��̽̽ Climatologist Co-Authors Fifth National Climate Assessment

The is out and Prof. Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, ��̽̽ (��̽̽) co-author of the flagship U.S. climate change report, calls the findings stark, but hopeful.

“This report gives Americans the best available science and understanding of climate change risks, impacts, and projected changes in the United States," says , who now joins a select group of researchers to have contributed to all five National Climate Assessments, which the U.S. government publishes roughly every four years.

This year’s report, which features , shows that Americans are experiencing increased extreme events—from wildfires and heatwaves to destructive flooding. Climate change is exacerbating social inequities and adverse health outcomes. And while U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have dropped, it finds that much deeper reductions are needed to limit global warming roughly to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree Celsius target.

On a hopeful note, the report also highlights real progress on climate action. These include trillions of dollars invested in clean energy, and local- and state-level climate action. The cost of wind and solar energy, heat pumps, and electrical vehicles has plummeted over the past decade—a key milestone in our transition away from fossil fuels. The report also details advances in green infrastructure, agriculture, and efforts to reduce flood risks, from buyouts to elevating homes.

A changing climate

Over the last 26 years, Dupigny-Giroux has played several key roles in the National Climate Assessments—most recently co-authoring this year’s . She and her colleagues write: “Climate change is having profound impacts on our water cycle across the nation, increasing the risk of flooding, drought, and degraded water supplies for people and ecosystems.”

For 2018’s Fourth National Climate Assessment, Dupigny-Giroux was the Lead Author of the . Despite the central role of seasons in our region’s sense of place and economy, she and her colleagues found that climate change is causing “less distinct seasons with milder winter and early spring conditions, altering our environment in ways that adversely impact tourism, farming, and forestry.”

At ��̽̽, Dupigny-Giroux is a Professor of Climatology in the Department of Geography and Geosciences and Fellow of the Gund Institute for Environment. She teaches climatology, natural hazards, and remote sensing, and made headlines this year when her undergraduate class partnered with town, state, and federal officials to update the hazard mitigation plan for the town of Underhill, Vermont. Dupigny-Giroux was an advisor to the Vermont Climate Assessment, which found climate change already reshaping life in the Green Mountain State.

Helping Vermonters prepare

As the State Climatologist for Vermont, Dupigny-Giroux is integral to state agencies’ operations (transportation, emergency management, agriculture, forestry, and legislators) as they plan for and adapt to climate change. A co-author of , she is an expert at using equity approaches to study how floods, droughts, and severe weather affect Vermont's landscape and people. She works extensively with K-12 teachers and students, bringing the use of satellites and understanding climate to all levels of education.

Looking back on her time with the National Climate Assessment—which started during her first semester after joining ��̽̽—Dupigny-Giroux says she considers her National Climate Assessment colleagues “like family.” She’s heartened to see the recent report’s emphasis on equity issues—believing that climate action can contribute to social transformation.

“Climate action is an opportunity to create a more resilient and just nation and world,” says Dupigny-Giroux. “The most effective responses to climate change—whether they are adaptation or mitigation strategies —are the ones that address disparities in climate risks and create opportunities for all people to thrive.”

Explore the and . Watch discussing the findings.