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January 10, 2022

Chairwoman Johnson Statement on NOAA Assessment of U.S. Climate in 2021

(Dallas, TX) – Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that 2021 ranked as the fourth-warmest year on record, and that December 2021 was the warmest December ever recorded. NOAA also announced, “Last year, the U.S. experienced 20 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that killed at least 688 people—the most disaster-related fatalities for the contiguous U.S. since 2011 and more than double last year’s number of 262.”

“Today’s news from NOAA recapping the devastation Americans were faced with in 2021 is heartbreaking,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “The consequences of climate change impact each and every American—especially disadvantaged communities—across the Nation. We must act on climate now to build a better, and more safe future for all. As Chairwoman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I’m committed to ensuring we address the climate crisis from every angle. The Science Committee’s provisions in the Build Back Better Act will do just that. Climate change is one of our Nation’s greatest challenges, and we must face it head-on with robust investments in science and technology. There is no time to waste, Americans and our rising generations are counting on us to act now.”

Read the assessment here.  

 

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