Will our Flat-Earth Delegation continue to ignore the "unequivocal" evidence?

A new report released this week combines the work of numerous scientific agencies, and provides the "most detailed picture yet of the United States in 2100 if nothing is done to cut greenhouse gas emissions."

It found that a warmer world, with average U.S. temperatures increasing four to 11 degrees, would significantly alter natural ecosystems and urban life. More than before, scientists broke down those effects to the regional level...

"In our back yards, climate change is happening, and it's happening now," Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said at a news conference yesterday afternoon. She continued: "It's not too late to act. Decisions made now will determine whether we get big changes or small ones."

The report is available online at http://www.globalchange.gov, and states, "warming of the climate is 'unequivocal,' and man-made greenhouse gases are primarily to blame."

It's a more than a little frustrating that we're still having a debate about the reality of climate change and its human roots. However, a disturbing number of our elected leaders -- including Roy Blunt, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Todd Akin -- have show an extreme reluctance to face the facts. For example:

• Roy Blunt, in April: “There isn’t any real science to say we are altering the climate path of the earth.” 
• Blaine Luetkemeyer.  Last month: “That human emissions of carbon are causing our climate to change has been proven very doubtful at the most by the sound science that’s being promoted at the present time.”
• Todd Akin. Two weeks ago: "The whole thing strikes me if it weren’t so serious as being a comedy you know. I mean, we just went from winter to spring. In Missouri when we go from winter to spring, that’s a good climate change. I don’t want to stop that climate change you know."

These leaders -- and too many others -- simply have their heads in the sand about climate change.  The science is clear, and it's time to address the problems.

On the GlobalChange.gov website, you'll find a breakdown of expected consequences by region.  Here's what it says about the Midwest:

• During the summer, public health and quality of life, especially in cities, will be negatively affected by increasing heat waves, reduced air quality, and increasing insect and waterborne diseases. In the winter, warming will have mixed impacts.
• The likely increase in precipitation in winter and spring, more heavy downpours, and greater evaporation in summer would lead to more periods of both floods and water deficits.
• While the longer growing season provides the potential for increased crop yields, increases in heat waves, floods, droughts, insects, and weeds will present increasing challenges to managing crops, livestock, and forests.
• Native species are very likely to face increasing threats from rapidly changing climate conditions, pests, diseases, and invasive species moving in from warmer regions.

And to our west, in the Great Plains:

• Projected increases in temperature, evaporation, and drought frequency add to concerns about the region’s declining water resources.
• Agriculture, ranching, and natural lands, already under pressure due to an increasingly limited water supply, are very likely to also be stressed by rising temperatures.
• Climate change is likely to affect native plant and animal species by altering key habitats such as the wetland ecosystems known as prairie potholes or playa lakes.
• Ongoing shifts in the region’s population from rural areas to urban centers will interact with a changing climate, resulting in a variety of consequences.

Perhaps the gentlemen would care to revise and extend their remarks?