Major Scientific Organizations Urging Action on Climate Change

American Geophysical Union (AGU): an international non-profit scientific association with over 50,000 members. Established in 1919 as a committee within the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. More at http://www.agu.org/about/history/

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS): an honorific society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research. Created by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The operating arm is the National Research Council, a non-profit organization working outside the framework of government. Scientists contribute their efforts on a volunteer basis. Membership: 2100, with 380 foreign associates, of whom nearly 200 have won Nobel Prizes. More at http://dels.nas.edu/climatechange/

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): an international non-profit; the world’s largest general scientific society. Membership: 126,995 (end of 2008). Publishes the journal Science. More at http://www.aaas.org/

National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): Provides tools, facilities, and support to university science communities for atmospheric research. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950. Annual budget: $6.06 billion. NSF is the funding source for about 20% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities. More at http://www.ncar.ucar.edu/research/climate/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Formed in 1970 under the U.S. Department of Commerce, from several agencies that had existed since 1807. Has a climate program that focuses on climate observation and monitoring, research and modeling, and information services. See their page on global climate change at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators/

World Meterological Organization (WMO): A specialized agency of the United Nations since 1951. Membership: 189 member states and territories as of 12/4/09). Together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), WMO created the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading body for the assessment of climate change. 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meterological Organization (WMO) to “provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental an socio-economic consequences.” Visit their site at http://www.ipcc.ch/index.htm