks all over the U.S. ?Every day that we have visitors from educational institutions reminds us how critically important our mission is to future generations, as the current working and retired generations continue to struggle with implementing major initiatives now to avoid the most damaging potential impacts from climate change while there is still time. It is the people and countries who act now who will be most able to help mitigate and if necessary withstand the worst case climate change impacts projected,? said Purcell.
Mission Initiatives Review: In review of its first year initiatives, Climate Appraisal has actively pursued 1) clarification from the Securities & Exchange Commission on its public company review criteria, and whether or not it is now actively applying Regulation S-K to enforce disclosure of coastal asset liability from potential climate change driven sea-level-rise, 2) comments on three Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) new or expanded liquid natural gas distribution terminals, resulting to date in ground-breaking comments in response on the risk of climate change driven sea-level-rise to two of those projects in FERC?s final approvals, 3) a position from the National Association of Realtors on disclosure of potential climate change driven sea-level-rise risk to coastline homebuyers, which to-date real estate agents are not legally required to disclose, and 4) communication of location specific potential climate change risks in a highly regarded organization?s future recommendations of the best places to retire, as retirees may be at high climate change risk in moving to certain areas.
In addition to its initiatives, Climate Appraisal has received press recognition of its first-of-its-kind address-based climate change communication mission from a variety of major news sources, including USA Today, Dow Jones MarketWatch, Reuters, WBZTV Boston and the Nature Journal.
?We are quite proud of our mission achievements as measured by our visitors, report requests, public feedback and press reception. Equally as important, we have expanded our communication mission to include operating as a change agent in moving climate initiatives forward in a variety of governmental and business arenas,? said Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, Lead Science Advisor and professor of Geosciences at The University of Arizona, a specialist in climate dynamics, climate-vegetation interactions, and environmental decision-support. Dr. Overpeck has won numerous professional awards for his climate work, including sharing the Nobel Peace Prize this year for his work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
In addition to Dr. Overpeck, the Climate Appraisal Services Science Advisor team includes Dr. Susan Beck, The University of Arizona, Professor of Geosciences and a specialist in seismology, tectonics, and geological hazards, and Dr. Andrew C. Comrie, The University of Arizona, a Professor of Geography and of Atmospheric Sciences, whose specialties include climatology, climate and health and air quality science.
About Climate Appraisal Services, LLC
Launched in November 2006, Climate Appraisal Services, LLC (ClimateAppraisal.com) is the only single source that connects consumers with comprehensive address-based information on the possible impacts of climate change, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, drought, floods, industrial pollution and disease. Leading researchers at The University of Arizona in Tucson have partnered with Climate Appraisal Services, LLC to provide such information.
Consumers or businesses who want a climate and environmental risk report for a current or potential property, or any other location with a U.S. address, can order a comprehensive, address-based appraisal report at ClimateAppraisal.com.
David Purcell, Climate Appraisal Services
203-261-5928,
DPurcell @ ClimateAppraisal.com
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